Comprehensive medication guide to TdVax including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0 copay for most insured patients under ACA-compliant plans, Medicare Part B (wound management) or Part D (routine boosters), and Medicaid — all ACIP-recommended vaccines are covered at no cost-sharing.
Estimated Cash Pricing
TdVax is permanently discontinued and unavailable. Its equivalent Tenivac typically costs $50–$90 retail; as low as $35–$55 with a GoodRx coupon. Most insured patients pay $0 for all ACIP-recommended Td/Tdap vaccines.
Medfinder Findability Score
5/100
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TdVax (Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids, Adsorbed) was a vaccine manufactured by MassBiologics, a nonprofit biologic manufacturer in Massachusetts, and distributed by Grifols USA. It was FDA-approved for active immunization against tetanus and diphtheria in persons 7 years of age and older.
Important: TdVax is permanently discontinued. MassBiologics halted production in early 2024, and all remaining inventory distributed by Grifols USA was exhausted by approximately June 2024. TdVax is no longer available at any pharmacy, clinic, or healthcare facility in the United States.
TdVax was one of only two Td (tetanus-diphtheria) vaccines available in the U.S. It protected against tetanus (lockjaw), a bacterial infection causing severe muscle spasms that can be fatal, and diphtheria, a contagious bacterial infection that can cause breathing obstruction, heart failure, and death. Unlike Tdap vaccines, TdVax did not contain a pertussis (whooping cough) component.
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TdVax was a toxoid vaccine — it contained chemically inactivated forms of tetanus and diphtheria toxins (called toxoids) that could not cause disease but could train the immune system to recognize and neutralize the real toxins. Each 0.5 mL dose contained 2 Lf of tetanus toxoid and 2 Lf of diphtheria toxoid, adsorbed on an aluminum adjuvant that enhanced the immune response.
After injection, antigen-presenting immune cells processed the toxoids and activated B and T lymphocytes to produce antibodies specifically targeted at the tetanus and diphtheria toxins. These antibodies, along with long-lived memory cells, provided protection that typically lasted approximately 10 years — explaining why tetanus boosters are required every decade. TdVax's equivalents (Tenivac, Adacel, and Boostrix) use the same fundamental toxoid mechanism.
2 Lf tetanus / 2 Lf diphtheria per 0.5 mL — intramuscular suspension
Single-dose 0.5 mL intramuscular injection — DISCONTINUED
TdVax is impossible to find — because it no longer exists. MassBiologics permanently discontinued production in early 2024, and the last available supply ran out by June 2024. This is not a temporary shortage or back-order situation. TdVax will not return to market.
Patients who need tetanus and diphtheria protection now have two paths: Tenivac (Sanofi Pasteur), the only remaining Td-only vaccine in the U.S. (though currently under CDC ordering controls and sometimes difficult to find), or a Tdap vaccine (Adacel or Boostrix), which the CDC recommends for most patients who can receive the pertussis component.
If you're having trouble locating Tenivac, Adacel, or Boostrix at a pharmacy near you, medfinder can call pharmacies in your area to find which ones have your vaccine in stock — saving you time and frustration.
TdVax was not a controlled substance, so it did not require a DEA registration to prescribe. Because vaccines are administered rather than dispensed, a wide variety of providers could recommend and give TdVax (and its current-day equivalents). In most states, vaccines can be administered without a separate physician's prescription.
Note: Telehealth cannot be used to administer vaccines. A telehealth provider can assess your vaccination needs and generate documentation, but the actual vaccine injection requires an in-person visit to a clinic, pharmacy, or other healthcare facility.
No. TdVax is not a controlled substance and was not scheduled under the DEA's Controlled Substances Act. Vaccines, including TdVax, are biological products regulated by the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) and do not have abuse potential or addiction risks.
Because TdVax was not a controlled substance, it could be administered without a traditional prescription in most states — licensed pharmacists, NPs, PAs, and physicians could all recommend and administer it. Its equivalents (Tenivac, Adacel, Boostrix) are similarly non-controlled. There are no refill restrictions, prior authorization requirements, or quantity limits associated with tetanus vaccines due to controlled substance scheduling.
Most patients experienced mild, self-limiting side effects within 24 hours that resolved within 1–3 days:
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Tenivac
Sanofi Pasteur's Td vaccine — the only remaining Td-only vaccine in the U.S. Contains 5 Lf tetanus and 2 Lf diphtheria toxoid per 0.5 mL. Under CDC ordering controls but still in production.
Adacel
Sanofi Pasteur's Tdap vaccine (ages 10–64). CDC-recommended substitute for TdVax for most patients. Adds pertussis protection. Widely available at retail pharmacies.
Boostrix
GSK's Tdap vaccine (ages 10+, including elderly). CDC-recommended alternative to TdVax. Clinically interchangeable with Adacel for most indications. Good option for adults over 64.
Prefer TdVax? We can find it.
High-dose systemic corticosteroids (prednisone, dexamethasone)
majorImmunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids reduce the immune response to TdVax and its equivalents, potentially resulting in inadequate protection. Defer vaccination if possible or consult provider.
Biologic immunosuppressants (adalimumab, etanercept, belimumab)
majorBiologics used for autoimmune conditions significantly reduce vaccine immune response. Listed as contraindicated with Td vaccines in clinical interaction databases due to reduced efficacy risk.
Chemotherapy / cytotoxic drugs (methotrexate, cyclophosphamide)
majorReduce the antibody response to vaccination. Time vaccination before chemotherapy cycles when possible.
Tetanus Immune Globulin (TIG)
moderateCan be given simultaneously with Td vaccine for wound management — must use separate syringes and different injection sites. TIG provides immediate passive protection while the vaccine builds active immunity.
Anticoagulants (warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban)
minorIncreases risk of hematoma at injection site. Use fine-gauge needle and apply firm pressure post-injection. Does not affect vaccine efficacy. Should not prevent vaccination.
TdVax played an important role in the U.S. immunization landscape for decades, providing affordable, reliable tetanus and diphtheria protection through MassBiologics' nonprofit mission. Its permanent discontinuation in 2024 created significant supply disruptions, but the vaccine landscape has adapted: Tenivac (Sanofi) is the remaining Td-only option, and Tdap vaccines (Adacel, Boostrix) are the CDC's preferred alternative for most patients.
If you need a tetanus booster, do not delay getting vaccinated because TdVax is unavailable. Unvaccinated individuals are at real risk from tetanus — a disease that kills 10–20% of infected people even with modern treatment. Tdap vaccines provide at minimum the same protection as TdVax and are widely available through pharmacies, physician offices, and health departments.
If you're struggling to find Tenivac or any Tdap vaccine at a pharmacy near you, medfinder can locate available stock at pharmacies in your area — without the hassle of calling each one yourself. Your protection against tetanus and diphtheria is too important to let supply chain challenges get in the way.
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