Version 2024

2024 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code T50.A15

Adverse effect of pertussis vaccine, including combinations with a pertussis component

ICD-10-CM Code:
T50.A15
ICD-10 Code for:
Adverse effect of pertussis vaccine, inc combin w pertuss
Is Billable?
Not Valid for Submission
Code Navigator:

Code Classification

  • Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes
    (S00–T88)
    • Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of drugs, medicaments and biological substances
      (T36-T50)
      • Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of diuretics and other and unspecified drugs, medicaments and biological substances
        (T50)

T50.A15 is a non-specific and non-billable diagnosis code code, consider using a code with a higher level of specificity for a diagnosis of adverse effect of pertussis vaccine, including combinations with a pertussis component. The code is not specific and is NOT valid for the year 2024 for the submission of HIPAA-covered transactions. Category or Header define the heading of a category of codes that may be further subdivided by the use of 4th, 5th, 6th or 7th characters.

Specific Coding Applicable to Adverse effect of pertussis vaccine, inc combin w pertuss

Non-specific codes like T50.A15 require more digits to indicate the appropriate level of specificity. Consider using any of the following ICD-10-CM codes with a higher level of specificity when coding for adverse effect of pertussis vaccine, inc combin w pertuss:

  • Use T50.A15A for initial encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use T50.A15D for subsequent encounter - BILLABLE CODE

  • Use T50.A15S for sequela - BILLABLE CODE

Approximate Synonyms

The following clinical terms are approximate synonyms or lay terms that might be used to identify the correct diagnosis code:

  • Adverse reaction to component of vaccine product containing low dose acellular Bordetella pertussis and Clostridium tetani and low dose Corynebacterium diphtheriae antigens
  • Adverse reaction to component of vaccine product containing low dose acellular Bordetella pertussis and Clostridium tetani and low dose Corynebacterium diphtheriae antigens
  • Adverse reaction to component of vaccine product containing only acellular Bordetella pertussis and Clostridium tetani and Corynebacterium diphtheriae antigens
  • Adverse reaction to component of vaccine product containing only acellular Bordetella pertussis and Clostridium tetani and Corynebacterium diphtheriae antigens
  • Adverse reaction to diphtheria and acellular pertussis and Haemophilus influenzae type b and hepatitis B and inactivated poliomyelitis and tetanus vaccine
  • Adverse reaction to diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus vaccine
  • Adverse reaction to pertussis vaccine
  • Anaphylaxis caused by component of vaccine product containing low dose acellular Bordetella pertussis and Clostridium tetani and low dose Corynebacterium diphtheriae antigens
  • Post pertussis vaccination encephalitis

Coding Guidelines

When coding an adverse effect of a drug that has been correctly prescribed and properly administered, assign the appropriate code for the nature of the adverse effect followed by the appropriate code for the adverse effect of the drug.

The appropriate 7th character is to be added to each code from block Poisoning by, adverse effect of and underdosing of diuretics and other and unspecified drugs, medicaments and biological substances (T50). Use the following options for the aplicable episode of care:

  • A - initial encounter
  • D - subsequent encounter
  • S - sequela

Patient Education


Vaccine Safety

What are vaccines?

Vaccines play an important role in keeping us healthy. They protect us from serious and sometimes deadly diseases. Vaccines are injections (shots), liquids, pills, or nasal sprays that you take to teach your body's immune system to recognize and defend against harmful germs. The germs could be viruses or bacteria.

Some types of vaccines contain germs that cause disease. But the germs have been killed or weakened enough that they won't make you sick. Some vaccines only contain a part of a germ. Other types of vaccines include instructions for your cells to make a protein of the germ.

These different vaccine types all spark an immune response, which helps your body fight off the germs. Your immune system will also remember the germ and attack it if that germ ever invades again. This protection against a certain disease is called immunity.

These diseases can be very serious. Because of this, getting immunity from a vaccine is safer than getting immunity by being sick with the disease. And for a few vaccines, getting vaccinated can actually give you a better immune response than getting the disease would.

Do vaccines cause side effects?

As with medicines, any vaccine can cause side effects. Most of the time the side effects are minor, such as a sore arm, fatigue, or mild fever. They usually go away within a few days. These common side effects are often a sign that your body is starting to build immunity against a disease.

Serious side effects from vaccines can happen, but they are very rare. These side effects could include a severe allergic reaction. Other possible side effects are different for each vaccine. Talk with your health care provider if you're concerned about your health after getting vaccinated.

Some people worry that childhood vaccines could cause autism spectrum disorder (ASD). But many scientific studies have looked at this and have found no link between vaccines and ASD.

How are vaccines tested for safety?

Every vaccine that is approved in the United States goes through extensive safety testing. It starts with testing and evaluation of the vaccine before it's approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This process can often take several years.:

  • First, the vaccine is tested in labs. Based on those tests, the FDA decides whether to test the vaccine with people.
  • Testing with people is done through clinical trials. In these trials, the vaccines are tested on volunteers. Clinical trials usually start with 20 to 100 volunteers, but eventually include thousands of volunteers.
  • The clinical trials have three phases. The trials are looking for the answer to important questions such as
    • Is the vaccine safe?
    • What dose (amount) works best?
    • How does the immune system react to it?
    • How effective is it?
  • During the process, the FDA works closely with the company who makes the vaccine to evaluate the vaccine's safety and effectiveness. If the vaccine is found to be safe and effective, it will be approved and licensed by the FDA.
  • After a vaccine is licensed, experts may consider adding it to the recommended vaccine, or immunization, schedule. This schedule is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It lists which vaccines are recommended for different groups of people. They list which age groups should get which vaccines, how many doses they need, and when they should get them.

Testing and monitoring continue after the vaccine is approved:

  • The company making the vaccines tests every batch of vaccines for quality and safety. The FDA reviews the results of these tests. It also inspects the factories where the vaccine is made. These checks help make sure the vaccines meet standards for quality and safety.
  • The FDA, CDC, and other federal agencies continue to monitor its safety, to watch for possible side effects. They have systems to track any safety issues with the vaccines.

These high safety standards and testing help to make sure that vaccines in the United States are safe. Vaccines help protect against serious, even deadly, diseases. They not only protect you, but also help to keep these diseases from spreading to others.


[Learn More in MedlinePlus]

Code History

  • FY 2024 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2023 through 9/30/2024
  • FY 2023 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2022 through 9/30/2023
  • FY 2022 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2021 through 9/30/2022
  • FY 2021 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2020 through 9/30/2021
  • FY 2020 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2019 through 9/30/2020
  • FY 2019 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2018 through 9/30/2019
  • FY 2018 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2017 through 9/30/2018
  • FY 2017 - No Change, effective from 10/1/2016 through 9/30/2017
  • FY 2016 - New Code, effective from 10/1/2015 through 9/30/2016. This was the first year ICD-10-CM was implemented into the HIPAA code set.