Image via WikipediaTetanus Vaccine Questions and AnswersQuestions & Answers Click here for a fully formatted PDF version of these Qs & As.When did tetanus vaccine become available? The first tetanus toxoid (inactivated toxin) was produced in 1924 and was used successfully to prevent tetanus in the armed services during World War II. In the mid-1940s, tetanus vaccine was combined with diphtheria toxoid and inactivated pertussis vaccine to make the combination DTP vaccine for routine childhood immunization. In 1991, the first DTaP product was licensed. It substituted an acellular form of the pertussis component for the whole-cell pertussis component. The pertussis component of this vaccine is a more purified "acellular" version, which produces fewer side effects. In 2005, two new tetanus toxoid and diphtheria toxoids with acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) products were licensed. These vaccines are the first pertussis-containing vaccines that can be given to persons older than 7 years. What kind of vaccine is the tetanus toxoid? The tetanus vaccine is an inactivated toxin (poison) called a toxoid. It is made by growing the bacteria in a liquid medium and purifying and inactivating the toxin. Because it is not a live vaccine, a person's immunity tends to decline with time, which is why booster doses are recommended. What's the difference between all the vaccines containing tetanus toxoid? It's like alphabet soup! Tetanus toxoid is available as a single shot (TT) but is rarely given that way as it's best to also provide needed protection against other diseases at the same time. Tetanus toxoid can be combined with diphtheria toxoid as DT (for children younger than age 7 years) or as Td (for persons age 7 years and older). It can also be combined with diphtheria and pertussis as DTaP (for children younger than age 7 years) or as Tdap (for persons ages 10 through 64 years). Lastly, DTaP is also part of four childhood combination vaccines that include other vaccines (e.g., IPV, Hib, HepB). How is this vaccine given? The DTaP, DT, Td, and Tdap preparations are all given as an injection in the anterolateral thigh muscle (for infants and young toddlers) or in the deltoid muscle (for older children and adults). Who should get this vaccine? All infants and children should receive tetanus toxoid as part of their DTaP/Tdap vaccine series. Adults should be given routine booster doses of Td every 10 years. Adults without documentation of ever receiving the basic series of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids should first receive a primary series of three doses, properly spaced. A single dose of Tdap is recommended for persons age 11 years and older in place of one of the Td doses, preferably the first one. |
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