TATANUS VACCINE

Tatanus is an infection caused by Clostridium tetani bacteria.

Tatanus vaccine is an inactive vaccine used to prevent tetanus, vaccine is available as monovalent tetanus toxoid (TT), in bivalent combination with diphtheria toxoid (DT) or low-dose diphtheria toxoid (Td), or as trivalent vaccine that also includes whole-cell (wP) or acellular (aP) pertussis vaccine.

A childhood immunization schedule of five doses is recommended. The primary series of three doses of DTP (DTwP or DTaP) should be given in infancy, with a booster dose of a tetanus toxoid containing vaccine ideally at age 4–7 years and another booster in adolescence, e.g. at age 12–15 years. Those who have received the primary series plus two booster doses, the last of which given in early adulthood, are unlikely to require further doses.

All travellers should be up to date with the vaccine before departure. The type of tetanus prophylaxis that is required following injury depends on the nature of the lesion and the history of previous immunizations. However, no booster is needed if the last dose of the primary series, or of subsequent booster injections, was given less than 5 years ago for dirty wounds or less than 10 years ago for clean wounds.

For more information about the above vaccine, please contact: 3911726.