ISSN: 2044-9038 (Print) 2044-9046 (Electronic)

Clinical Practice

Tetanus Toxoid

 Tetanus Toxoid is indicated for booster injection just for persons 7 years aged or older against tetanus. This vaccine is NOT indicated for primary immunization. Primary immunization schedule for children under 7 years of age should consist of five doses of a vaccine containing tetanus toxoid. The initial three doses are given as Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed vaccine, administered intramuscularly at intervals of 4 to 8 weeks. A fourth dose of DTaP is suggested at 15 to twenty months aged. The interval between the third and fourth dose should be a minimum of 6 months. A fifth dose of DTaP is given before school entry (kindergarten or elementary school) at 4 to 6 years of age, unless the fourth dose was given after the fourth birthday.5,6 In instances where the pertussis vaccine component is contraindicated, Diphtheria and Tetanus Toxoid Adsorbed should be used for the remaining doses. For persons 7 years of age and older, Tetanus and Diphtheria Toxoids Adsorbed for Adult Use is preferred to tetanus toxoid alone. Tetanus Toxoid is interchangeable with Tetanus Toxoid Adsorbed as a booster and would only be preferred if aluminum were to be avoided. Even though the speed of seroconversion is proportional with either structure, adsorbed toxoids incite progressively industrious antibody titers.2 Tetanus Toxoid would be favored over diphtheria-containing immunizations if there was a contraindication to the diphtheria segment.    

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