The Importance of Tetanus and Diphtheria Vaccination for Adults and the Elderly

The Almería Health District, through the Nursing Residence Case Managers, has reviewed and completed the vaccination schedule of around 1,500 users over 65 years of age in Nursing Homes, with the corresponding dose of Td (Tetanus/diphtheria) . An injection that is recommended for people who received 5 doses during childhood and adolescence. It is recommended to verify previous vaccination status before starting or completing a primary vaccination course with Td in adults. Contact with health services, including occupational risk prevention, will be used to review the vaccination status and, if necessary, will be vaccinated with Td until completing 5 doses.

In this way, the users of Nursing Homes currently in the Almería Health District are perfectly immunized against tetanus and diphtheria. As detailed by the director of District Care, Miguel Zapata, “this systematic review is added to the one previously carried out against Pneumococcus”. He has also indicated that “the incorporation of each new user entails, among other general assessments, the review of the vaccination status that guarantees their immunological protection against these infectious agents.”

Types of vaccines for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis

There are different vaccines for tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. The ones we use in Spain all have the acellular whooping cough component, so they are safer, with fewer adverse reactions. Those used in pregnant women and at 6 years of age are the Tdpa type. There is no vaccine dedicated only to whooping cough. At 2, 4, and 11 months, the vaccine administered is called hexavalent, since it not only protects against these 3 infections (tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough), but also for another 3: poliomyelitis, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenzae type b.

Hexavalent vaccines have been authorized by the AEMPS to be administered to children under 7 years of age in the event that they have not received the vaccination schedule on time (2, 4, 11 months of age) or have it incomplete in accordance with the official recommendations. At 14 years of age and in adults, the vaccine being used is Td, which confers protection against tetanus and diphtheria.

2023-08-19 07:00:00
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