SUMMARY:
The current recommendation in many countries, including the United States and Canada, is to provide routine adult booster vaccination of tetanus and diphtheria (Td) every 10 years. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) does not recommend these boosters, and some countries, such as the UK, do not give routine booster shots.
PMID: 32095828
EDITOR'S COMMENTARY - Ken Milne, MD
A previous study from the United States showed that tetanus immunity lasted about 30 years after childhood (Hammarlund et al., 2016). This is another line of evidence that we do not need to be boosting the public with Td every 10 years. It supports the WHO’s position and the UK’s practice of not giving routine Td booster vaccination. The data suggest that we over-vaccinate in some cases (Td) but under-vaccinate in other situations (influenza). However, this study does not negate the recommendation for pregnant women to get Tdap for pertussis protection, as recommended by the CDC.
BOTTOM LINE: It is perhaps time to revisit the recommendation of routine adult Td booster vaccinations.
John R., M.D. - February 9, 2021 10:17 AM
a fully vacccinated child may have tetanus immunity for a long time or for life, but diphtheria definitely needs an update every 10 years and to prevent epidemics 60% of the population needs to be immunized.
Ken M. - February 9, 2021 10:27 AM
Agree that the evidence for the Td booster is more about on the "d" than the "T".
Thanks for listening to Steve and I talk nerdy on PCMA.
Ken