Vaccinate against tetanus and diphtheria can be done more rarely

Throughout the world, after a child will be vaccinated against tetanus and diphtheria for the first time, it is decided to carry out such re-vaccination every 10 years. But scientists believe that this interval may be expanded to 30 years.

The American researchers have found effective way of reduction of unwarranted expenses on medical procedures – a significant reduction of such expenses can be achieved by extension of time interval between so-called booster injections and repeated vaccination against tetanus and diphtheria.

Now every child is vaccinated against these diseases for the first time at the age of 3 months and after that for 16 years according to the special schedule approved by WHO the revaccination is carried out for several times.

Further it is recommended that revaccinations against tetanus and diphtheria should be done every 10 years.

Scientists from Oregon medical university in Portland city (Oregon Health & Science University, Portland) have carried out the analysis of blood samples at 546 adult Americans of different age.

The researchers have compared indicators of levels of antibodies to causative agents of diphtheria and tetanus and have found that the immune system, even at those participants who received the booster injection more than 30 years ago, was able to provide reliable protection against the bacteria causing these diseases.

The authors of this study report that the risk of development of tetanus has the highest rate at those adult citizens who have not been vaccinated from this disease in the childhood – such phenomenon is observed mainly among elderly immigrants in the United States. And diphtheria practically does not occur for several decades – for the last 15 years only 5 cases of disease have been registered in this country.

Based on materials of «Health of Ukraine» medportal