Tetanus, diphtheria vaccine for children at 10, 16 years from 2019
JAIPUR: A DECISION TO REPLACE THE TETANUS TOXOID (TT) WITH THE NEW VACCINE WAS TAKEN BY THE CENTRE RECENTLY, AN OFFICIAL SAID
Under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), children will be given a tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine at 10 and 16 years from next year, said a state health official.
A decision to replace the tetanus toxoid (TT) with the new vaccine was taken by the centre recently, the official added.
Currently, a combined vaccine for diphtheria, a bacterial infection affecting breathing, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) is given to the children at 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5 months. Two booster doses are also given at 1.5 and 5 years. The TT vaccine is given at 10 and 16 years.
The decision to replace the TT vaccine with Td vaccine has been taken after a few cases of diphtheria were reported in adults in some parts of the country, said Dr SK Garg, director (immunization), Rajasthan. “A national level meeting has been called on October 3 and 4 at Delhi for guidelines on the Td vaccine,” he added.
The decision to replace the TT vaccine with Td vaccine under the UIP was taken in December 2017 when the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) stated that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has accepted its recommendation on the replacement. The technical specifications of the new vaccine had been finalised and that the procurement was under way, the NTAGI stated.
Dr Pradeep Haldar, working as deputy commissioner of immunization with the centre, said diphtheria vaccine does not give lifelong protection. “Two categories are at risk of diphtheria – children who did not get vaccinated at young age and the adults because of reduction in immunity,” he added.
He said diphtheria is very infectious and has high mortality rate. “Death due to diphtheria cannot be accepted when it can be prevented. Therefore in UPI it has been decided to administer Td vaccine to children at 10 years and 16 years,” said Dr Haldar. He said under the UIP, the vaccine will be free.