HAVE CONFIDENCE IN VACCINES

Q ACan you tell me more about the diseases that the Td/IPV vaccine protects against and how do we know that the vaccine is safe? The Td/IPV vaccine completes the five-dose course that provides long-term protection against tetanus, diphtheria, and polio (with inactivated polio vaccine). Tetanus is a painful disease affecting the nervous system that can lead to muscle spasms, cause breathing problems and even kill. It is caused when germs found in soil and manure get into the body through open cuts or burns. Tetanus can’t be passed from person to person. Diphtheria’s a serious disease that usually begins with a sore throat and can quickly cause breathing problems. It can damage the heart and nervous system, and in severe cases, can kill.

Before the diphtheria vaccine was introduced in the

UK, there were up to 70,000 cases of diphtheria a year, causing around 5,000 deaths.

Polio’s a virus that attacks the nervous system and can cause permanent paralysis of muscles. If it affects the chest muscles or the brain then polio can kill.

All medicines (including vaccines) are tested for safety and effectiveness by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The vaccine meets the high safety standards required for it to be used in the UK and other European countries.

Once they are in use, the safety of vaccines continues to be monitored by the MHRA. ■ nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/immunisation/vaccines/ tdipv-vaccine#overview nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/immunisation/vaccines/ tdipv-vaccine#the-vaccine