J Korean Med Sci.  2010 Dec;25(12):1727-1732. 10.3346/jkms.2010.25.12.1727.

Immunogenicity and Safety of Diphtheria-tetanus Vaccine in Adults

• Choi JH
• Choo EJ
• Huh A
• Choi SM
• Eom JS
• Lee JS
• Park SH
• Kang JH

• KMID: 1792895
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2010.25.12.1727

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of diphtheria-tetanus (Td) vaccine in adults over 40 yr old who had never received a diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccination. A total of 242 subject completed three-doses of Td vaccination and subsequent assays for immunogenicity. Before vaccination, 33.9% and 96.7% participants showed antibody levels of diphtheria and tetanus, respectively, which were below protective level (<0.1 U/mL). After the first dose of Td vaccine, 92.6% and 77.6% of subjects gained protective antibody concentrations (> or =0.1 U/mL) for diphtheria and tetanus, with an increase to 99.6% and 100% after the third dose. Local and systemic adverse events occurred in 37.9% and 15.5% of the subjects. No serious adverse event requiring an unscheduled hospital visit occurred. In conclusion, three-doses of Td vaccination to unimmunized adults are safe and effective in inducing protective immunity against diphtheria and tetanus.

Keyword

Diphtheria; Tetanus; Vaccines; Immunogenicity; Safety; Adult

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood
Diphtheria/prevention & control
Diphtheria-Tetanus Vaccine/*adverse effects/*immunology
Female
Humans
Immunization, Secondary
Male
Middle Aged
Tetanus/prevention & control
Tetanus Toxoid/immunology

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Distribution of antibody titers pre- and post-vaccination of Td vaccine. (A) diphtheria; (B) tetanus; Pre, before first dose of vaccination; Post 1, 4 weeks after first dose of vaccination; Post 3, 4 weeks after third dose of vaccination.

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