The Department of Health has introduced a new anti-tetanus vaccine for children, it was announced on Friday.
The department’s Fidel Hadebe said the vaccine was introduced to clinics and hospitals as of February 1.
”Diftavax Td is to be administered to children at the age of six and 12 years.”
Diftavax Td has replaced the current vaccine, tetanus diphtheria (TD), which had been administered to five-year-old children.
The new vaccine drug was composed of tetanus toxoid and a lower concentration of diphtheria toxoid, as opposed to diphtheria found in the TD.
The vaccine was developed to protect children from tetanus — a condition caused by germs found in animal intestines and in animal droppings.
The condition results in stiffness of the jaw, the neck and severe muscle spasms of the abdomen and back if an open wound is infected by tetanus spores. Maternal tetanus is also found in mothers as a result of unhygienic delivery or insufficient protection against the condition.
”The Td dose at 12 years is a new addition to the schedule and will ensure the correct number of tetanus toxoid doses. It allows for a long enough interval between doses, thus allowing maximum duration of protection against tetanus,” Hadebe said.
As tetanus cannot be eradicated, there was a continued need for immunisation for children as well as pregnant women.
”The department would like to encourage and urge parents and caregivers to ensure that their children are fully immunised against preventable childhood diseases.” — Sapa