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Immunizations - travel vaccinations - Management
When is tetanus vaccination indicated?

  • All people should receive tetanus vaccine as part of the childhood vaccination programme. For more information see the CKS topic on Immunizations - childhood.
  • For travellers give a booster dose of tetanus/diphtheria/inactivated polio vaccine (Td/IPV), before departure, to:
    • Anyone travelling to areas where medical attention may not be accessible and whose last dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine was more than 10 years previously even if the person has received five doses of vaccine previously (3 primary immunization doses and 2 booster doses).
    • Anyone travelling to areas where medical attention may not be accessible and whose last dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine was more than 10 years previously and has received a tetanus primary immunization (3 doses) course, but none or one of the recommended booster doses.
  • For travellers who have not received a tetanus primary immunization course (3 doses) it is usually worth giving the maximum number of doses of vaccines that the travel departure date allows and completing the course upon return.
Basis for recommendation
  • These recommendations are based on expert opinion from the medical literature [NaTHNaC, 2005a; DH, 2006c].
  • Vaccination with tetanus is a precautionary measure for travellers in case immunoglobulin is not available should a tetanus-prone injury occur.

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