Press Release
| For More Information Contact: | For Release: |
| Julie Armstrong, Health Educator | Date: 6-14-01 |
| Phone: (937) 642-2053 | |
| Fax: (937) 642-2080 |
Tetanus, Diphtheria Vaccine Supply Limited
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently made the recommendation to defer adult and adolescent 10-year boosters of Td immunization until 2002. The interim recommendation was issued because there is a shortage of some tetanus-containing vaccines, after the discontinuation of production by the only other national manufacturer. Aventis Pasteur is now the sole national manufacture of Td and is working closely with the CDC to address this shortage.
Part of the challenge in meeting the nation’s need for tetanus vaccine is that it takes 11 months to manufacture the tetanus/diphtheria vaccine. Aventis Pasteur expects to fulfill the complete national demand for tetanus containing vaccines by early 2002.
The Union County Health Department therefore will adhere to the following guidelines for the usage of the Td vaccine until 2002 or unless otherwise noted that the shortage has been resolved.
Td will be used only for:
- Persons traveling to a country where the risk for diphtheria is high
- Persons with a wound/injury that requires the vaccine for prophylaxis
- Persons who have received less than 3 doses of any vaccine containing tetanus and diphtheria toxoids.
- Pregnant women who have not been vaccinated in the preceding 10 yrs.
For those persons not meeting these criteria and requesting the Td vaccine, the Union County Health Department will take their name and contact them as soon as supply is available.