REDUCTION OF NEONATAL TETANUS BY MASS IMMUNIZATION OF NON-PREGNANT WOMEN - DURATION OF PROTECTION PROVIDED BY ONE OR 2 DOSES OF ALUMINUM-ADSORBED TETANUS TOXOID

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 58  (6) , 927-930
Abstract
Immunization of non-pregnant women in rural Bangladesh with 2 doses of Al-adsorbed tetanus-diphtheria toxoids reduced neonatal mortality by 1/3 during a period of 9-32 mo. after vaccination. The reduction in mortality rate was attributable almost entirely to a 75% lower mortality rate among 4-14 day old infants when tetanus was the predominant cause of death. In the period up to 20 mo. following vaccination, the reduction in deaths among 4-14 day old infants after a single dose of tetanus-diptheria toxoids was about the same as that after 2 doses. Beyond 20 mo. a single dose did not appear to provide protection.