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Diphtheria Vaccination
Diphtheria is an extremely infectious disease affecting the throat and upper airways, caused by the diphtheria bacterium. The disease is found worldwide and high diphtheria vaccination uptake is required to keep the rates of infection low. It is still prevalent in many countries due to low immunisation levels, especially the Indian Subcontinent, Central and South East Asia, Africa, and South America.
Transmission
Infection is spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing.
Diptheria Symptoms
Diphtheria is an extremely serious illness. Treatment is required as soon as the disease is suspected to prevent fatality. The incubation period is 2-5 days and symptoms include fever, sore throat, enlarged glands in the neck. If not treated early, the infection can cause obstruction of the airway and is fatal in 5-10% of cases. Fatality rates are higher in young children and older adults. Damage to the heart muscle and nervous system can also occur with the illness.
Treatment
Intensive care support is required. Early administration of Diphtheria antitoxin helps reduce fatality, as does antibiotics.
Prevention
There is a highly effective diphtheria vaccination, which is included in the childhood immunisations programme of most countries.
Price: Combined Diptheria, Tetanus and Polio Vaccination £55
Tetanus Vaccination
Tetanus is a life-threatening infection caused by a bacteria that is found in the environment worldwide.
Transmission
The bacteria enters the body through skin wounds or cuts, especially soil contaminated wounds.
Symptoms
The incubation period is 4-21 days. Symptoms are due to muscles spasms and rigidity and include lock jaw and paralysis of the respiratory muscles. Death rates vary from 10% (if good intensive medical care is available) to 90%. Children and older adults are especially vulnerable.
Treatment
Treatment includes intensive medical care, tetanus Immunoglobulin and wound care.
Prevention
Vaccination or the Tetanus Shot (Jab) is the mainstay of prevention as it is not possible to eradicate the bacteria from the environment.
Price: Combined Diptheria, Tetanus and Polio Vaccination £45
Polio Vaccination
Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious viral disease, which mainly affects young children. Since the launch of the Global Eradication Programme led by WHO, the incidence of Polio has fallen by 99% since 1988. The disease is now endemic in 2 countries -Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, sporadic outbreaks still occur due to imported disease or as a result of the oral polio vaccine virus reverting to infectious type.
Transmission
The virus is transmitted through personal contact and contaminated food and water.
Symptoms
The virus spreads from the gut to the nervous system causing paralysis. Irreversible paralysis occurs in 1 in 200 cases of polio and the death rate is 5-10% due to respiratory failure.
Treatment
There is no treatment for polio infection and good supportive care is required.
Prevention
The success of the Polio eradication programme is related to widespread vaccination campaign.
Price: Combined Diptheria, Tetanus and Polio Vaccination £45
Prevention
Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio are contained in a single combined vaccine. The vaccine is inactivated and contains dead bacteria or virus only and is highly effective at preventing the infections. Immunity does wane over time. Therefore, further vaccinations may be required. Separate vaccines against the diseases are not available in the UK. The Department of Health does not recommend the use of the oral polio vaccine due to the potential risks associated with this live vaccine.
The combined vaccine is give in the UK childhood programme with pertussis (whooping cough) at age 2 months, 3 months and 4 months. Further booster doses are given at 3-5 years of age and again at 14 years of age.
DTP Vaccine (Revaxis)
The vaccine vaccine is the best way to protect against tetanus, diphtheria, and polio, which are serious and sometimes fatal diseases. When you get immunized, you help protect others as well. It can be given to adults and children from 10 years of age travelling to areas where they will be at risk of Tetanus, Polio and Diphtheria infections.
Vaccine Schedule
Provided that childhood immunisations are up to date, DTP vaccine only needs to be given as a single dose prior to travel to risk areas. If individuals who have previously been immunised, the vaccine provides immediate protection.
| Age | Method of Administration | Dosing Schedule | Booster dose requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| From 10 yrs of age | Intramuscular injection to the deltoid muscle | 1 dose | Booster required every 10 yrs if travelling to developing countries |
Booster doses
Further doses are required at 10 yearly intervals for ongoing risk in travellers.
Exclusions
The vaccine cannot be given:
• To children under 10 years of age. This is because protection is also required against pertussis (whooping cough), which is not covered by the DTP vaccine.
• If there is a history of severe allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine or any of it’s components.
• If there is a history of severe allergic reaction to Neomycin, Streptomycin and Polymyxin B (antibiotics used in the manufacturing process).
• If there is an acute illness associated with fever (greater than 38.5 degrees Celsius).
• If there is an unstable neurological condition, such as uncontrolled epilepsy.
Pregnancy
There have been no toxic effects seen when the vaccine has been given to pregnant women. Therefore, the vaccine can be given if there is considered to be significant risk of infection.
Breast Feeding
The vaccination can be given to breast feeding mothers if there is a clinical indication to do so. Inactivated vaccines have not be shown to cause serious side effects to breast fed infants.
Common Side Effects
• Local injection reactions-pain, swelling, redness and small painless lump can occur.
• Fever, muscle aches, headache, nausea and vomiting can occur.
Interactions with Other Vaccines
The combined can be given at the same time or any time before or after other vaccines including
• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid
• Hepatitis B
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£30 booking deposit – Non-refundable on bookings cancelled 24hours prior to appointment
