By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
Ukraine health officials are reminding the public to ensure they are vaccinated against tetanus as five cases, including one death in 2019 to date. Two of the five patients are children.
Cases were recorded in Kyiv region, Mykolaiv region, Vinnytsia region, Lviv region and Transcarpathia.
Fortunately, the number immunized against tetanus has increased–in 2016, the vaccination rate of tetanus to children up to one year was only 21 percent, while in 2018 this figure reached 69.3 percent.
However, as Ukrainian officials note, there is no herd immunity for tetanus as it is not a contagious disease-therefore everyone needs protection.
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According to the national vaccination calendar, vaccine for the prevention of tetanus in children is required at the age of 2, 4, 6 and 18 months (four vaccinations). At age 6 and 16, revaccination is required. In the future, the adult should be revaccinated every 10 years with the ADP-M vaccine, which forms the immunity against diphtheria and tetanus.
The only way to protect yourself from tetanus is by vaccination. Immunity after the disease quickly disappears, and there is a chance of re-infection, so vaccination is required, even if you are ill.
