FRIDAY, Oct. 15 (HealthDay News) -- Use of tetanus vaccine changed little between 1999 and 2008, and uptake of licensed tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine has been low, according to research published in the Oct. 15 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
CDC researchers analyzed data from the 1999 and 2008 National Health Interview Surveys to examine changes in tetanus vaccination coverage and the uptake of Tdap by adults; in 2005, Tdap was recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices as a replacement for single tetanus diphtheria vaccinations for people 10 to 64 years of age.
According to self-reported data, tetanus vaccination coverage changed little, from 60.4 percent in 1999 to 61.6 percent in 2008. Tdap coverage was less than optimal, at a rate of 5.9 percent among adults 18 to 64 years of age in 2008. Tdap coverage of adults with infant contact and health care personnel (HCP) was 5 percent and 15.9 percent, respectively.
"Health-care providers should recommend Tdap vaccination to adults aged 18-64 years whose most recent tetanus vaccination was ≥10 years prior; the interval for HCP and persons with infant contact can be as short as 2 years," the authors write.
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