2012 Antigen Review for the New Zealand National Immunisation Schedule: Diphtheria Auckland UniServices Limited A wholly owned company of The University of Auckland Prepared for: New Zealand Ministry of Health Prepared by a scientific team incorporating the Immunisation Advisory Centre, The University of Auckland Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd. February 2013 Contact details: Helen Petousis-Harris Immunisation Advisory Centre Tāmaki Innovation Campus The University of Auckland Private Bag 92019, Auckland 1142, New Zealand Phone: +64 9 923 2078 Fax: +64 9 373 7030 Mobile: +64 27 471 6749 Email:
[email protected] 2 Antigen Review–2012: Diphtheria Executive summary As a result of the introduction of vaccines against diphtheria, the disease is now rare in developed countries. Evidence suggests that the Diphtheria, Tetanus, acellular Pertussis vaccine (DTaP) is safe and well tolerated in infants, toddlers, adolescents and adults. The adult reduced antigen concentration tetanus-diphtheria (Td) is not associated with any safety concerns in 10-64 year olds or in 65+ year olds. Administration of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) to pregnant women is not associated with any unexpected safety patterns in maternal, infant, or fetal outcomes. DTaP vaccines have been proven to be highly immunogenic as primary and booster vaccinations. When the primary series is given during the first few years of life, the antibody levels decrease over time with a booster dose being recommended around pre-school/early school and adolescence age. Adults who have received a primary course also require a booster dose at some time during their adulthood. For people who have never had a primary series of diphtheria vaccines as a child, three doses of the adult formulation vaccine has been found to induce an adequate immune response.