"Aventis Pasteur has been working for the past year to successfully end the national shortage of Td vaccine," said Michael Decker, MD, MPH, vice president, scientific and medical affairs at Aventis Pasteur. "Aventis Pasteur's efforts to relieve the shortage is an indication of the company's ability to meet the nation's need for Td vaccine now and in the future."
"With the return of ample tetanus and diphtheria vaccine supply, people who were asked to delay Td boosters during the last year should schedule appointments with their doctors to catch up," said William Schaffner, MD, professor and chairman, department of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University and a national expert in infectious diseases. "Furthermore, anyone who can't remember the last time they received a Td booster should call their doctor and ask if they are due to receive a booster."
Immunization is the best way to protect against tetanus and diphtheria infection in the United States since both diseases are vaccine-preventable. Adults and adolescents require a booster shot every 10 years throughout life to maintain protection against tetanus and diptheria. Almost all reported cases of tetanus are in persons who have either never been vaccinated, or who completed a primary series, but have not had a booster in the preceeding 10 years . A recent study showed that less than half of Americans 20 years
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Cooney Waters Group, Inc.
20-Jun-2002