It is recommended that five doses of tetanus toxoid provide lifelong immunity and 10 yearly doses are not required beyond this.¹ National immunisation against tetanus began in 1961, providing five doses (three in infancy, one preschool and one on leaving school).² Coverage is high, with uptake over 90% since 1990.² Therefore, the majority of the population under the age of 40 are fully immunised against tetanus.

Td (tetanus toxoid/low dose diphtheria) vaccine is often administered in the Emergency Department (ED) following a wound or burn based upon the patient’s recollection of their immunisation …