ABSTRACT
This study evaluated the effectiveness and usefulness of vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus in different age groups in Gaza, Palestine. Blood samples were collected from 180 children aged <12 years, 90 males and 90 females. Using ELISA methods, the efficacy of vaccination was estimated at 87.8% for diphtheria and 98.3% for tetanus. Mean serum titres varied significantly by age group: for diphtheria 0.24 IU/mL at age 2-4 years, 0.63 IU/mL at 7-8 years and 0.46 IU/mL at 11-12 years, and for tetanus 1.01 IU/mL, 2.63 IU/mL and 1.20 IU/mL respectively. The relatively low antibody titres, especially for diphtheria, suggest the need for a booster dose.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Clostridium tetani/immunology , Corynebacterium diphtheriae/immunology , Diphtheria Toxoid/immunology , Tetanus Toxoid/immunology , Vaccination , Age Distribution , Analysis of Variance , Child , Child, Preschool , Diphtheria/epidemiology , Diphtheria/prevention & control , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Health Services Needs and Demand , Humans , Immunization Schedule , Immunization, Secondary , Male , Middle East/epidemiology , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Tetanus/epidemiology , Tetanus/prevention & control , Vaccination/statistics & numerical dataABSTRACT
This study evaluated the effectiveness and usefulness of vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus in different age groups in Gaza, Palestine. Blood samples were collected from 180 children aged < 12 years, 90 males and 90 females. Using ELISA methods, the efficacy of vaccination was estimated at 87.8% for diphtheria and 98.3% for tetanus. Mean serum titres varied significantly by age group: for diphtheria 0.24 IU/mL at age 2-4 years, 0.63 IU/mL at 7-8 years and 0.46 IU/mL at 11-12 years, and for tetanus 1.01 IU/mL, 2.63 IU/mL and 1.20 IU/mL respectively. The relatively low antibody titres, especially for diphtheria, suggest the need for a booster dose
