Vaccination against diphtheria

introduction

Diphtheria is an infectious disease that can be transmitted from person to person via droplets. The bacterium produces an organ-damaging toxin, which also damages the heart and can be fatal.
The disease begins with an inflammation of the throat and takes a severe course with shortness of breath and the risk of suffocation. Since antibiotic therapy often comes too late, vaccination is recommended, as the disease is still widespread in some countries.

General information on the topic can be found on our main topic: diphtheria

vaccine

In Germany, routine vaccination is usually carried out in infancy. The STIKO (permanent vaccination committee at the Robert Koch Institute) recommends a diphtheria vaccination in combination with tetanus and whooping cough (Pertussis) in children, adolescents and adults.
The vaccine is a dead vaccine. This toxoid vaccine is a weakened form of the Toxins of the bacteria. It is given to the body, which makes antibodies in response to this substance. The immune system has thus provided antibodies that can immediately start fighting the bacterium in the event of an acute diphtheria infection.
The immune system has a memory function and thus remembers for years what it has learned through the vaccination. As the number of antibodies decreases over time, the vaccination must be refreshed at regular intervals.

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Combination vaccine: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough

With the combination vaccination, the vaccine is against Diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, also Pertussis called, administered simultaneously. The immunity is through active immunization reached. This means that the body recognizes the three vaccines as foreign and antibody against it produced. There may be a slight immune reaction, however does not cause any of the three diseases to break out. The antibodies formed guarantee immunity.

Of the Diphtheria vaccine belongs to the Toxoid vaccines. This is where the toxin causing the symptoms of the disease, which is released by the diphtheria pathogens (Corynebacterium diphtheria) is formed, rendered harmless and administered to the patient. The harmless toxin is recognized by the immune system and antibodies are produced. It is the same with that Tetanus toxin, formed by the pathogen (Clostridium tetani) tetanus disease, also called tetanus. The vaccine against whooping cough (pertussis) contains a dead vaccine. This means that only cell components of the pathogen (Bordetella pertussis) presented by vaccination, whereupon antibodies are produced.

More articles on vaccination can be found here: Vaccination in children

Basic immunization

The basic immunization usually already takes place in childhood. The vaccination takes place with four consecutive doses of the vaccine. The first dose of vaccine can after the completed 2nd month of life administered. The second and third vaccination dose can then be from the completed third and fourth month of life be performed.
The fourth and last vaccination takes place at the end of the first year of life, usually between the 11th and 14th month of life. The vaccine will intramuscular injected. The vaccination can take place in the upper arm muscle (Deltoid muscle) or in the thigh muscle.

If you are wondering whether vaccination makes sense, read: Should I get my baby vaccinated?

refreshing

As the immune system breaks down the antibodies against the vaccine over time and does not produce any new ones, the vaccination should be refreshed regularly. This ensures that the person is armed against a possible acute infection with the diphtheria bacterium. The first refresher takes place between the ages of five and six.
A new update should then take place again from around 17 years of age. For adults, the STIKO recommends refreshing every 10 years. The booster vaccination against diphtheria is often used together with tetanus and whooping cough (Pertussis) carried out. All vaccinations are documented in the vaccination certificate, which is already given in infancy, together with information about the vaccine administered.

When does the diphtheria vaccination need to be refreshed?

Vaccinations should start from the time of birth according to the vaccination calendar STIKO (permanent vaccination committee of the Robert Koch Institute). This guarantees a basic immunization against all important pathogens. According to STIKO, the first booster vaccination takes place between 5 to 6 years of age. Then the second booster vaccination follows 9-14 years and the last booster vaccination for the adolescent 15-17 Years. From the age of 18, the refresher against diphtheria every 10 years occur.

How often does diphtheria need to be vaccinated?

The basic immunization against diphtheria takes place according to STIKO (permanent vaccination committee of the Robert Koch Institute) in four steps between the 2nd and 14th month of life. After that, 3 booster vaccinations are recommended between the ages of 9-17 years. In adulthood, the diphtheria vaccination should be refreshed every 10 years by the family doctor. So a total of 4 vaccinations until the basic immunization and 3 booster vaccinations in childhood. The booster vaccinations in adulthood are accordingly variable.

Side effects

In general, the vaccination is very well tolerated and often shows no or only slight side reactions. Since the vaccination stimulates the body's immune system, it can occasionally lead to reddening, swelling and even pain at the injection site. Some patients sometimes experience sore muscles in their upper arm the day after the vaccination, which subsides over time.
Additional general symptoms may appear a few days after the vaccination. Symptoms such as a slight increase in temperature, chills, tiredness or gastrointestinal complaints are among these flu-like symptoms. These complaints also subside after a few days. In most cases, there are no more serious side effects.

Read more on the topic: Pain after vaccination, such as Side effects with vaccinations

Less than 1 in 1000 vaccinations had an allergic skin reaction or respiratory problems. In rare individual cases, a disease of the nervous system has been observed after the vaccination.
Then symptoms such as abnormal sensations, paralysis, over-excitability of the nerves and increasing exhaustion occurred. Since the diphtheria vaccination is carried out in combination with other vaccines, the reactions to the various possible combinations can be different. However, the symptoms are very similar and generally harmless. If unusual and severe symptoms occur, the person concerned should consult a doctor to avoid further complications.

At best, physical strain should be avoided after a vaccination in order to allow the body a little rest.

Read more on the topic Can you do sports after a vaccination?

Fever after diphtheria vaccination

Like all vaccinations, vaccination against diphtheria can lead to a fever. This is an expression of the immune response to the harmless diphtheria toxin.
In addition to fever, other vaccination reactions such as

• Redness at the injection site
  or
• Muscle pain at the injection site (usually described as sore muscles)

come. Vaccination reactions after diphtheria vaccination occur up to 72 hours after vaccination and go away on their own.
The fever can be reduced with calf compresses, sufficient amounts of water or medication with paracetamol or Nurofen ©.

You can find much more information under our topic:

• Fever after vaccination in an adult
  and
• Fever after vaccination in the baby

Vaccination against diphtheria in pregnancy

Caution should be exercised with regard to vaccinations in pregnant women. Especially Live vaccines and vaccinations in the first trimester of pregnancy are problematic. Therefore, you should generally consider your own before becoming pregnant or if you wish to have children Vaccination status checked so that problems do not arise in the first place. From the second trimester of pregnancy Vaccinations may be given, but they should only be given if they are urgently needed or a health risk consists.
When it comes to vaccinations, a distinction is made between questionable, harmless and prohibited vaccines. In the pregnancy only dead vaccines can be administered. Since diphtheria is a dead vaccine, it can be given during pregnancy. But here too, the necessity should be checked carefully and a detailed one in advance consultation carried out by the treating gynecologist.

Learn more about: Vaccinations during pregnancy

costs

Patients with statutory health insurance are entitled to various free vaccinations. To this end, the Federal Joint Committee has drawn up a guideline on protective vaccinations, which is based on the recommendations of the STIKO. The diphtheria vaccination is also covered by health insurance according to these guidelines. Insured persons are also entitled to reimbursement of costs if the vaccination is to be refreshed or completed.

criticism

How many Vaccinations will also be the Diphtheria vaccination viewed critically. On the one hand, it can be in individual cases stronger side effects like damage to the peripheral nerves evoke and on the other can permanent vaccination damage occur.
There are also various studies that deal with the relationship between different Secondary diseases and vaccinated. So there was a study that showed that six months after various vaccinations, including against diphtheria, caused a higher mortality Infectious diseases occurred. The vaccination is criticized and its effectiveness is questioned.

Vaccinations are supposed to Epidemics and epidemics prevent and can spread a disease contain and even exterminate. It is therefore particularly important that vulnerable people like Children and travelers in detail about a vaccination for your own protection and the Prevention of transmission to inform.