5 Facts About Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio (Td/IPV) Vaccine

Depending on your age, this vaccine may be offered in school or by your GP practice.

All Year 9 pupils are offered a teenage booster vaccination called the 3-in-1, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus and polio at school. With one quick injection in the upper arm, you will be protected against all of these.

For more information about the vaccines offered in secondary schools, have a look at Immunisation in secondary schools.

The UK has a successful immunisation programme, but we have to keep levels of vaccination high to make sure that herd immunity is maintained and the diseases don’t return. These diseases do exist more commonly in other parts of the world where vaccinations aren’t easily accessible.

You should have had these immunisations during your pre-school years.  But it’s important to have another dose or ‘top-up’ dose to increase your immunity levels and keep you protected, now and into adulthood.

Tetanus is a rare but serious infection caused by a bacterium that is found in soil or manure.  It enters the body through a dirty cut, scratch, burn, rusty nail or animal bite injury.

Tetanus affects the nervous system causing severe muscle spasms, convulsions, difficulty breathing and can be fatal.  Tetanus is a disease that can’t be passed from person to person.

Diphtheria is caused by a highly contagious and potentially fatal bacteria that spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Diphtheria causes a thick grey-white coating at the back of the throat, difficulty breathing and swallowing, as well as a high temperature and pus-filled blisters on the skin. This is a very rare illness in the UK because of our strong immunisation programme.

Polio is a highly contagious virus that attacks the brain, nervous system and spinal cord. It was very common in the past – affecting children worldwide, and may cause paralysis and death.

Our immunisation programme has helped to reduce polio in this country and in most countries across the world.  But it could increase if we stop vaccinating!

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