Persistence of Antitoxin Levels after Tetanus-Toxoid Inoculation in Adults, and Effect of a Booster Dose after Various Intervals

Abstract

ALTHOUGH various previous observations, chiefly by French, American and Canadian investigators, had indicated that tetanus toxoid immunization was a powerful tool in the prevention of tetanus, it was not until the experience of the United States and British armed forces in World War II that the truly remarkable effectiveness of this product was made clear. The American record was particularly impressive, only 14 cases of tetanus occurring in the United States Army and Navy during the war.^{1 , 2} The two services established basic immunity with 3 doses of fluid toxoid (Army) or two doses of alum-precipitated toxoid (Navy), a booster dose . . .