Table of contents:
- What is the difference between Dt immunization and Td immunization?
- When should children be given Dt immunization and Td immunization?
- What must be considered before Dt
Has your child been immunized? Immunizations are usually given to children when they are toddlers and at school age. The type of immunization also varies, depending on the age of the child. Pay attention to what types of immunizations that should be given to children according to their age, because there are several immunizations that sound the same, but have completely different functions. For example Dt immunization (tetanus diphtheria) and Td immunization (tetanus diphtheria). Then what is the difference between the two?
What is the difference between Dt immunization and Td immunization?
Although these two types of vaccines have almost the same name, be careful because they are different. Dt immunization is an immunization given to prevent several infectious diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis). Meanwhile, Td immunization is a further immunization from Dt immunization so that children are increasingly immune to the three infectious diseases.
Both vaccines actually have the same function, which is to prevent diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough (pertussis) infections. However, what is different is the time of administration and the composition of the dosage.
Td immunization is often referred to as additional immunization, because it works to increase the body's immunity against the three types of infectious diseases above - diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough. In addition, the dose of the Td immunization drug is less than the Dt immunization.
Everyone is recommended to get anti-tetanus and diphtheria immunization every 10 years. The reason is, your immunity against these three diseases may decrease over time. Therefore, Td immunization is recommended for adults.
When should children be given Dt immunization and Td immunization?
Children get at least five Dt immunizations with the following schedule:
- One dose at 2 months of age
- One dose at 4 months of age
- One dose at 6 months of age
- One dose at 15-18 months of age
- One dose at 4-6 years of age
Meanwhile, Td immunization is given afterwards, when the child is over 7 years old. Usually, this immunization is given to children aged 11 years. Then given again when adults, namely at the age of 19-64 years.
In Indonesia itself, the administration of these two immunizations is carried out in schools, with a schedule like the following:
- Grade 1 SD, given measles immunization with implementation time every August and immunization tetanus diphtheria (DT) every November.
- Grade 2-3 SD, given tetanus diphtheria (Td) immunization in November.
What must be considered before Dt
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children who are sick when the immunization schedule arrives to wait until they recover. However, if the child only has the common cold, flu, or fever, it is okay to be immunized right away.
In addition, there may be children who will experience allergies to this immunization, so you should discuss this with your pediatrician. If indeed the child is fine, then immunization must still be done because vaccines not only protect your child from the threat of infection, but also the people around you.
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