Self Care Tips
Preventing diphtheria depends almost completely
on immunizing children with the combined diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis
(DTP or DTaP) vaccine and non-immunized adults with the
diphtheria/tetanus vaccine (DT). Most cases of diphtheria
occur in people who haven't received the vaccine at all or
haven't received the entire course.
The immunization schedule calls for DTP or DTaP
vaccines at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, with booster doses
given at 12 to 18 months and then at 4 to 6 years. Booster
shots should be given every 10 years after that to maintain
protection.
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