Antitetanus and antidiphtheria immunity in newborns

The level of antitetanus and antidiphtheria immunity was evaluated in 280 pairs (mother-newborn) and in 56 pairs where mothers (aged 19-26 yrs.) were vaccinated in the 7th month of pregnancy with an adsorbed tetanus vaccine dose. The results revealed a high antitetanus immunity level both in mothers and newborns (93.57% and 92.85% respectively) and a low antidiphtheria protection level (79.64% and 77.14%). Immunization of pregnant women ensures a 100% passive protection of newborns against tetanus before administration of the first vaccine doses. The data obtained also proved that placental transfer of the specific circulating antibodies was high (98.58% and 95% for diphtheria). The high percentage of newborns susceptible to diphtheria toxinfection points to the need to immunize mothers-to-be with low combined diphthero-tetanus (d-T) vaccine doses and to closely observe vaccination programme (Ministry of Health) of children with combined diphthero-tetanus-pertussis vaccine (CDTPV) at an early age (two months).