Serological response to tetanus toxoid: a field study in Pondicherry, India

To study the serological response to various doses of tetanus toxoid given to pregnant women, 320 samples of blood obtained from 173 pregnant women were analysed using the indirect haemagglutination technique. Two doses of toxoid were necessary to achieve protective titres in women who were previously unimmunized. The antibody levels appeared to persist for up to 4 years. During a subsequent pregnancy, a single booster dose of toxoid was sufficient to raise the titres adequately for protection. These findings are in accordance with the immunization programme followed for prophylaxis against tetanus among pregnant women.