Adolescents and adults who have never had a diphtheria-toxoid vaccine are recommended to receive a primary course and booster doses

Adolescents and adults who have never had a diphtheria-toxoid vaccine are recommended to receive:

• 3 doses of dT vaccine with at least 4 weeks between doses
• booster doses at 10 years and 20 years after the primary course

These people should receive 1 of the 3 primary doses (preferably the 1st) as dTpa, to protect against pertussis. If dT vaccine is not available, they can receive dTpa vaccine for all primary doses.³

Diphtheria-toxoid vaccine is funded through the NIP for adolescents and adults aged <20 years who have never received a diphtheria-toxoid vaccine. For details see the National Immunisation Program schedule.

If the person is pregnant, they are recommended to receive 3 doses of diphtheria-toxoid vaccine at 0, 4 weeks and 6–12 months. 1 dose of dTpa should replace dT, preferably in the 3rd trimester,⁴ to protect the infant against pertussis. See Pertussis and Pregnant women are recommended to receive a single dose of dTpa vaccine in each pregnancy.

Catch-up vaccination has details on managing people aged ≥10 years who have never received dT vaccine and need catch-up doses.

Check the recommended intervals between doses when giving dTpa or dT in a catch-up schedule.

See Table. Catch-up schedule for people ≥10 years of age (for vaccines recommended on a population level) in Catch-up vaccination.