Infants and children are recommended to receive tetanus-containing vaccine in a 5-dose schedule

Tetanus-containing vaccine is recommended in a 5-dose schedule at 2, 4, 6 and 18 months, and 4 years of age.

Infants and children receive tetanus toxoid in combination with diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis, as DTPa (diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis)-containing vaccines. 

Infants can have their 1st dose of tetanus-containing vaccine as early as 6 weeks of age. This can reduce the risk of illness or death from pertussis. See Table. Minimum acceptable age for the 1st dose of scheduled vaccines in infants in special circumstances in Catch-up vaccination.

If the 1st dose of tetanus-containing vaccine is given at the age of 6 weeks, infants should still receive their next scheduled doses at 4 months and 6 months of age (see Pertussis). 

Multiple doses of tetanus-containing vaccine during childhood are needed to provide a protective level of immunity.¹

The vaccines usually received at each schedule point are:

• 2, 4 and 6 months of age — DTPa-hepB-IPV-Hib (diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis, hepatitis B, inactivated poliovirus, Haemophilus influenzae type b)
• 18 months of age — DTPa
• 4 years of age — DTPa-IPV