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

Tetanus-toxoid 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-toxoid 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 Catch-up vaccination.

If the 1st dose of tetanus-toxoid 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-toxoid 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). There is no preferential recommendation between the use of DT5aP-hepB-IPV-Hib(PRP-OMP) vaccine (Vaxelis) and DT3aP-hepB-IPV-Hib(PRP-TT) vaccine (Infanrix hexa) 
• 18 months of age — DTPa
• 4 years of age — DTPa-IPV

DTPa-containing vaccine is funded through the NIP for all infants and children. For details see the National Immunisation Program schedule.