Why tetanus? Quick facts
Typical childhood diseases like tetanus have been virtually eliminated in the United States through a routine immunization. But in many countries, half of all neonatal deaths due to vaccine-preventable diseases are caused by tetanus.
- Tetanus is caused by bacteria called Clostridium Tetani.
- Tetanus has a fatality rate as high as 70 to 100 percent in some countries. Each year approximately 140,000* infants and up to 30,000 women in developing countries die from tetanus.
- There are still 46 countries that have yet to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus.
- In developing countries where healthcare is not easily accessible, women give birth at home in often unsanitary conditions, putting them and their newborn babies at risk of contracting tetanus. The bacteria can pass through the umbilical cord when cut, infecting both mother and baby.
- By being vaccinated against tetanus, mothers and their babies are easily protected against this terrible disease.
- Two doses of the tetanus vaccine are recommended for pregnant women, and three doses to all women of childbearing age in high-risk areas, providing protection for up to 15 years. The vaccine also passes on the immunity to the mother's newborns for the first few months of life.
- One tetanus vaccine costs just 5 cents—the amount that Pampers donated per specially marked pack sold during the 2008 "One Pack = One Vaccine" campaign in North America.
* According to the latest data from WHO.
