, "the deficiencies in immunization coverage are responsible for all cases of tetanus,

In France, "the deficiencies in immunization coverage are responsible for all cases of tetanus," says the Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin (BEH), issued Tuesday, February 26 by the Institute of Health. The BEH recalls that "tetanus persists especially in the elderly population." Between 2001 and 2003, 70 years and older accounted for nearly 90% of the 75 reported cases.

Potentially fatal, tetanus occurs in a person unvaccinated or whose vaccination is no longer up to date and that is going to hurt, for example, gardening, as the tetanus bacillus spores can stay, or with an object rusty. In 1987, a survey by INSEE identified 10 million adults are not vaccinated against tetanus, and 17 million are not vaccinated against polio. As pointed out in the BEH, except for children under 6 years of age, "there is no monitoring of immunization coverage at the national level".

The study published by the BEH focuses on "immunization coverage against tetanus, polio and diphtheria in 2006 in a population aged francilienne." In this case, 600 people aged 60 to 97 years, came complete their immunizations against influenza immunization at the centre of the Institut Pasteur in Paris. In this population conscious of your health, "respectively 23%, 58% and 72% of those aged 60 or more are not up to date on their tetanus, polio and diphtheria."

The authors emphasize that "thanks to the effectiveness of post-exposure prophylaxis, tetanus in adults is contained in very low limits, but this is costly, and sérothérapie (with tetanus serum) is excessively used. " The use of combination vaccines (diphtheria, tetanus and polio) on the occasion of the influenza vaccination rates improve protection against the three diseases.