Diphtheria vaccination
Sophie Matzik is a freelance writer for the medical team.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.With the diphtheria vaccination you can prevent the highly contagious, dangerous infectious disease. Primary vaccination, consisting of several doses of diphtheria vaccine, is usually carried out in infancy. The effect of the diphtheria vaccination does not last for life - the vaccination must be refreshed regularly to ensure lasting protection. Read everything you need to know about the diphtheria vaccination here!
ICD codes for this disease: ICD codes are internationally recognized codes for medical diagnoses. They can be found, for example, in doctor's letters or on certificates of incapacity for work. A36
This is what happens with the diphtheria vaccination
Diphtheria is caused by a bacterium that is transmitted from person to person by coughing or sneezing (droplet infection). The pathogen (Corynebacterium spp.) Produces a poison (diphtheria toxin), which is responsible for the symptoms of the disease.
The diphtheria vaccination contains the weakened, harmless toxin of the bacterium (toxoid vaccine). In response to this diphtheria vaccine, the immune system produces antibodies against the pathogen. If a real infection with diphtheria bacteria occurs later, the immune system can react quickly and fight off the pathogens. However, the immune protection decreases over the years. Therefore the diphtheria vaccination has to be refreshed regularly.
When does the diphtheria vaccination make sense?
Since the diphtheria vaccination was introduced in Germany, the number of illnesses has fallen sharply. In order to maintain this success and to continue to protect the population, the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recommends diphtheria vaccination for all children, adolescents and adults. In addition, the disease is still widespread in other countries. Unvaccinated travelers can easily become infected there and pass the disease on to other people after their return to Germany.
This is how the diphtheria vaccine is given
For the basic immunization, the STIKO recommends a reduced 2 + 1 vaccination scheme since June 2020, consisting of three doses of diphtheria vaccine. This is usually part of the so-called six-fold vaccination, which is also effective against hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenzae type b, tetanus, whooping cough and polio. If the vaccine is approved for the 2 + 1 vaccination scheme, doctors administer as follows:
- 1. Vaccination dose from the completed 2nd month of life
- 2. Vaccination dose from the age of 4 months
- 3. Vaccination dose towards the end of the first year of life (approx. 11 months of age)
For premature babies, the STIKO experts continue to recommend four vaccination doses (3 + 1 vaccination schedule) - with an additional diphtheria vaccination in the third month of life.
The 3 + 1 vaccination schedule also applies to vaccines that are not approved for the 2 + 1 vaccination schedule.
The diphtheria vaccine is injected into the muscle (intramuscularly), usually in the side of the thigh, or alternatively in the upper arm.
Diphtheria booster vaccination
After the basic immunization, the diphtheria vaccination should be refreshed regularly - the first time at five to six years of age (plus tetanus and whooping cough) and then between nine and 16 years (plus tetanus, whooping cough and polio). In adults, doctors give the diphtheria booster in combination with the tetanus vaccination every ten years. In addition, a diphtheria-tetanus-whooping cough combination vaccine is given once.
Diphtheria vaccination: side effects
The diphtheria vaccination is generally well tolerated; side effects are usually harmless. Reactions to the diphtheria vaccination include:
- Often local reactions at the injection site (e.g. reddening, swelling)
- Occasional swelling of the lymph nodes near the puncture site
- General complaints such as fatigue, tiredness, headache and body aches
- Gastrointestinal complaints
- Fever is also common
Vaccination reactions usually subside within the first three days after the vaccination!
The diphtheria vaccination rarely causes side effects such as febrile seizures. This usually has no consequences. Since the diphtheria vaccine is given in different combination vaccines, the undesirable effects may differ slightly.
Further recommendations for diphtheria vaccination
If the diphtheria vaccination was missed as a child or not given in all vaccine doses, the basic vaccination can be made up at any time with three injections. If you do not know whether you were vaccinated as a child, medical professionals also advise you to have a complete basic series of vaccinations.
If you have a very high fever or another serious illness, the vaccination should be postponed. A mild flu, on the other hand, is not an obstacle.
A trip to an area where diphtheria infections are still very common (infection area) should be started after the second vaccination at the earliest.
Note that if you have been through the disease before, you will not become immune to the pathogen! Even if you have had diphtheria in your childhood, you should therefore get the diphtheria vaccination regularly.
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