Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis serosurveillance program
Adults aged over 50 years old are recommended to receive a diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine booster if their last tetanus vaccine was more than 10 years ago. However, vaccine uptake among older Australians is uncertain, and prevalence of IgG antibody to pertussis toxin in people over 60 years old has shown a progressive decline.
Vaccination of older individuals has previously occurred via funded state and territory based ‘cocooning’ programs for older adults (e.g. grandparents) in contact with young infants, but this has not occurred in the last 5 years, and diphtheria outbreaks have increased due to population immunity gaps.
This study aims to estimate the prevalence of antibodies to DTP among adult blood donors and examine any variation in prevalence of antibodies to DTP by age group. We will also explore variations by gender, jurisdiction, socioeconomic status, and geographic area based on the postcode of residence, to inform subsequent serosurveys and triangulate the data with vaccine coverage data to describe population immunity for DTP. This estimation of DTP antibody seroprevalence will provide important information to assess population immunity gaps and inform the need for targeted campaigns and/or funding to promote vaccination in older Australians.
A cross-sectional seroprevalence study will be conducted, testing de-identified residual whole blood donor samples, collected in 2022 as part of a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) serosurvey, for DTP seroprevalence analysis.
Reports will be provided for policy management and will be used for the evidence base for DTP vaccine management in Australia. The study findings will also be submitted for peer-reviewed journal publications and conference presentations, and will be provided here as they become available.
This estimation of DTP antibody seroprevalence will provide important information to assess population immunity gaps and inform the need for targeted campaigns and/or funding to promote vaccination in older Australians.
- Australian Red Cross Lifeblood
- National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS)
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
