Notes From the Field: Use of Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis Vaccine (Tdap) in an Emergency Department—Arizona, 2009-2010

Because of an increasing incidence of reported pertussis cases attributed to waning immunity among adults and adolescents, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) in 2005 recommended administration of a new, combined tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) for adolescents and adults aged 11-64 years. ACIP recommended that they receive a single dose of Tdap to replace tetanus and diphtheria toxoid vaccine (Td) for booster immunization against tetanus and diphtheria if they hadn't previously received Tdap. Adults aged ≥65 years were to receive Td according to ACIP recommendations. Here, Rhodes et al review a sample of patients receiving tetanus vaccines at a large emergency department to learn whether these age-specific recommendation were being followed in an ED in Arizona.