Tetanus immunisation state in a general practice population

After one of the authors' patients died of tetanus the authors investigated the immunisation state of the adult population in their practice. The devised a questionnaire based on the three main ways of receiving primary tetanus immunisation. Respondents indicated their age and sex and whether they had served in the armed forces, received immunisation in infancy, or had a course of three tetanus injections in adult life. Of 543 who gave a valid response, only 69 (13%) had received a primary course followed by a booster in the past five years; even when the criterion of a booster in the past 10 years was used only 116 were covered.