Diphtheria, Tetanus & Polio (DTP) Vaccination
The TdP vaccine, also called Td/IPV is used to protect against three diseases: Diptheria, Tetanus and Polio.
IPV stands for Inactivated Polio Virus, differentiating it from another vaccine which is live. Live polio vaccines are not used in the UK.
Thanks to childhood vaccination programmes, these diseases are now rare, especially in the UK. To maintain this, the DTP vaccine remains essential for all children.
Following routine childhood immunisation, booster TdP vaccines are normally given in the event of an injury (dirty wounds pose a risk of Tetanus), for foreign travel to areas where access to a booster dose could be uncertain, or for those at occupational risk. If it has been more than 10 years since your last dose, there is also no harm in boosting your immunity, just for peace of mind.
The vaccine we routinely use is called Revaxis. Another vaccine, called Repevax, could also be used if protection against Whooping Cough is required. Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio are also included in the childhood vaccines Vaxellis or Infanrix.
Who should have the Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio vaccine?
The DTP vaccine is recommended for all children as part of their routine immunisations. Additionally, all adults should consider a booster vaccine if it’s been more than 10 years since their last vaccine.
After childhood vaccination, which is completed around the age of 14, booster doses should be given in the following circumstances:
- Following an injury; dirty wounds pose a risk of Tetanus
- Foreign travel to areas where access to a booster dose could be uncertain
- Occupational risk
Catching up with a full course of tetanus vaccines should be considered in those who have an uncertain vaccination history.
How many doses of the DTP vaccine are required?
Five doses are given during childhood, the last of these at age 14. Protection can be updated every 10 years after that.
The UK childhood vaccination schedule consists of five doses, with the last of these at age 14. Most teenagers and gap-year students don’t therefore need a vaccine update for their travels.
An update for travel is usually recommended every 10 years after the last childhood dose.
How does the DTP vaccine work?
Repevax is a killed vaccine.
The vaccine contains purified, inactivated, Diphtheria and Tetanus toxoids, as well as killed fragments of three different strains of Polio virus.
It produces protective antibodies against harmful toxins made by Diphtheria and Tetanus bacteria, and against all three strains of the Polio virus.
Polio circulating in London sewage
In 2022, polio virus was detected in London sewage, resulting in children aged 1-9 years being offered an extra booster polio vaccine dose.
Although this emergency is now over, this episode illustrates how quickly things can change if there is a lapse in our vaccination programme.
A similar emergency is now taking place in some parts of the UK, with rising numbers of measles cases, following a fall in numbers of children vaccinated.
It is really important for children and adults to stay up-to-date with recommended vaccine protection.
More about the 2022 polio emergency...
What is Diphtheria?
Diphtheria is a serious bacterial infection of the respiratory tract or skin, with potentially life-threatening complications. It is completely preventable by immunisation.
It is spread by respiratory droplets or secretions and by contact with broken skin.
Humans are the only reservoirs of the disease; carriers may harbour the organism for prolonged periods. In non-immune individuals the bacteria multiply in the upper respiratory tract, most commonly the throat and nostrils, causing intense inflammation.
Symptoms of diphtheria include:
- Thick, grey membrane on the throat and tonsils
- Sore throat
- Swollen glands in neck (lymph nodes)
- Difficulty breathing
- High temperature
The multiplying bacteria release a potent toxin, which travels through the bloodstream to affect many organs in the body, most notably the heart, kidneys and nerves. Death from toxin damage can occur several weeks after the patient appears to have made an uneventful recovery.
Diphtheria bacilli may also colonise pre-existing skin injuries to cause cutaneous diphtheria, often on the lower legs, feet and hands. These infections are usually mild but chronic and represent the major reservoir of diphtheria in tropical countries.
What is Tetanus?
Tetanus is a serious infection caused by bacteria getting into a wound.
It is caused by Clostridium tetani bacteria that lie dormant as spores in the soil. Spores enter the body through soil contamination of wounds or via unclean surgical instruments and needles. Once inside the wound the spores germinate and the bacteria grow and multiply. Environments with low oxygen concentrations, such as deep wounds with a poor blood supply and/or lots of residual dead tissue, are especially favourable for bacterial growth.
Clostridium tetani produce a powerful toxin that spreads through the body in the blood, and is taken up into nerves, where it exerts its effects. Days or weeks after the initial infection, symptoms begin to occur, especially stiffness of the jaw muscles causing ‘lock-jaw’ and difficulty in swallowing.
Tetanus is fatal in around 1 in 10 cases.
The symptoms of tetanus include:
- Lockjaw (stiffness in your jaw muscles)
- Muscles spasms
- Difficulty swallowing
- High temperature
- Sweating
- Rapid heart rate
Fast treatment is necessary to prevent symptoms from worsening.
Tetanus is entirely preventable by immunisation.
What is Polio?
Polio (which is short for poliomyelitis) is a serious viral infection spread by food or water contaminated with faeces or sewage from a person infected with or harbouring one of three strains of the polio virus.
Most people don’t develop any symptoms of polio or even realise they’re infected.
For the small number of people who do, they may experience symptoms of:
- High temperature
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
- Sickness
In severe cases of polio, the virus can attack the nerves in the spine and brain which can cause paralysis. Polio used to be called infantile paralysis. Paralysis can affect the breathing muscles of the chest, or the muscles of the arm or leg, resulting in a shortened, contracted limb. It can cause lasting disability or death.
Unfortunately it has not yet been eradicated, so everyone should be immunised against this important disease.
Our Patients Speak for Us
Barry Milton
Excellent and efficient service from reception to consultation. Arranged good contact with my local GP which has enabled me to complete my treatment early next week.
Chris Starling
Always an excellent service whether on personal or business matter. The team go out of their way to be helpful and accommodate needs and treat each matter with importance whilst taking a pragmatic and responsive approach to situations to put patients first.
Iain Guest
I received a first dose of the QDenga vaccine recently from Nurse Becky Arrell at the Fleet Street Clinic. She was quick, efficient, friendly and very knowledgeable. The QDenga is not yet available in the US, where I live, and I'm heading off to South Asia feeling reassured. I highly recommend the Clinic to anyone traveling to far-off lands!
Shaveta Gupta
Very professional, easy to book the appointment over the phone, all queries were answered straight away with assuring answers by the receptionist, competitive prices, nurse was very polite and informative too. Highly recommended.
Hareen De Silva
Fantastic front of house staff. Dr Levy was brilliant during my appointment. Nurse Chiara gave me my travel vaccinations and was extremely professional and knowledgeable.
Mrs L Butler
From the moment I arrived I was treated with care, kindness and respect. There was no waiting around, care was highly competent, reassuring and knowledgeable. I got everything I needed in 1 trouble free visit and left grateful for the service. I would definitely use again. The building is traditional, in an historic part of London, so if you are looking for gleaming chrome and plastic minimalist clinic aesthetic this isn’t you but the service and facilities are fully up to date.
Grace G
The travel nurse was lovely and very efficient with giving me vaccines. She even took the time to nurse a wound I had whilst I was there. Really great care.
Nina
I wanted to get a private covid vaccination as soon as it is available. The Fleet street clinic must be one of the first places in London, where the private Covid vaccination is available. I booked on Saturday for my appointment on Monday. When I got to the clinic I waited for less than 5 minutes. The staff were friendly and welcoming. Overall a very pleasant experience. I'm glad to have the vaccine as I'm not eligible under new NHS rules.
Emily Lavis
Brilliant clinic, would 100% recommend. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable and the nurse's care couldn't have been better. They managed to fit me in for a same-day appointment and provide me with helpful advice for follow up. Thank you :)
Geraldine
Great clinic with a very helpful team. The nurse explained each vaccine in detail which was very enlightening. I was seen on time and felt well looked after.
FAQs
Yes, we are happy to provide childhood vaccines for children if for any reason this cannot be provided by the NHS. Please contact us for more information.
When attending with children, please bring your child’s “red book” along with you.
In the UK, your child’s vaccination history is normally recorded in their red book, which should be updated every time they receive a vaccine.
If you forget to bring it, we can still see you and vaccinate your child without it, and update it afterwards.
Yes, please try to remember to bring it with you.
No. They are similar but DTP contains diphtheria tetanus and polio, whereas DTap-IPV contains diphtheria, tetanus, polio and acellular pertussis also (whooping cough vaccine).
Diphtheria, tetanus and polio protection is included in infant and pre-school vaccines (in 6-in-1 and 4-in-1 combinations)
The 3-in-1 DTP combination is given as a teenage booster dose, usually at age 14, then every 10 years thereafter.
DTP forms part of the national schedule of vaccinations in the UK but is not a mandatory vaccine.
Yes. There is no interaction between DTP and MMR. It is safe to give them at the same time, in the same appointment.
Yes. There is no interaction between DTP and varicella vaccine. It is safe to give them at the same time, in the same appointment.
Yes. There is no interaction between DTP and meningitis ACWY vaccine. It is safe to give them at the same time, in the same appointment.
