The National Advisory Committee on Immunization strongly recommends routine immunization. It protects people against tetanus and diphtheria. It is used in people 7 years or older.
Diphtheria is a serious disease of the nose, throat and skin.
It causes sore throat, fever and chills. It can be complicated by breathing problems, heart failure and nerve damage. Diphtheria kills 1 out of every 10 people who get the disease. It is passed to others through coughing and sneezing. Tetanus or lockjaw is a serious disease that can happen if dirt with the tetanus germ gets into a cut in the skin.