Diphtheria

Diphtheria is a respiratory disease caused by bacteria, humans are both the reservoir and the carriers. . This means that diphtheria can be eradicated through vaccinations and herd immunity. Transmission is through respiratory droplets and rarely through skin and fomites. Though it is considered to be a childhood disease the most common age group to get it is 40 - 64 (1).

To vaccinate against diphtheria a toxoid vaccine is used. The vaccine is part of the TDaP which also included tetanus and pertussis. Children require four does of the vaccine starting at two months of age with the subsequent doses being four weeks apart from each other. The diphtheria toxiod is considered to be 97% effective after the four doses. This vaccine does require a booster shot every 10 years but most people are non-compliant (1). 

If vaccinations for diphtheria were to stop, there would be an increase in incidence of the disease in people of all ages as this disease has a high communicability (1).   

(2)

¹Pinkbook. (2019, April 15). Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/dip.html  

²Tarwater, B. (n.d.). Understanding the Tdap vaccine. Retrieved May 2, 2020, from https://www.wvlt.tv/content/misc/Understanding-the-Tdap-vaccine-564510121.html