A pregnant woman attends her first antenatal visit at 20 weeks. Records show she received a Td booster 2 years ago following an injury. How many doses of tetanus-diphtheria vaccine should she receive in this pregnancy under RMNCH+A guidelines?
- A No dose needed, immunity from the booster lasts life
- B Two doses of Td, four weeks apart
- C One dose of Td as early as possible in this pregnancy ✓
- D One dose now and one dose immediately postpartum
Correct answer: C. One dose of Td as early as possible in this pregnancy
Explanation
The schedule gives Td1 early in pregnancy and Td2 after four weeks, but if the woman received a tetanus toxoid or Td booster within the preceding three years, only a single dose of Td is required in the present pregnancy. She is clearly not exempt entirely, since protection must be verified against the current pregnancy, and the two-dose series applies only to women with no recent documented immunization.
Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.