Local reactions and antitoxin levels induced by the administration of tetanus toxoid: a comparative study between Ped-o-Jet and hypodermic syringe

Abstract

This paper deals with the administration of tetanus toxoid to 472 army recruits, 50% of which received the vaccine subcutaneously using a Ped-o-Jet pressure injector and the remaining subjects received the vaccine intramuscularly, with hypodermic syringe and needle. The objective was to draw comparative conclusions regarding local reactions and serumconvertion in those young adults. Local reactions were observed four and 24 hours after immunization. Although significantly more frequent and intense in individuals receiving the toxoid by jet injection than in those inoculated with hypodermic syringe, no serious reactions were registered. At the first observation, local reactions occured in 64% of black men vaccinated by Ped-o-Jet and in only 31% of those vaccinated by syringe; 70% of the non-black showed local reactions when vaccinated by Ped-o-Jet and 21% when vaccinated by hypodermic syringe. At the second observation, black men vaccinated by Ped-o-Jet showed local reactions in 78% of the cases and in 3% when vaccinated by syringe; 87% of the non-black had some kind of local reaction when vaccinated by Ped-o-Jet and 17% when the vaccine was administered by syringe. Systemic reactions did not differ in either group. There was no statistical difference between blacks and non-blacks regarding local reactions. Antibody response to vaccination as measured by the paper filter Whatman # 31 technique, after digital punction, occured in a higher frequency in non-immune individuals vaccinated by Ped-o-Jet than in those vaccinated by hypodermic syringe. While in the first ones only 6.6% did not show serumconvertion, 26.9% of those vaccinated by syringe remained susceptible. The jet injector did not have any performance problems and was well accepted by the subjects, Results led to the conclusion that the Ped-o-Jet can be used for mass vaccination against tetanus.