system
Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Age Factors, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antibodies, Bacterial, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Germany, Humans, Immune Tolerance, Immunoglobulin A, Immunoglobulin G, Immunoglobulin M, Nephelometry and Turbidimetry, Population Surveillance, Tetanus, Tetanus Toxin, Tetanus Toxoid.
user
Is [ Immunity against tetanus often lacking in the elderly ]? Context: It is generally recommended to vaccinate elderly people against tetanus. Is this really essential? The levels of antibodies to tetanus toxin in serum of 2936 individuals of various age groups were determined by means of an ELISA. Obviously, the antibody titers definitely diminish in the old individuals. About 50 % of people > 80 years possess antibody titers < 0.5 IU/ml and about 30 % antibody titers < 0.1 IU/ml, which means that they are not absolutely protected against tetanus.
assistant
This, however is not due to a general decline of antibodies, since levels of immunoglobulins of the classes IgG, IgM and especially of IgA are higher with growing age.It can be assumed that the awareness for the necessity for vaccination is lacking. Final Decision: yes