MEDS: The Difference Between Toxoids and Antitoxins?

>>Ruth asks: "So, is there a difference between the C & D  Toxoid and the C&D  antitoxin? my understanding is that you need the antitoxin for an emergency, for which the toxoid will do nothing. I have the toxoid, but not the antitoxin. am i missing what i need in case of emergency?:<<

Ruth, There is an important difference between Toxoids and Antitoxins:

Toxoids do provide long-term immunity against pathogens.  But it takes 2-3 weeks after a toxoid is administered for the body to develop antibodies that will protect it against those pathogens.

Antitoxins start to work immediately, wiping out pathogens the minute they are injected into the body.  But they do not provide long-term immunity to the host, and will disappear from the system entirely within 10-14 days after they were given.

No vaccinations (toxoids, bacterins) that are given before 2 months of age will provide immunity in the kids that get them. To give a neonate a toxoid at birth to protect it against a particular disease (usually enterotoxemia and/or tetanus), which many people want to do, is a waste of time, as it will NOT protect the kid if it's exposed to that disease! It takes the neonate’s body 2 months to mature sufficiently to start making its own antibodies against the weakened toxins in a ’vaccine’, so Before 2 months of age, antitoxins are the only things that will save the kid in a crisis.