Adolescents and adults who have never had a tetanus-containing vaccine are recommended to receive 3 doses of tetanus-containing vaccine with at least 4 weeks between doses, and booster doses at 10 years and 20 years after the primary course.
Tetanus vaccination programme
A full course consists of 5 doses of the tetanus vaccine. This should be enough to give you long-term protection from tetanus. But if you're not sure how many doses you've received, you may need a booster dose after an injury that breaks your skin.
The first two shots are given at least four weeks apart, and the third shot is given 6 to 12 months after the second shot. After the initial tetanus series, booster shots are recommended every 10 years.
There is no cure for tetanus, and no definitive proof that you will have lifelong immunity with childhood vaccinations alone. So for now, the CDC continues to recommend booster vaccines every 10 years to help your immune system protect against these infections.
If you've been partly or fully immunised, a tetanus shot is usually still recommended as a precaution if you're travelling to an area with limited medical facilities and your last dose of the vaccine was more than 10 years ago. You'll be offered another 3-in-1 teenage booster.
You will need a tetanus vaccine as soon as possible if you have a dirty cut, wound, or burn and 5 or more years have passed since your last tetanus vaccine.
It's usually OK to receive an extra booster of the tetanus vaccine. Vaccination is the best way to prevent tetanus — a serious disease caused by a bacterial toxin that affects the nervous system.
Preteens should get one shot of Tdap between the ages of 11 and 12 years. All adults who have never received one should get a shot of Tdap. This can be given at any time, regardless of when they last got Td. This should be followed by either a Td or Tdap shot every 10 years.
Because immunity to diphtheria and tetanus wanes with time, boosters of Td or Tdap are needed every ten years.
Do I need a tetanus shot for a small puncture? A: It depends. If the wound is small and clean, you probably don't need a tetanus shot. However, if the wound is large or dirty, you may need a booster shot.
When it comes to tetanus, the sooner the better. Symptoms of tetanus may not begin to appear until a week after the injury, so as a rule of thumb, try to get the tetanus booster shot within 48 hours of the injury.
If you have an injury where you think tetanus could be a possibility and haven't had a booster shot within the past 5 years, you should get to the hospital within 24 hours. It's important to know that the size of the wound doesn't matter when it comes to tetanus.
Persons who have completed a 3-dose primary tetanus vaccination series: If the last dose of a tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine was received less than 5 years earlier, consider them protected against tetanus. They do not require another dose of tetanus toxoid-containing vaccine as part of the current wound management.
Tetanus or lockjaw is a very serious and deadly disease caused by spores of bacteria found in the environment. A tetanus infection can lead to serious health problems such as being unable to open the mouth, trouble breathing, and muscle spasms.
The CDC recommends that adults get a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) or Td (tetanus, diphtheria) booster shot every 10 years.
Apply first aid to even minor, non-infected wounds like blisters, scrapes, or any break in the skin. Wash hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub if washing is not possible. Consult your doctor if you have concerns and need further advice.
Also, adults should receive a booster dose of either Tdap or Td (a different vaccine that protects against tetanus and diphtheria but not pertussis) every 10 years, or after 5 years in the case of a severe or dirty wound or burn.
The bacteria can get in through even a tiny pinprick or scratch, but deep puncture wounds or cuts – such as those made by nails, knives, or barbed-wire – are especially at risk of infection with tetanus. Tetanus bacteria are present everywhere and are found in soil, dust, and manure.
As with any injection, especially one given so frequently, there are risks that the vaccine might cause severe shoulder problems including bursitis, adhesive capsulitis, tendinitis and rotator cuff tear.
Is this harmful? Answer: Getting an extra dose of the routine childhood vaccines is not harmful. Extra doses are often given when a person's vaccination history is unknown.
After a person is exposed to tetanus, it may take from 3 to 21 days for symptoms to develop. On average, symptoms appear around day 8. In infants, symptoms may take from 3 days to 2 weeks to develop.
What are the symptoms of tetanus? A common first sign of tetanus is muscular stiffness in the jaw (lockjaw). Other symptoms include stiffness of the neck, trouble swallowing, painful muscle stiffness all over the body, spasms, sweating, and fever.
Why Do Tetanus Shots Hurt? If you have received a tetanus shot and your arm is sore, you may be experiencing discomfort due to your body's production of antibodies in response to the viruses in the vaccine.
It is common to experience some pain or discomfort while the tetanus shot is given. Like other shots, there could be pain, redness or swelling where the tetanus shot was given. Adults normally get a tetanus shot in the shoulder muscle. Children normally get the tetanus shot in the arm or thigh.