Tetanus - vaccine

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Immunizations

IMMUNIZATION SCHEDULE

Tetanus vaccination is one of the recommended childhood immunizations and should begin during infancy. Tetanus immunization is generally required before starting school. Five doses of vaccine are recommended.

DTaP or DT immunization is usually a series of injections given to children at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and 15 to 18 months. A booster is given before starting school (age 4 to 6).

DTaP is recommended, unless there is a reason that the child should not receive the pertussis vaccine (such as allergic reaction), in which case the DT should be given.

After the initial series of immunizations, a booster of Td vaccine should be given at age 11 to 12 and every 10 years thereafter.

T vaccine or a Td booster may be given to an adult receiving care for a wound or injury that breaks the skin. Typically, a booster is given if the wound is dirty and the last Td booster was given more than 5 years prior to the injury.

BENEFITS

Nearly all people who receive a minimum of 3 injections of tetanus-containing vaccine will be protected against the disorder for at least 10 years.

DTaP and DT vaccine can be safely given to infants.

RISKS

It is much riskier to get tetanus than it is to get the vaccine. Mild reactions to DTaP are fairly common and include:

• Slight fever (occurs in about 1 in 4 people)
• Redness or swelling at the injection site (about 1 in 4)
• Soreness or tenderness where the shot was given (about 1 in 4)
• Fussiness (up to 1 in 3)
• Tiredness or poor appetite (up to 1 in 10)
• Swelling of the entire arm or leg where the shot was given for 1-7 days (about 1 in 30)
• Vomiting (around 1 in 50)

Moderate problems are uncommon and include:

• Crying nonstop for 3 hours or more (1 in 1,000)
• Seizures (1 in 14,000)
• High fever greater than 105 degrees F (1 in 16,000)

Severe problems are very rare and include:

• Serious allergic reaction (less than once per one million doses)
• Long-term seizures, coma, lowered consciousness, permanent brain damage (extremely rare and not proven to have been caused by the vaccine)