It’s a childhood vaccination rite of passage, and adults need to keep up to date with a tetanus booster shot every 10 years. But how much do you really know about this potentially serious disease, and why is it so important to protect yourself against it?
Critical reasons to stay up to date on tetanus shots
What is tetanus?
Also known as lockjaw, tetanus is a disease that affects the central nervous system and is caused by a specific strain of bacteria called clostridium tetani. It’s pretty common to encounter it in soil. It’s only when the bacteria enter your bloodstream through a cut, scrape or puncture wound after contact with a contaminated — often rusty metal — object that the toxins start to replicate and cause infection. The symptoms that can result over the next few days and weeks may include muscle stiffness and spasms, headache, fever and a telltale tightening of the jaw that can make opening your mouth and swallowing painful.
Once you’ve contracted it, tetanus needs to be treated quickly with antibiotics and human tetanus immune globulin injection to combat the infection. Fortunately, it’s not contagious. However, if left untreated, it is possible for tetanus to progress into serious health complications such as aspiration pneumonia, pulmonary embolism, breathing difficulty and even death.
Don’t throw away your shot
The good news is tetanus is preventable, which is precisely why getting your shot is so important. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that babies receive a series of three DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough/pertussis) vaccines between 2 months and 6 months of age, followed by a booster sometime between 15 and 18 months, and then another administered between 4 and 6 years old for the fullest, most robust protection.
To keep that immunity going strong, preteens should receive an age-appropriate Tdap shot at 11 or 12 years old that also provides more combined protection against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. After that, adults need a vaccine to update their status once every 10 years. Those who’ve never had a tetanus shot can get their first one at any time, and it’s never too soon to start. Better safe than sorry; you never know when or where you might encounter the bacteria that causes tetanus. The best course of action is to keep up rather than having to play catch up.
Where to get it and what to expect
Tetanus vaccines are widely available at doctors’ offices, pharmacies and community health centers. If you’ve been diagnosed with tetanus, you’ll want to wait until after you’ve fully recovered before getting the shot, and anyone who is allergic to the ingredients in the vaccine should avoid it. Otherwise, it’s generally well-tolerated and considered safe for most people.
You might experience a few mild side effects like soreness at the injection site, fatigue, nausea, low-grade fever or headache for a day or two following the vaccine. Don’t hesitate to discuss any questions or concerns you may have with your doctor or pharmacist.
