When do you need a tetanus booster?
I have to say this is not a question I’ve thought about in recent decades: do you need a tetanus booster every 10 years or will every 30 suffice? Evidence now indicates that 30-year intervals might do nicely, but I am almost certain it’s been more than thirty years since I’ve had mine. Then again, I don’t walk barefoot outside anymore, for what it’s worth.
On the other hand, about forty years ago I was in Costa Rica, running in sandaled feet for a ferry that was about to leave the dock without me, and I tripped a little bit (or my sandals tripped me). As a result, I sustained a nasty scrape/puncture on some very rough pavement and stones. I did catch the ferry, which led me to a place called Jesusita (then very rustic), and I had time to mull over whether my lack of a recent tetanus booster would predispose me to getting the disease.
I survived without the booster, but when I got home I made sure I got the shot. That was the last time, though. The subject just hasn’t been on my mind since. And you?
30 years?
I’m good.
In a very stupid, stupid move, I managed to poke an ice pick about 3 inches into the side of my palm about 15 years back.
Damn that hurt.
…and was VERY embarrassing to have to explain to the ER nurse (who sewed it up, and gave me the shot).
Did I mention stupid?
Mine is still good, and I do keep an eye on it. Henry Adam’s sister Louisa was in a carriage accident in Italy in 1870 and died of tetanus as a result. IIRC, that played a role in his loss of religion. If you look at the drawings of tetanus victims in the Peninsular War you can understand why.
Well I just had to find pictures of people with tetanus…creepy…especially the guy who was bent over double.
Nowadays they seem fine giving you a shot after the injury. I think it’s a newer and more effective treatment, because when I was growing up they always said that was too late.
My aunt got tetanus either from cutting her toenails or pricking herself on a thorn bush. She had trouble swallowing and went to the doctor–he sent her right to the hospital where they put her into an induced coma for seven weeks. They give you curare to prevent your muscles from contracting till the disease runs its course and your body rids itself of the toxin. She was 78 at the time and lived to be 103.
Err on the side of frequent boosters and consider vaccinations not normally prescribed for non travelers. with the increased movement of bugs to the USA by travelers it might not hurt
Given my innate lack of grace/balance, I consider a tetanus booster every 10 years to be important (until they say otherwise). I have enough issues in life – no need to court trouble.
Of course, I get the flu shot nearly every year too. (Now that would be a controversial post!)
What a difference a few years makes, but not in terms of needing the booster but the shot itself. It used to be quite painful but isn’t so bad now.
I was in a bike accident in ’86 and was told I needed a tetanus shot; I’d had one in ’84 after getting out of the Army so I disagreed and got into a little argument with the ER nurse. Fine, she ended up saying and walked away. Then my thigh began to ache–sneaky, that one was.
I got another shot in ’13 after being assaulted; my glasses were broken and I was cut under one eye. The police practically twisted my arm to get me to go to the ER; I just wanted to clean up, pop some aspirin and go to bed, but they said it would help make their case. Fine, but I dreaded the tetanus shot. I shouldn’t have–that time I hardly noticed it.
I think what changed was the shot itself; still IM but a lighter mixture (?) and a smaller needle (did I mention I really, really HATE needles?)….
During my Navy years (1954-1975) I had three tetanus boosters as a result of service in various third world paradises. Also cholera, yellow fever, plague, typhoid, hepatitis A&B, and the usual routine vaccines – DPT, MMR.
In 1997 we traveled to Africa and got vaccinated/inoculated against all of the same diseases before traveling, plus took an anti-malaria drug while in country. Same routine when we went to China and Vietnam in 2009. I think I’m good on tetanus for at least another 3 years – or maybe 23 years. At my age I may not live long enough – even for the 3 years.
In March 2012, I cut myself with a brand new knife and needed stitches. At the hospital, I got the Tdap/Adacel Vaccine which guards against Tetanus, Diptheria Toxoid and Acellular Pertussis. they gave me a little card with this information on it to give to my regular physician.
Since I often work with dirty steel and used building materials, and am always getting small cuts and scrapes, I get the booster every 10 years. Actually more often probably since I can never remember exactly when I had the one last. Seems like a nasty medieval affliction that can be easily avoided.
I took a spill onto a concrete floor on NY Eve and needed 13 stitches to close the laceration. Since the ER had my health records (I’ve been there within the last 8 Yrs), they told me it wasn’t necessary to get a booster “just yet.” Fine with me!
I’m 65. About 5 years ago, I tripped and cut my head on the side of a bedframe. I went to an urgent care and told them the last tetanus shot I had had was when I was a child. So they gave me one just in case. It probably wasn’t needed, but it couldn’t hurt.