Tetanus is an uncommon but very serious disease that needs immediate hospital treatment. Vaccines are the best protection and work very well — but protection fades over time, so CDC recommends tetanus vaccines for people of all ages:
- children and adolescents: a series of shots plus a booster;
- adults: a booster every 10 years.
Three vaccines
All three combine protection against tetanus with other diseases:
| Vaccine | Protects against | Given to |
|---|---|---|
| DTaP | Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (whooping cough) | Young children |
| Tdap | Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis | Preteens; adults |
| Td | Tetanus, diphtheria | Adults |
The "T" stands for tetanus, "D/d" for diphtheria and "P/p" for pertussis.
Image from CDC's page on tetanus vaccination.
CDC recommends tetanus vaccination for babies and children, preteens and teens, adults, and pregnant women — for them, to prevent whooping cough in newborns.
Talk with a provider first if…
Someone may need to skip DTaP, Td or Tdap if they:
- had a life-threatening allergic reaction after one of these vaccines;
- have a life-threatening allergy to any ingredient.
A provider may recommend a different vaccine if someone developed encephalopathy (a brain disease that changes how the brain works) within 7 days of DTaP or Tdap. Also tell the provider if you or your child:
- has seizures or another nervous system problem;
- has ever had Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS);
- had severe pain or swelling after a tetanus or diphtheria vaccine.
A mild illness such as a cold usually isn't a reason to wait, but a provider can advise.
Side effects
Most people have no serious problems. Side effects are usually mild and go away within a few days, though serious reactions are possible.
| DTaP | Td and Tdap | |
|---|---|---|
| Mild | Swelling or soreness at the injection site, fever, fussiness, tiredness, poor appetite, vomiting | Pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, mild fever, headache, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or stomachache |
| More serious, much rarer | Seizures; nonstop crying for 3 hours or more; fever over 105°F; rarely, swelling of an entire arm or leg, usually in older children at the fourth or fifth shot | — |
Where to get vaccinated and how to pay
- Children and teens: DTaP and Tdap are part of the routine childhood schedule, available at pediatric and family practices, community health clinics and health departments.
- Adults: usually a provider's office or pharmacy; if your provider doesn't stock Td or Tdap, ask for a referral. Federally funded health centers serve people without a regular source of care, and your health department can point you to local options.
- Cost: most private insurance covers these vaccines; the Vaccines for Children program provides them to children whose families may not be able to afford them.
Sources
Based on "Tetanus Vaccination," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from www.cdc.gov
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