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Why get vaccinated?
Tetanus and pertussis are serious diseases.
Tetanus (also called "lockjaw") is caused by bacteria usually
found in soil, dust, and manure. Unlike other diseases for which people receive
vaccines, tetanus is not contagious (it is not spread from person to person). A
person gets tetanus from the environment. The tetanus bacteria enter the body
through an opening in the skin – the size of the opening can range from a tiny
pinprick or scratch to a cut to a deep puncture wound, such as that caused by a
nail or knife. Tetanus can be an aftermath of severe burns, ear infections,
tooth infections, and animal bites. Contrary to popular belief, rusty nails do
not cause tetanus. It’s the bacteria that cause the disease, and the bacteria
can be present on a rusty nail, a shiny nail, or many other objects that come
into contact with an opening in the skin.
Symptoms and course:
Headache, crankiness and spasms of the jaw muscles are the first symptoms to
develop, appearing from 3 days to 3 weeks after tetanus enters the body. As the
tetanus toxin (poison) spreads, it can cause painful muscle contractions in the
neck, arms, legs, and stomach. Severe spasms in the jaw can cause it to lock so
the patient cannot open his/her mouth or swallow. Several weeks of
hospitalization may be needed to recover from tetanus. In the United States,
about 50 cases a year occur, and 3 in 10 people who get tetanus die from it.
Diphtheria is caused by bacteria that live in the mouth, throat and nose
of an infected person and are spread to others through coughing or sneezing. A
person who has diphtheria can spread it to others during the first 2 to 4 weeks
they are infected.
Symptoms and course: Sore throat, slight fever and chills are early
symptoms, appearing 2 to 4 days after exposure to diphtheria. Sometimes a thick
coating occurs in the nose and back of the throat, making it hard to swallow or
even breathe. Other problems include heart failure and paralysis. About 1 person
in 10 who get diphtheria dies from it.
Vaccination is the best way to protect against tetanus and diphtheria. If it
weren’t for vaccines and immunization programs that began in the 1920s and
continue to this day, many more people would get these diseases and would die
from these diseases.
Who should get the vaccine?
The tetanus and diphtheria vaccines are almost always given to children
together with another vaccine, pertussis (whooping cough), as a combination
vaccine called DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and acellular Pertussis). Children
should get a total of 5 doses of DTaP vaccines before they reach 6 years of age.
The tetanus and diphtheria vaccine (Td), given together as a single vaccine, is
intended for children ages 7 and older and for adults. It does not contain the
pertussis vaccine and has less diphtheria toxoid than the DTaP vaccine. The
first dose of Td is recommended at either 11 to 12 or 14 to 16 years of age,
with additional doses given every 10 years throughout life.
Is there anyone who should not receive the Td vaccine?
Tell your doctor or nurse if the person getting the vaccine:
- Has ever had a serious allergic reaction or other problem with
Td or any other tetanus and diphtheria vaccine (DTaP or diphtheria/tetanus
vaccine),
- Currently has a moderate or severe illness,
- Is pregnant
What are the risks from the Td vaccine?
Vaccines, like any medicine, can cause serious problems, up to and including
death. But this risk is very small. The harm from these diseases, if people
stopped being vaccinated, outweigh the vaccine risks. Nonetheless, some of the
problems that can develop include:
Mild problems: Examples of these problems include soreness, redness, or
swelling at the vaccination site. These problems start within hours to a day or
two of the shot and last 1 to 2 days.
Severe problems: These problems are rare but include deep, aching pain
and decrease in muscle mass in the upper arm that received the vaccine and
serious allergic reaction (e.g., development of skin rash and swelling; difficulty
breathing, hoarseness, wheezing; high fever; fast heart beat; dizziness).
What should be done if a serious reaction occurs?
- Call your doctor or get the person to a doctor right away.
- Tell the doctor what symptoms have occurred, the time and date
they occurred, and when the vaccine was received.
- Ask the doctor to file a vaccine adverse event report form.
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