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Date issued: December 2022

Review date: December 2024

Ref: A-558/NB/ED/Tetanus Immunization

PDF:  Tetanus Immunization final December 2022.pdf [pdf] 130KB

What is tetanus?

Tetanus is a serious infection which affects the nerves and is often fatal. Tetanus bacteria live in the soil and dirt. The bacteria may get into your body through a cut or a wound in the skin. The bacteria make a toxin (poison) which causes the illness.

Even small wounds such as a prick from a thorn can allow enough bacteria to get into the body to cause tetanus.

What is the vaccine?

This department gives a combined diphtheria / tetanus / poliomyelitis vaccine (sometimes called DTP). The tetanus vaccine stimulates your body to make antibodies against the tetanus toxin.

These antibodies protect you from illness should you become infected with this bacteria. These antibodies take a few weeks to be produced but once they are present, they will give long-term protection.

The diphtheria vaccine is given in combination with tetanus vaccination according to Department of Health recommendations and will help protect you against diphtheria (another bacterial disease).

A few patients also need anti-tetanus immunoglobulin. This gives immediate protection but its effects only last a few weeks.  It is only required in very dirty wounds (e.g., a wound covered in manure).

Are you immunized?

All children are offered tetanus immunization as part of the routine immunization programme.

If you have had 3 immunizations as a baby with boosters at the ages of 5 and 15 you are probably protected for life.

Some adults have not been fully immunized against tetanus because routine immunization for children was not introduced until 1961. Some older people and people who spent their childhood in a different country may still be at risk.

Anyone who serves, or has served, in Her Majesty’s Forces will have been fully immunized.

The course does not need to be started again if an injection is delayed. A late injection is sufficient to 'catch up', even if you have it years after it was due.

Do I need a dose of tetanus vaccine after cuts, bites, etc?

• If you are not immunised or not up-to-date with boosters then a vaccine is usually advised

• Tetanus immunoglobulin may also be advised if the wound is very dirty and tetanus prone.

• If you are up-to-date with tetanus immunizations then you do not need a tetanus vaccine.

Are there any side effects from the tetanus vaccine?

It is common to get a little redness and swelling around the injection site which goes after a few days.

Some people feel slightly unwell for a day or so with a mild headache, slight aching of the muscles, and a mild fever.

Some people get reactions to the injection if they have more than the recommended number or have a dose of vaccine too early.  Severe reactions are rare.