Guest guest Posted September 9, 2003 Report Share Posted September 9, 2003 No but your nurse doesn't know what she's talking about, as tetanus shots are supposed to be given every 10 years, or when an injury occurs and you haven't had one in the last FIVE years. Unless it varies for state to state but I was under the impression that this was the generally accepted practice. Chris In a message dated 9/9/03 10:34:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time, bettysmith997@... writes: > I had to get a couple of stitches last night after a small bicycle > accident. A nurse came in with a tetanus shot and headed straight > for my arm. I managed to fend her off before she stabbed me with it > and informed her that I didn't want it. I told her that I got a > tetanus shot 1.5 years ago after my last bicycle accident, but she > seemed to think that a person needs one after every accident. I was > thinking that all vaccinations/boosters etc should be avoided because > they all inject pathogens and toxins directly into the blood stream > yaddah, yaddah, yaddah… I'm going to solve this problem by switching > to swimming as my exercise, but in the mean time, does anyone know if > tetanus is any different than the other vaccines? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2003 Report Share Posted September 9, 2003 >> I'm going to solve this problem by switching to swimming as my exercise, but in the mean time, does anyone know if tetanus is any different than the other vaccines? << Yes, it is, actually. Unlike all other vaccines commonly given to humans, dogs, and cats, tetanus vaccine is a TOXOID, not a bacterial or viral, vaccine. That is because, while tetanus is a bacteria, it's not the bacteria itself that causes the disease, but a toxin produced by the bacteria. Whereas seroconversion to nearly all live viruses, from either vaccines or natural infection, confers immunity that is almost certainly lifelong, immunity to bacteria tends to wane after time. This is why you can get strep throat multiple times, but generally can only get measles once. Immunity from toxoids like tetanus vaccine is even less persistent than natural bacterial immunity. It is generally held that we are " supposed " to get our tetanus shots boostered every 10 years. That said, I wouldn't let them give me a tetanus vaccine. Good wound hygiene, administered promptly, should prevent tetanus just fine. However, this is an individual decision. Christie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2003 Report Share Posted September 9, 2003 > No but your nurse doesn't know what she's talking about, as tetanus shots are > supposed to be given every 10 years, or when an injury occurs and you haven't > had one in the last FIVE years. Unless it varies for state to state but I > was under the impression that this was the generally accepted practice. > > Chris When she recommended the tetanus shot after each accident, she may not have realized just how frequently I get injured. : - ) I also don't think the nurse knew about my previous tetanus shot because I was in another state and they don't have those records. At the time, I was still freaked out about seeing that much of my own blood and I don't remember telling them that I had a tetanus shot recently. In their defense, while freaked out, I had gotten really bossy and was trying to tell them what to do and they my have just been saying whatever just to get me to shut up so they could do their jobs. I did ask why they give tetanus shots every ten years as well as after accidents. Seems to me if they're not anymore reliable than that, then why waste people's money giving them every ten years if they're only going to have to readminister them after an accidient. I didn't really get a response, but again, that may have been because I had just been trying to help the doctor determine how much and what type of anesthesia to administer. I'm surprised I didn't end up straight-jacketed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 9, 2003 Report Share Posted September 9, 2003 > Yes, it is, actually. > > Unlike all other vaccines commonly given to humans, dogs, and cats, tetanus vaccine is a TOXOID, not a bacterial or viral, vaccine. That is because, while tetanus is a bacteria, it's not the bacteria itself that causes the disease, but a toxin produced by the bacteria ... Hey, thanks for the info. My wound was cleaned, sterilized, and re- sterilized during the whole ordeal, in addition to a lot of blood- letting prior to the sterilization procedure, so I feel suffiently sterile. As a kid, I was always told that I'd have to get a tetanus shot if I stepped on a rusty nail. I wonder if rust harbors more of this bacteria than other objects? I fell on glass yesterday and pavement the time before that (no stitches, just a broken arm and a lot of road rash). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.