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Tetanus (Lockjaw)

Tetanus is an infection caused by a toxin made by a type of bacteria. You may have heard tetanus called “lockjaw”—that's because the most common sign is painful tightening in the jaw muscles. “Lockjaw” can make it hard to open your mouth, breathe, or swallow. Tetanus is not contagious. It spreads when bacteria enter the body through broken skin, like in a deep cut or wound after stepping on a sharp object, or from burns or dead skin. The bacteria that cause tetanus are found naturally in soil and can also be found in dust and poop.source: 1,source: 2,source: 3

Thanks to vaccines, tetanus is a very uncommon disease in the United States. There are a number of vaccines that include protection against tetanus. The two most commonly given to adolescents and children are (1) the DTaP vaccine helps protect young kids from diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough, and (2) the Tdap vaccine, which helps protect preteens, teens, and adults from tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough.source: 4 Talk to your child's doctor to find out which vaccine will work best for your child.

Why does my child need to be vaccinated against tetanus?

Tetanus is a very dangerous disease. Without treatment, 1 out of 4 people with tetanus will die. Even with treatment, tetanus is fatal for 1 out of every 10 people.source: 1,source: 4 Tetanus can cause children to have painful muscle spasms that are so severe they cause broken bones. Children with tetanus are also at risk for pneumonia and dangerous blood clots in their lungs. Children who are hospitalized for tetanus may even need a machine to help them breathe.source: 1,source: 3

How safe are the vaccines?

Vaccines that protect against tetanus are safe and have been used for decades to protect millions of children around the world.source: 4,source: 5 More information about DTaP and Tdap vaccine safety can be found at the CDC website.

Like any medicine, there’s a very small chance that vaccines that prevent tetanus could cause other serious reactions. However, getting a tetanus vaccine is much safer than getting tetanus.source: 6

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VP Tetanus-children playing

How effective are the vaccines?

The childhood vaccines that protect against tetanus (DTaP, Tdap) are nearly 100% effective when the vaccine series is complete. A tetanus booster is recommended for adults every 10 years.source: 7 Thanks in part to most people getting vaccinated, deaths from tetanus in the United States have dropped by 99% since 1947.source: 8

What are the vaccines’ side effects?

Most kids don’t have side effects from any of these vaccines, but your child might experience mild side effects that go away in a few days. These may include soreness, swelling, or redness where the vaccine was given, low fever and chills, feeling tired, throwing up, not feeling hungry, and fussing.source: 4,source: 9

Rare side effects from the DTaP vaccine can include seizures (sudden, unusual movements or behavior) from having a high fever (about 1 child in 14,000).source: 10 Seizures related to high fevers (called “febrile seizures”) can be scary but are usually harmless. Other rare side effects include persistent crying for 3 hours or more (up to about 1 child in 1,000) and fever higher than 105°F (about 1 child in 16,000).source: 10

Understanding the Risks

Getting Tetanus vs. Getting Vaccinated

Tetanus

Vaccines to Prevent Tetanus

Common: Mild to Moderate Symptoms or Side Effects

The disease develops from 3 to 21 days after being exposed to the bacteria that causes tetanus. Tetanus is a serious medical emergency that requires hospitalization. Complete recovery can take several months.

  • Jaw cramping
  • Painful muscle spasms and stiffness
  • Seizures
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Headache
  • High blood pressure and fast heart rate
  • Fever and sweating

If side effects occur, they are usually mild and last 1–3 days:

  • Soreness, redness, or swelling where the vaccine was given
  • Low-grade fever and chills
  • Being fussy
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomachache
  • Feeling tired
  • Headache

Rare: More Serious Symptoms, Complications or Side Effects

  • Trouble breathing
  • Broken bones
  • Pulmonary embolism (blood clots in the lung)
  • Pneumonia
  • High fever
  • Crying for 3+ hours
  • Very small risk of seizures caused by fever if DTaP vaccine is given at the same time as another vaccine
  • Severe allergic reaction (generally, for every 1 million vaccines administered in the United States, only about 1–2 doses result in a severe allergic reaction)

When does my child need the vaccines?

Young kids need five doses of the DTaP vaccine from 2 months through 6 years of age. The childhood vaccines that prevent tetanus (DTaP or Tdap) may be given at the same time as other vaccines.source: 11,source: 12

Older kids need one booster shot of the Tdap vaccine at age 11 or 12 as part of their routine vaccine schedule. If your child misses the booster shot, talk with your child's doctor about catching up.source: 11

First Dose

2 months

Second Dose

4 months

Third Dose

6 months

Fourth Dose

Between 15–18 months

Fifth Dose

Between 4–6 years of age 

More information

You can also visit these sites:

Sources

  1. Penn Medicine: Tetanus
  2. CDC: Tetanus: Causes and How It Spreads
  3. CDC: About Tetanus
  4. CDC: Tetanus Vaccination
  5. CDC: Fast Facts: Global Tetanus Vaccination
  6. CDC: Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis Vaccine Safety
  7. CDC: About Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis Vaccines
  8. CDC: Tetanus Surveillance and Trends
  9. FDA: Vaccines Protect Children From Harmful Infections Diseases
  10. HHS: Tetanus (Lockjaw)
  11. CDC: Tetanus Vaccine Recommendations
  12. CDC: Administering Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis Vaccines
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