Tetanus Shot?

[framing fowl]

Question about tetanus shots. Last time my husband had one in 2000 he had a strong allergic reaction and was told if he had another one, it would kill him. I haven't had one in about 15 years. Now I get this notice for going back to school.

"As part of the admission process students must provide proof of immunization against measles, mumps, rubella and tetanus/diphtheria (tetanus must be administered after September 2000). Information regarding this requirement is listed on the Admitted Student Checklist."

So my question is: would you go ahead and get one because the shot is better than contracting tetanus, or would you seek exemption for some sort of medical or religious reason to avoid having one?

 

[urban dreamer]

I work at a college! Get the exemption. No need risking your life or his. All he needs to do contact his doctor (or whoever) and get a written and signed form saying he has an exemption. I think this would qualify as a medical exemption since he had a bad reaction. If not, we take non-medical (religious) exemptions too!

 

[MountainMom]

In my state you can sigh a waiver on merely personal preference. If there is an epidemic of something your child is not immunized against, he/she will either need the shot are be told to stay home until the epidemic is over.

 

[framing fowl]

I don't think my life is at risk other than if I actually do get tetanus and DH is not the one going back to school so we're okay there. With the information I currently have, I just don't feel it necessary to have a tetanus shot or get one (especially if someone is telling me I HAVE to.) I guess it just rubbed me the wrong way that now you're dictating my medical choices to me to go to college. So my cantankerous nature wants to get out of it just to get out of it...

BUT, I am curious if there are any medical pros or cons of getting and maintaining your tetanus shot as an adult.

 

[Wildsky]

The tetanus shot is not very effective anyway, and the change of actually getting tetanus is super slim.

SO skipping the shot is not a difficult decision to make at all. We even live with livestock type animals and don't get the shot.

So many things have to come together in order to get tetanus in the first place.

From the book: Vaccines, are they really safe and effective by Neil Z. Miller:

During the period 1990 - 1999 there were a total of 473 cases of tetanus. An Average of 47 cases a year. of these about 7 people died, per year. fatality rate of 15%

In 1999 there were 40 cases. 5 were in the age group younger than 25. 13 cases in people over 59 years old. 22 cases in those 25-59.
7 of those in the 25-59 age group were IV drug users. 2 of those were fatal.

(there are also links to fatal reactions etc. which you already know about)

 

[~gd]

I don't think my life is at risk other than if I actually do get tetanus and DH is not the one going back to school so we're okay there. With the information I currently have, I just don't feel it necessary to have a tetanus shot or get one (especially if someone is telling me I HAVE to.) I guess it just rubbed me the wrong way that now you're dictating my medical choices to me to go to college. So my cantankerous nature wants to get out of it just to get out of it...

BUT, I am curious if there are any medical pros or cons of getting and maintaining your tetanus shot as an adult.

If you are working around manure, animals, the soil or often have cuts or other open wounds. you should both according to medical recommendations and my own experience as a rose grower. You may have the bacteria in your GI track where is is almost harmless. but if you get it in a wound it can start kicking out toxins which do the damage, you can lose control of your muscles and they start to spasm. The tipical tetanus shot neutralizes the toxins. they are working on newer ones that can control the bacteria itself. You have a new shot every 10 years, personally I have never made it through a ten year streach where I didn't have some accident that required the anti-toxin. Manure on the roses some of which have nasty thorns, puncture wounds are the worst.

 

[Wildsky]

I don't think my life is at risk other than if I actually do get tetanus and DH is not the one going back to school so we're okay there. With the information I currently have, I just don't feel it necessary to have a tetanus shot or get one (especially if someone is telling me I HAVE to.) I guess it just rubbed me the wrong way that now you're dictating my medical choices to me to go to college. So my cantankerous nature wants to get out of it just to get out of it...

BUT, I am curious if there are any medical pros or cons of getting and maintaining your tetanus shot as an adult.

If you are working around manure, animals, the soil or often have cuts or other open wounds. you should both according to medical recommendations and my own experience as a rose grower. You may have the bacteria in your GI track where is is almost harmless. but if you get it in a wound it can start kicking out toxins which do the damage, you can lose control of your muscles and they start to spasm. The tipical tetanus shot neutralizes the toxins. they are working on newer ones that can control the bacteria itself. You have a new shot every 10 years, personally I have never made it through a ten year streach where I didn't have some accident that required the anti-toxin. Manure on the roses some of which have nasty thorns, puncture wounds are the worst.

If your wound or injury bleeds then you are safe, tetanus needs an anerobic environment. Only very deep puncture wounds might be infected.

 

[xpc]

First let me say I hate shots, its not they they hurt much but more of a psychological reason me thinks, only a few of the 5000 shots I got in the Navy really hurt bad afterwards.

Don't know what was the cause but 25 years ago I jumped off a 3 foot platform onto a 3 inch 50 year old nail, the next day the entire foot and ankle was swollen and paralyzed, I don't remember the specifics but all was good after a tetanus shot.

Ten years ago I broke my hand and had no open wounds, the doctor asked if I had a tetanus shot in the last 10 years and lied by saying 9 years, he tricked me and said I needed a booster after 5 years -ouch.

My most recent occupation in a dangerous industrial environment required me to take all the Red Cross training on CPR, defibrillator, and a few others and have all the blood borne pathogen shots, hepatitis and the whatnots as I was the one to electrical and mechanically reverse or disable machines to extricate limbs and bodies. The last one I was too squeamish and had my helper pick all the fingers out of the machine. I now work in a marshmallow factory because of that.

I don't understand the need for a tetanus for schooling as all the shots I received (except Navy) could be signed off on since they were only to protect me and not as if I had typhoid or the consumption.

 

[Wildsky]

Ten years ago I broke my hand and had no open wounds, the doctor asked if I had a tetanus shot in the last 10 years and lied by saying 9 years, he tricked me and said I needed a booster after 5 years -ouch.

Really shows that the people we trust (or some trust) with their health don't even know when a tetanus shot is needed and when its not.
Good thing for that doctor I wasn't the one in his office.

I bet all he was thinking about was how much more $$ he could squeeze out of the visit.

 

[Mackay]

A tetanus shot after the fact is worthless. It will not help. You are already exposed and the body is already reacting to real tetanus toxin. The immune system has already been stimulated by the real deal, if in fact tetanus was there at all.

When ever a doctor has a capative he will vaccinate, if merited or not.

Deep wounds should be flushed with H202 till clean. Then apply colloidal silver or MMS or Lugol's iodine in a 5% solution diluted 50%.