Tetanus vaccine
What is tetanus?
Tetanus is a disease caused by toxins from the bacterium Clostridium tetani and is transmitted through contact between wounds and contaminated objects. The toxin damages the nervous system, causing spasms and paralysis.
The importance of prevention
A potentially very serious disease, the vaccine is one of the main tools that has enabled us to drastically reduce its spread in different parts of the world.
The vaccine
Trade name:
Imovax Tetanus/Anatetal
Diftavax (Tetanus/Diphtheria)
Boostrix (Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis)
Revaxis (Tetanus/Diphtheria/Polio)
Polioboostrix/Tetravac (Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis/Polio)
Infanrix/Hexyon (Diphtheria/Phyphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus/Polio/Epetatitis B/Hemophilus B)
There are three categories of combined tetanus vaccine. Hexavalent (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Poliomyelitis, Hepatitis B, Hemophilus influenzae type B) requires 3 doses, given at 3, 5 and 11 months of age, followed by a dose of tetravalent vaccine (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Poliomyelitis) at 5 or 6 years of age and a booster every 10 years.
The vaccine is composed of the anatoxin (the purified bacterial toxin) of tetanus.
It is administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly.
The most common side effects are injection site pain and redness, malaise, fever, nausea and headache.
Vaccination should be postponed if a high fever is present. It should be avoided if severe allergic reactions to the vaccine or any of its components have occurred in the past.
It is highly recommended that all women of childbearing age or who are pregnant should check their vaccination status and, if necessary, have a tetanus booster in order to prevent possible infection.
Your safety and health are at the heart of our commitment. You can always count on the experience and expertise of the Ambimed team.
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The information presented is general in nature, is published for general audiences, and is not a substitute for the relationship between patient and physician.