How Long Do Tetanus Vaccinations Last For?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsVaccine DurationWhen to Get OneAge GuidelinesOdds of InfectionWarning Signs

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Vaccine Duration

When to Get One

Age Guidelines

Odds of Infection

Warning Signs

A tetanus booster shot is typically recommended every 10 years for continued protection. The first DTaP shot (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) is given at 6 weeks to 2 months of age, with three more doses spaced out before 18 months, and a booster between 4 and 6 years.Boosters are recommended every 10 years, or sooner if you get a deep or dirty cut and it has been five years since your last shot.

Tetanus infection is rare, especially if you are up to date on your vaccinations. Less than 50 tetanus cases are reported each year in the United States. Most cases are in adults who have never received a tetanus shot or whose shots are not up to date. The risk of tetanus infection is also higher in people who have diabetes, areimmunocompromised, or are above 70 years of age.

Tetanus Shot Duration of Protection

For adults and teens, the vaccines Td (tetanus and diphtheria) or Tdap protect over 95% of people for about 10 years.

Because of this, the CDC advises getting a booster shot every 10 years. However, certain situations like pregnancy or getting a deep, dirty wound may require you to get a booster sooner.

Some researchers suggest that adults who had all their childhood vaccines might not need more tetanus shots. A study compared countries with and without booster shot requirements and found no difference in tetanus cases.

Still, the CDC sticks to its recommendation of getting boosters every 10 years to ensure your body stays protected. If you’re unsure about yourvaccine schedule, talk to your doctor.

How Long After a Cut Should You Get a Shot?

You should get a tetanus shot within 48 hours of a deep or dirty cut if it’s been more than five years since your last shot.

Get a shot as soon as possible if:

If you’re unsure when your last booster was, it’s better to get one as a precaution. For minor cuts, a shot is not necessary if you’re up to date on your vaccinations.

When Do Tetanus Symptoms Begin?Once infected, it takes about seven to 21 days for tetanus symptoms to show up. If a wound seems suspicious and your shots are not up to date, don’t wait to see symptoms. It’s better to get a booster right away.

When Do Tetanus Symptoms Begin?

Once infected, it takes about seven to 21 days for tetanus symptoms to show up. If a wound seems suspicious and your shots are not up to date, don’t wait to see symptoms. It’s better to get a booster right away.

Tetanus Shot Schedule Guidelines

Initial DTaP shots for young children are typically given at the following ages and intervals:

After that, Tdap booster shots are recommended to ensure lasting protection against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Teens are advised to get a booster Tdap shot between 11 years and 12 years. If they miss this, it’s OK for them to get a Tdap between 13 years and 18 years.

Adults:Adults can get a Td or Tdap booster every 10 years. Adults who never had Tdap should get one shot, regardless of whether or not they ever had a Td shot. Thereafter, they can follow the general guidelines for all adults.

What’s the Difference Between Tdap and DTaP?DTaP is for children under 7 and contains higher doses of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccines. Tdap is for older children, teens, and adults. Both vaccines protect against the same diseases, but they are formulated differently for each age group.

What’s the Difference Between Tdap and DTaP?

DTaP is for children under 7 and contains higher doses of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccines. Tdap is for older children, teens, and adults. Both vaccines protect against the same diseases, but they are formulated differently for each age group.

What Are the Odds of Getting Tetanus?

The odds of getting tetanus are very low. Fewer than 50 people in the United States get tetanus every year. About one in 10 of those cases are fatal. The vast majority of tetanus-related deaths are adults who never received a tetanus shot or whose shots were not up to date.

Despite the low risk, anyone can get tetanus. Infection occurs when you touch something that contains the bacteria and it enters your skin through a cut, puncture, burn, or any other break in the skin. Tetanus cannot be spread from person to person.

Many people associate tetanus with a wound exposed to rust. It’s not the rust itself that is the concern—it’s the bacteria it harbors, which could also be on other objects as well.

Can Cleaning a Cut Prevent Tetanus?Cleaning a cut well can significantly lower the risk of tetanus, but it doesn’t always prevent it. Tetanus bacteria can still get in through deep or dirty wounds, even if you clean them.To be fully protected, it’s important to stay up to date on tetanus vaccinations.

Can Cleaning a Cut Prevent Tetanus?

Cleaning a cut well can significantly lower the risk of tetanus, but it doesn’t always prevent it. Tetanus bacteria can still get in through deep or dirty wounds, even if you clean them.To be fully protected, it’s important to stay up to date on tetanus vaccinations.

Tetanus Warning Signs

The first warning signs of tetanus are often mild spasms in the jaw muscles (lockjaw). Some people also experience spasms in the chest, neck, back, and abdominal muscles. Back spasms often cause severe back arching (opisthotonos). The spasms may also interfere with breathing.

Episodes of prolonged spasms are calledtetany. These episodes can occur suddenly and be very painful. As the infection progresses, tetany may become so severe it causes fractures (bone breaks) and muscle tears.

Other warning signs of tetanus include:

If you recently got a cut and notice signs of tetanus, seek emergency care immediately. Tetanus can’t be cured, so once it starts, the disease must run its course. Treatment involves managing symptoms and complications until the toxin’s effects wear off.

Summary

Tetanus shots protect for about 10 years. Most adults should get a booster every 10 years to stay protected. If you get a deep or dirty wound and it’s been more than five years since your last shot, you should get a booster sooner.

Warning signs of tetanus include muscle spasms, difficulty swallowing, and jaw locking. If you notice any of these after a cut, seek emergency care right away, as tetanus can’t be cured once it starts.

10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Havers FP, Moro PL, Hunter P, Hariri S, Bernstein H.Use of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis Vaccines: updated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.2020;69:77-83. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6903a5Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diphtheria vaccine recommendations.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tetanus surveillance and trends.Harvard Health Publishing.Do adults really need tetanus booster shots?.Slifka A, Park B, Gao L, Slifka M.Incidence of tetanus and diphtheria in relation to adult vaccination schedules.Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Jan;72(2):285-292. doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa017Kaiser Permanente.Preventing tetanus infections.Penn Medicine.Tetanus.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What should I get a Tdap during pregnancy?.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About tetanus.World Health Organization.Tetanus: Immunization.Additional ReadingWorld Health Organization.Tetanus.

10 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Havers FP, Moro PL, Hunter P, Hariri S, Bernstein H.Use of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis Vaccines: updated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.2020;69:77-83. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6903a5Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diphtheria vaccine recommendations.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tetanus surveillance and trends.Harvard Health Publishing.Do adults really need tetanus booster shots?.Slifka A, Park B, Gao L, Slifka M.Incidence of tetanus and diphtheria in relation to adult vaccination schedules.Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Jan;72(2):285-292. doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa017Kaiser Permanente.Preventing tetanus infections.Penn Medicine.Tetanus.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What should I get a Tdap during pregnancy?.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About tetanus.World Health Organization.Tetanus: Immunization.Additional ReadingWorld Health Organization.Tetanus.

Havers FP, Moro PL, Hunter P, Hariri S, Bernstein H.Use of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis Vaccines: updated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.2020;69:77-83. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6903a5Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diphtheria vaccine recommendations.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tetanus surveillance and trends.Harvard Health Publishing.Do adults really need tetanus booster shots?.Slifka A, Park B, Gao L, Slifka M.Incidence of tetanus and diphtheria in relation to adult vaccination schedules.Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Jan;72(2):285-292. doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa017Kaiser Permanente.Preventing tetanus infections.Penn Medicine.Tetanus.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What should I get a Tdap during pregnancy?.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About tetanus.World Health Organization.Tetanus: Immunization.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diphtheria vaccine recommendations.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Tetanus surveillance and trends.

Harvard Health Publishing.Do adults really need tetanus booster shots?.

Slifka A, Park B, Gao L, Slifka M.Incidence of tetanus and diphtheria in relation to adult vaccination schedules.Clin Infect Dis. 2021 Jan;72(2):285-292. doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa017

Kaiser Permanente.Preventing tetanus infections.

Penn Medicine.Tetanus.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.What should I get a Tdap during pregnancy?.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About tetanus.

World Health Organization.Tetanus: Immunization.

World Health Organization.Tetanus.

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Tetanus Shot Duration of Protection#

How Long After a Cut Should You Get a Shot?#

When Do Tetanus Symptoms Begin?#

Tetanus Shot Schedule Guidelines#

What’s the Difference Between Tdap and DTaP?#

What Are the Odds of Getting Tetanus?#

Can Cleaning a Cut Prevent Tetanus?#

Tetanus Warning Signs#

Summary#