An Instagram reel posted by @dr_richa_tiwari provides guidance on the ideal timing for getting a tetanus shot.
The video, which has amassed over 1.7 million views and 45,000 likes, features Dr. Richa Tiwari recounting an incident where she advised tetanus vaccination to a neighbour following a minor injury.
“A lady in my neighborhood got pricked by a thorn, and it started bleeding. I asked her when she had last received a tetanus injection. I suggested that if she couldn’t remember, she should get one (sic),” she recalls.
The neighbor, according to her, argued that a tetanus shot is needed only if one is injured by something rusty.
Dr. Tiwari explains that tetanus is caused by bacterial spores, which can be found “almost anywhere.”
“You can imagine any scenario—your home, the floor, dust, soil, stones, thorns, plants—anything, and tetanus spores could be there. So, if you get injured by anything, if the skin breaks and there’s blood, you should get a tetanus injection (sic),” she advises.
On the need for tetanus shots after every injury, Dr. Tiwari clarifies that the vaccine does not need to be repeated more than once every 10 years.
“However, if the wound is very deep, it’s recommended to repeat the dose in the fifth year,” she adds.
What is Tetanus?
Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is a serious and potentially life-threatening bacterial infection caused by the toxin-producing bacterium Clostridium tetani. This bacterium is commonly found in soil, dust, and animal faeces and can enter the body through wounds, cuts, or punctures in the skin.
When Clostridium tetani spores enter the body through a wound, they can germinate and produce a powerful toxin called tetanospasmi
n. This toxin affects the nervous system by blocking signals from the brain to the muscles, leading to severe and painful muscle spasms.
CLAIM #1: Get a tetanus vaccine, no matter what the source of injury is.
FACT : True. All wounds other than clean, minor cuts are 'tetanus prone'. Thus, any penetrating wound and not just those caused by rusty objects, can lead to the growth of tetanus bacteria.
Tetanus is deadly in approximately ten percent of cases, but it leads to symptoms like muscle spasms, fever, and difficulty in swallowing in every instance. Tetanus is commonly associated with rust as it is found in soil enriched with organic matter like manure or decaying leaves. Metal objects or discarded items left outdoors rust over time and may also harbour bacteria such as Clostridium tetani. . However, the presence of rust and the bacteria are coincidental, not directly related. Humans can contract Clostridium tetani in various ways that do not involve rust.
All wounds other than clean, minor cuts are ‘tetanus prone’. Thus, any penetrating wound and not just those caused by rusty objects, can promote the growth of tetanus bacteria, making vaccination essential.
CLAIM 2: A tetanus vaccine should be repeated every 10 years under normal circumstances. However, for deep wounds, it is recommended to repeat the vaccine after 5 years.
FACT 2: True. WHO recommends 6 doses of tetanus-containing vaccine be given to all persons from childhood to adolescence.
Tetanus can be prevented through immunization with tetanus-toxoid-containing vaccines (TTCV). TTCVs are part of routine immunization programmes worldwide, including antenatal care.
WHO recommends that an individual receives 6 doses - 3 primary plus 3 booster doses - of TTCV for protection throughout life.
"The 3-dose primary series should begin as early as 6 weeks of age, with subsequent doses given with a minimum interval of 4 weeks between doses. The 3 booster doses should preferably be given during the second year of life (12–23 months), at 4–7 years of age, and at 9–15 years of age. Ideally, there should be at least 4 years between booster doses," the WHO guideline notes.
The global neonatal tetanus elimination goal was launched at the World Health Assembly in 1989 to address neonatal tetanus as a public health issue in all countries.
In 1999, UNICEF, WHO, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) launched the Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus Elimination (MNTE) Initiative, revitalizing the effort to address MNTE as a public health challenge.
To sustain MNTE and protect all persons from tetanus, WHO recommends, "6 doses of tetanus-containing vaccine be given to all persons from childhood to adolescence."
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