Another Vaccine Dilemma! To have, or not to have a Tetanus Booster.

[Kendrew]

I've previously learnt on here that live vaccines are not recommended whilst on long term steroid medication, and that in many situations, alternative vaccines are available... as with the shingles vaccination program.

Well, yesterday, whilst trimming my Wisteria, I accidentally pruned the tip of my finger! The pruning cutters were old, had definitely had soil on them and were quite dirty, so knowing I was overdue a tetanus booster, and knowing that 'gardening injuries' are regarded as a high risk for contracting tetanus, I phoned my GP surgery.

I explained about the need for a non-live tetanus vaccine (or alternative) but they were completely perplexed and unable to help, so with no chance of even a chat with a GP and no Practice Nurse working yesterday, I phoned my village pharmacy..... no joy there either.

My private medical insurance helpline advised it wasn't a matter for A&E, but to go to the medical Drop-In centre 10mls away as I needed either some reassurances or some treatment!

So that's what I did... and on one of the hottest afternoons in Essex!

In just my shorts and a sleeveless t-shirt, I sat in their air-conditioned waiting room for over 2hrs, and when I was finally called for triage, my teeth were chattering, my skin had turned blue and I was almost frozen to the chair! I thought they were going to have to treat me for hypothermia first & foremost! 😄

After much searching and 'deliberation' by the nurse, I discovered something that I'd never known before......

- If you've had 5 or more tetanus vaccinations in your lifetime then you're covered for the rest of your life and need no further ones.

Some of you may already know this, but I didn't, and when the triage nurse looked up my vaccination history all the way back to my infancy, I'd actually had 7 tetanus vaccinations!

Happy days!

No further action required.

I just thought I'd put this on the forum in case anyone else finds themselves in a similar situation.

All the information/advice, can be found in 'The Green Book'.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Don’t do things by half do you? 😳

Hope you’ve thawed out by now -and no, I didn’t know about not requiring more than 5 - but then I obviously don’t lead such an exciting life as you,,, 😂🤣

[Kendrew in reply to DorsetLady]

Hahaha! Yes, all thawed out thankyou. I finished off the pruning when I got home...just the Wisteria this time!! 😄

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Kendrew]

😊

[SnazzyD]

Also, if you have a “ high risk tetanus prone” wound you need the immunoglobulin. The vaccine alone is no good because it doesn’t work immediately . We used to go by this for assessment

assets.publishing.service.g...

[Kendrew in reply to SnazzyD]

Yes....the nurse did mention that too.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

When I started to read the post I was planning to reply by asking how many you have had in your life because I did know - having had a similarly exciting life in the country!!

However - I'm sure I saw an A&E programme recently that discussed it and they added a codicil about how long it is since your last one and if it is more than 10 years, a refresher was advised. Though I could be wrong!!

Though according to a study in the USA, 30 years protection is probable after a jab.

news.ohsu.edu/2016/03/22/st...

Do try to restrict your activity to the plants in future! And maybe splash out on a new secateurs??????

I hate excessive aircon! Especially when it is that hot outside. It should be set at 10C below ambient and not less than about 21C

[Kendrew in reply to PMRpro]

Haha! I'll do my best!

My new secateurs are on order as we speak!! 😄

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Kendrew]

.. and gloves in future!

[Kendrew in reply to DorsetLady]

Haha!... are you psychic???I've been pruning this afternoon, with my gardening gloves on!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Kendrew]

‘Course I am… you know Viking Goddesses have powers others don’t…maybe that why I don’t need as many tetanus jabs as some…

Been raining virtually all day here - so no gardening…

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Been lovely oop north ...

[Kendrew in reply to DorsetLady]

😂😂😂😂

[Koalajane]

well, we learn something new every day!

[Charlie892]

This thread has totally confused me as I was under the impression that tetanus is not a live vaccine but a toxoid, ie you get protection not from the virus but from the toxins that tetanus produces. But happy to be corrected.

[Kendrew in reply to Charlie892]

Now I'm totally confused!!🤭

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Kendrew]

Put your reading head on -

who.int/teams/health-produc....

[Kendrew in reply to DorsetLady]

👍👍👍👍

[Broseley in reply to Charlie892]

Yes you're right!

[SheffieldJane]

Thanks for sharing. I didn’t know this either. X

[Pusph]

Don't think I've had 5 but was told that I didn't need anymore boosters unless there was a major injury and that they've stopped giving routine boosters anyway! Trouble is in this day and age you really don't know if that's for genuine medical reasons or just a cost cutting exercise!!

[Pixix]

As one who gardens & has constant wounds from rose bushes & often from falls…why can’t PMR sufferers have Tetanus jabs, please? If I needed one I would just have gone ahead & got one! Does this only apply if on a high dose of pred? My nickname in hospital is Septic Sara, as I go ‘rotten’ so easily…so likely to need tetanus jab sometime!! But I always wear a glove on the hand that’s not holding the secateurs, as you will now do, I bet! Thanks, S x

[Kendrew in reply to Pixix]

Yes.... I usually do wear my gardening gloves but was only going to prune off a few branches of Wisteria, so I didn't bother!! That'll teach me! 😄

[Pixix in reply to Kendrew]

I do the same…quick job, no need to bother, & that’s when it happens!! S x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

Did you see my reply? The protective effect is now thought to last 30 years - so if you have had one in the last 20, you are likely to be fine!!!!!

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

I did, yes, but I don’t think I’ve had one in twenty years! All my septic happenings were treated by antibiotics, lots of IV ones, & tetanus never mentioned to my memory! Will hav3 to look it up on my records!

[S4ndy]

Glad the Tetanus query was sorted. I was more interested as to where in Essex there was a drop in centre where you could be seen within 2 hours and take advantage of free cold Aircon......asking for a friend 😂😂😂

[Kendrew in reply to S4ndy]

Colchester General Hospital. Its next to main entrance and signposted Urgent Treatment Centre.I was only triaged after 2½hrs. Hadji required further treatment, I'd have been waiting a lot longer.

esneft.nhs.uk/your-visit/fe...

[ladygigger]

Really interesting discussion and to see the various points of view. I definitely haven't had 5 in my lifetime - and to make things really interesting, I'm allergic to the live tetanus vaccine. When my children were around 10 in the early 90s, we 'inherited' the class gerbil for most of the summer holidays. I did manage to get rid of the thing for the last 2 weeks but they weren't keen on cleaning it out, so I said I'd do it (again...) The gerbil bit me, quite a nasty gash, and as it wasn't healing very quickly someone suggested popping along to the surgery where they found that I hadn't had a tetanus shot since going to grammar school in 1965. The first shot was uncomfortable, and left a lump like a tennis ball in my hip. After the second, my buttock ballooned (it really did look odd) and it was decided that I was allergic and any more would be dangerous so for the third and final injection I was given 'dead tetanus'.

Dead tetanus is no longer available on the NHS apparently - not enough call for it - so I was told to wear some kind of medical alert jewellery, and have done ever since.

[Rowergirl]

I have just had a tetanus vaccine last week ( Td/IPV) along with typhoid and pneumococcal vaccine a few days later as I am travelling to Mongolia next month and needed a booster as it was over 10 years since I had my last Td/IPV and polio, and as I am now 65, I got the pneumococcal vaccine. None are live vaccines. I am currently just on the 6th week of a 7 week reduction to 2.5mg prednisolone and had no side effects, apart from a slightly sore arm, although I did wonder if I may get some PMR aches back, but luckily I didn’t.

[Grammy80]

Great contirbution!!! I was scheduled for an RSV and additional Covid(#6) this month...but am holding off after the mega doses of pred, thanks Kendrew💞

[Kendrew in reply to Grammy80]

I've learnt much about both the tetanus vaccine and the tetanus vaccination thanks to all the helpful replies and responses received to my initial post.Make sure you read them all as there's some very helpful information amongst them.

[Stills]

good share thanks