The injection site hurts after the tetanus vaccination: a reaction to the vaccination

Tetanus Vaccination for Children: Why Vaccination is Necessary  

Tetanus is an acute infectious disease caused by the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani, which is usually found in soil, dust, and manure. Spores of the pathogen typically enter the body through a wound. The tetanus bacillus produces toxins that interfere with muscle contractions.  

The main symptoms of tetanus in humans are muscle spasms. They usually start in the jaw (trismus) and then progress to other parts of the body. Spastic contractions last several minutes and can be so severe that they cause bone fractures.  

Other symptoms of tetanus include: 

• fever; 
• sweating; 
• headache;  
• difficulty swallowing;  
• high blood pressure;  
• increased heart rate.  

Symptoms usually manifest 3–21 days after infection; manifestations can also be described later, with the maximum period from injury to symptom onset being 2 years. Recovery can take several months. The patient is not contagious to others. About 10% of infected individuals die even with modern treatment.  

The Action of the Tetanus Vaccine 

The only way to prevent infection is through immunization with the tetanus vaccine. When and where is the tetanus vaccination administered? In childhood, four doses are recommended, followed by booster doses every 10 years. Routine vaccination against tetanus for children under one year is given in the quadriceps muscle of the thigh, and less commonly in the deltoid muscle.  

Vaccination is usually done according to the following schedule:  

• first dose at two months;  
• second dose at four months;  
• third dose at six months;  
• fourth dose between fifteen and eighteen months.  

The next vaccination is conducted at age 6, then at 16 years, and thereafter vaccinations should be administered every 10 years, i.e., at 26, 36, 46 years, etc. For older children, teenagers, and adults, the vaccine is administered in the deltoid muscle.  

The action of the tetanus vaccine: the type of vaccination for this disease is called artificial active immunity. This type of immunity occurs when a killed or weakened pathogen in the body triggers an immune response—antibody production. This means that if the tetanus bacillus ever enters the body, the immune system will "recognize" it and react quickly. After three doses of the vaccine, almost every person develops immunity.  

Emergency prophylaxis of tetanus in adults is necessary when a person does not remember the date of their last immunization. In such cases, the vaccine should be administered as soon as possible, preferably within 48 hours after the injury. Stepped on a rusty nail? In the emergency room, in addition to treating the wound, a "tetanus shot" will definitely be given. 

Pain at the Injection Site After Tetanus Vaccination 

Side effects after tetanus vaccination include: 

• redness, swelling, and tenderness around the injection site occur in 25–85 percent of vaccinated individuals; 
• fever, fatigue, and muscle aches are noted in less than 1% of people; 
• severe allergic reactions occur in one person out of 100,000 vaccinated individuals. 

Like any medication, tetanus vaccines have side effects. Pain at the injection site after tetanus vaccination, along with reactions around the injection area (redness, swelling), and swelling of the entire shoulder, indicates that the body is "responding" to the administration of the vaccine. 

In Denmark, more serious reactions to tetanus vaccines have been reported: severe local swelling, hives, arthralgia, kidney impairment, anaphylactic shock. None of the serious side effects resulted in a fatal outcome. 

Patients who have recovered from tetanus do not develop immunity to reinfection, which is typically characteristic of other infectious diseases. Therefore, vaccination against tetanus and administration of the tetanus toxoid is performed for everyone without exception.

Tetanus Vaccination: "Pros" and "Cons" 

Children under seven receive vaccination with a combined vaccine against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. For adults and children over seven years, a combined vaccine against tetanus and diphtheria is usually used. 

The World Health Organization confirms that maternal and/or neonatal tetanus has been eliminated. For certification, a country must not have more than one case of tetanus per 1,000 live births for at least two years. The scale of a possible "tetanus epidemic" can be judged by the following figures. In 1998, Uganda reported 3,433 cases of neonatal tetanus, of which 2,403 died. After a mass vaccination campaign, Uganda was certified in 2011 as a country that has eliminated tetanus. Therefore, those who advocate against vaccination should be reminded of these figures. Read about the main contraindications to vaccination on our site Dobrobut.com.