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Immunization has saved more lives in Canada in the last 50 years than any other health measure.
The Td vaccine protects against two diseases:
The vaccine is approved by Health Canada and is provided free. Call your public health nurse or doctor to make an appointment.
In early childhood, immunization for tetanus and diphtheria is usually combined with other vaccines such as pertussis (whooping cough) and polio. These are given as a series of doses or shots. Most children receive these when infants and toddlers and get a booster dose at school entry and in grade 9.
For more information, see HealthLink BC Files #15a Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio (DTaP-IPV) Vaccine, #105 Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Polio, and Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib) Vaccine, and #18c Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine.
The vaccine can be given to persons 7 years of age and older. Adults should get Td vaccine every 10 years if they received a series earlier in life. This booster dose strengthens or boosts the immune system to give better protection against tetanus and diphtheria.
The vaccine can also be given as a three-dose series to adults who have not been immunized or do not have a record of prior immunization. In addition, the vaccine may be given to people with serious cuts or deep wounds whose last tetanus vaccine was given 5 or more years ago.
It is important to keep a record of all immunizations received.
The Td vaccine is the best way to protect against tetanus and diphtheria, which are serious and sometimes fatal diseases. When you get vaccinated, you help protect others as well.
Vaccines are very safe. It is much safer to get the vaccine than to get tetanus or diphtheria.
Common reactions to the vaccine may include soreness, swelling or redness where the shot was given.
| Acetaminophen or Tylenol® can be given for fever or soreness. ASA or Aspirin® should NOT be given to anyone under 20 years of age due to the risk of Reye Syndrome. |
It is important to stay in the clinic for 15 minutes after getting any vaccine because there is an extremely rare possibility of a life-threatening allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. This may include hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the throat, tongue or lips. If this happens after you leave the clinic, call 911 or the local emergency number. This reaction can be treated, and occurs in less than one in a million people who get the vaccine.
Report serious or unexpected reactions to your public health nurse or doctor.
Speak with a public health nurse or doctor if you have had a life-threatening reaction to a previous dose of tetanus or diphtheria vaccine, or any component of the vaccine.
People who developed Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) within 8 weeks of getting tetanus vaccine should not get the Td vaccine. GBS is a rare condition that can result in weakness and paralysis of the body's muscles.
Tetanus, also called “lockjaw”, is caused by a germ (bacteria) mostly found in the soil. When the bacteria enter the skin through a cut or scrape, they produce a poison that can cause painful tightening of muscles all over the body. It is very serious if the breathing muscles are affected. Up to 2 in 10 people who get tetanus will die.
Diphtheria is a serious infection of the nose and throat.The germ (bacteria) is spread through the air by persons sneezing or coughing and by direct skin-to-skin contact. The disease can result in very severe breathing problems. It can also cause heart failure and paralysis. About 1 in 10 people who get diphtheria will die.
These diseases are now rare in BC because of routine childhood vaccination programs.
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For more HealthLink BC File topics, visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca/healthfiles/index.stm or your local public health unit. Click on www.HealthLinkBC.ca or call 8-1-1 for non-emergency health information and services in B.C. For deaf and hearing-impaired assistance, call 7-1-1 in B.C. Translation services are available in more than 130 languages on request. |
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