If I haven't had a tetanus jab for decades, do I need to start an initial course from scratch?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

I don't think I've ever had a tetanus booster, just whatever vaccine I had as a baby? I see from Google that the initial vaccine is given in several steps - so if I've let it lapse do I have to start that process again? Would that be dangerous if I've forgotten about a booster somewhere along the line?

I grew up in Ireland and no idea how to get ancient medical records.

Quite confused about what to do. Not able to ask a nurse at my GP questions without booking a whole appointment, and would rather book appointment for actual shot itself.

I had one after an accident about twenty five years ago and the doctor said I was covered for life.

I think if you've had a full course including booster given in mid teens then you are covered for life unless you get a deep puncture wound or are travelling somewhere with no easy access to medical care, in which case boosters are advised. I think you may have to have a full course if you haven't, or if you are not sure of what you've had

Normally covered for life if you've had a full course of 5

www.nhs.uk/conditions/tetanus/

Nope just the one is fine.

If you have had a whooping cough jab in recent years that includes tetanus.

Had one a few years ago for a dog bite, they said it was for life. One shot only.

You probably had had the rest of the course in childhood so that 1 jab covered you. If you didn't have the rest in childhood then 1 would not be sufficient to cover you

Ok, thank you. I suppose to be on the safe side, I should have the whole course again?

I don't know if I had the whole thing in childhood - I had a bad reaction to the first whooping cough vaccine as an infant so they didn't give the next one. So if tetanus was in that as well, I wouldn't have got it.