Tetanus

[Fitfunfab]

Anyone born between 1961 and 1980?

I was born in 1987 and had 3 jabs as a baby and 1 preschool booster in 1991 so 4 in total, I was meant to have one when I was a teen but apparently I missed it, tiny possibility I had it and it want logged however I may have had a day off school,

i alway assumed I was up to date on everything, I ask the doctor if I’ve had all my jabs and they’ve said yes I think if you’ve never had a tetanus jab they may notice but I’ve had 4 so probably thought it was ok.

I have ensured my kids had every vaccine, however they decided not to have the Covid vaccine and I didn’t pressure them.

anyway I had flu last week and I had a new bathroom and toilet installed, they said I could use the bath, I didn’t clean the bathroom because it didn’t look dirty and I didn’t want to ruin the grout and sealant, plus I was ill so didn’t feel like cleaning so I just wiped a dettol wipe around taps and door handles for example. The shower attachment was fitted last looked clean but the men who fitted it were working all day in and out of the house putting things on the lawn and they installed the toilet that day so I don’t know it’d they washed their hands.

so Friday night I had a bath and I took the shower head of the attachment which was very sharp, I scrapped the side of my thumb it bled for a while I may have dipped it in bath or run it under tap and then sat in bath and wrapped a flannel around thumb and held arm up to stop bleeding.

then I was thinking oh shit maybe it it dirty as I haven’t cleaned it, I assumed I must have had 5 tetanus jab in the past but the last one would have been 24 years ago ( assuming I had it as a teen)

so I called 111 that night and they called me back in the morning

i went to a and e as I was informed to and the dr saw me and said I hadn’t had one since 1991 so she will authorise a jab

I had a jab within 24 h about 15 to 18 hours I the injury can’t remember right now

I then called my gp on Monday as it was still within 72 h and I was panicking as maybe I should have had some other treatment too as my last shot was 34 years ago

she assured me that as I’ve had 4 previously a 5th jab is fine and it’s not a tetanus prone wound even though she did consider and repeat it had been outside and I explained the builders may have touched toilets and dirt etc

it’s now Thursday, I’ve had flu for 13 days, been coughing, 6 days since injury, 5 days since jab,

bad migraine today, however I do get bad migraines and been very anxious and have been breathing in paint fumesfor 2 weeks. As house being decorated.

face getting weird sensations, teeth and gums hurts, occasional twitches around jaw

note I have bad teeth alignment, and do get pain, my teeth don’t sit together right so I’m extremely scared of getting lockjaw as it would be bad enough but I don’t think I could cope as my teeth and jaw are not aligned right,

im hoping that the pains are due to coughing and anxiety

however tetanus can’t effect jaw and gie headache so panicking

I read online that people seem to say they had jabs within the last ten years I never really new no one has ever told me so thought i was fine, I can’t seem to find anyone who hasn’t had a jab for 34 years!

im only 38 so I can’t be the only one that missed the teen booster as they don’t remind you as far as I am aware,

also I read online that people born between 1961 and late 70’s only got 4 jabs in childhood like me, so they may have only had 4, it is advised those people can go an have a 5 but not sure if people actively did or were invited ?

my nan born in 1947 said she think she only had one years ago and don’t know when! I told her to get another one!

anyone else ?

You posted this last week and the general view was you are very unlikely to get tetanus from what happened but you have also had a jab and seen a doctor. Kindly, it sounds as if you have health anxiety but if you are really concerned you should call 111.

This op is very long.
FWIW likely not tetanus.
You generally have immunity for about 10 years. I confirmed via Google AI:

The tetanus vaccine provides protection for
about 10 years, requiring a booster shot every decade to maintain immunity, though it's also recommended after deep or dirty wounds, especially if it's been over 5 years since your last shot. After childhood immunizations, adults get a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) shot once and then Td boosters (tetanus, diphtheria) every 10 years, or Tdap if they haven't had it as an adult.
Key Points:

Routine Boosters: Every 10 years for adults.
After Wounds: Get a booster if your last shot was over 5 years ago and you have a serious cut, puncture, burn, or bite.
Initial Adult Dose: Adults who never had Tdap should get one dose, then Td boosters every 10 years.

Check your country's vaccine schedule.

Think about it logically: tetanus is very rare in the UK and is usually from corroding, rusty metal and a very unclean would.

You’ll be fine.

Tatanus is so rare. You have been seen by a doctor and had a jab. You will be fine.

Thanks I’m curious if anyone else has only had 4 jabs and if it has been a very long time since their last

I haven’t had one for about 30 years.

Yes, I only had 4 and yes, it was a long time since my last when I was injured last June and needed stitches for a cut on my leg. They looked it up, saw it had been more than 10 years, gave me a jab and sent me home. That's NORMAL

Thanks I just think I’m panicking as I try and take good care of myself and ensure my kids are up to date, I’m taking my teen for men b jab tomorrow as they don’t vaccinate teens for that ( they started vaccinating younger kids from 2015 ) so I don’t want to die of something I could of avoided but I guess you can’t control everything, lol I was just curious if anyone else only had 4 as online it seems everyone has had one within the last 10 years

I told my nan to get one she is 78 she can’t remember when she last had one and thinks she only had one! She doesn’t see to fuss but said she’ll mention it to the dr when she has her review before April, I hope she asks… thank you for responding

Thanks i get bit obsesssed been reading tetanus stories 7 days straight. I do work and have plenty to do but can’t help it

You don’t need a booster every ten years. That’s incorrect. Five in a lifetime with boosters for tetanus prone wounds or travel (even then that’s usually given for the polio component).
Practice nurse.

Thanks for all your replies! It’s about day 17 and I have forgot about tetanus for the last few days, my life like everyone else’s these day is just non stop, work, study, cleaning and the rest I never have much time to worry, having a week off work over Xmas, staying in decorating, getting flu had made me very anxious I think I have been overwhelmed and just started thinking about things I never think about much and that made me worry as I just assumed I had 5 jabs as a kid and then I found out I didn’t, and I’ve had a few accidents decorating and had bad flu, the house is upside down whilst decorating so just being really anxious however I am ok now and just was curious if other people missed certain jabs and wasn’t aware anyway a small possibility I could have had the jab but it wasn’t logged

When I was in my 20s I was told by the nurse that I'd had my three tetanus jabs for life. I'm now 58, it's never come up I should have another. I've been scratched (accidentally in most cases) by the lovely cays I've had, been attacked by a vicious cat down the road a few times (he attacks if you try and stop him coming through cat flap), been bitten by horses a couple of times and scratched while doing the gardening practically every year. Never felt ill after and I believe these occasions are far more risky than the one you've mentioned.

I’d see the doctor for your anxiety OP.

Thanks I’m ok now I think decorating and things have stressed me out I’ve nearly finished so feel better now lol I did sound a bit panicky I think being single you have no one to give you reassurance when you make a mistake or worry about something

Thanks for the message, yeah a lot of people online where saying they had 5 as a child then every 10 years and I just thought, I only had 4 then nothing for 34 years! Seemed a long time compared to other however I’m sure many people haven’t had one for years I’ve been cut many times never thought much about tetanus, I think having a wee off work and being in isn’t good for the brain more than anything! As I love being outside, however I’m glad I had my 5th one now as apparently that is how many your meant to have to give you life protection so worry over lol

Again thanks for the reply, 3 doses is adequate/primary series, apparently however they do advise to get a jab if you get scratched or bitten by an animal and haven’t had a jab in 10 years. As it’s the 5 jabs in total that can potentially give you lifelong protection but even then a tetanus prone wound occasionally is enough for them to offer a booster jab, if more than 10 years gone by and tetanus prone wound. Again rare but just spreading the knowledge I’ve leant from reading about it recently!😊