Question for Jimjams

[Socci]

Hi Jimjams - I have a question about Tetanus vaccine (sorry if you've answered this before). For the moment I've decided for dd1 and dd2 not to have any vaccines but I still worry a little about tetanus. Do you know how well it works? I only wonder because if you actually get tetanus you are not immune afterwards, are you? Does the vaccine work differently from others? I remember reading on VAN once that a tetanus shot could "sensitise" rather than help and I'm confused.

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I did some research for tetanus for Jimjams at one time. If you get tetanus, rather than the shot the virus and/or toxin (can't remember which), it has such a strong affinity for nervous tissue that it binds before the bodies immune system can recognise it and start to make antibodies. That is why getting tetanus doesn't leave you immune. The vaccination doesn't work in the same way.

I don't think that I am putting words in Jimjams mouth, but tetanus was one of the ones that she thought longest about.

I'll put my cards on the table, I'm pro vaccination. That said, I've done research on tetanus toxin , and if there was one vaccine that I would take, it would be that one. Tetanus is a ghastly thing to get, and it is caught by penetrating wounds in dirty soil. Real play ground stuff if you are unlucky.

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This is from a tetanus vaccination summary of product characteristics

Tetanus vaccine is prepared from tetanus toxin produced by thegrowth of the bacterium Clostridium tetani. The toxin is converted to tetanus formol toxoid by treatment with formaldehyde solution. In addition, for tetanus toxoid adsorbed or adsorbed tetanus vaccine, aluminium phosphate or aluminium potassium sulphate is used as a mineral adjuvant to adsorb the tetanus antigens. This prolongs and enhances the antigenic properties by retarding the rate of absorption of the injected toxoid into the body.

In other words the bacteria are grown and the toxin they produce is extracted. This is inactivated (in terms of causing tetanus IYSWIM) by treating it with formaldehyde. But although the toxoid doesn't cause the conditions it can still stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies against it. Treating it further makes it harder for the toxin to be picked up by the nervous system, giving the bodies immune system longer to produce antibodies against it. Basicaly the white blood cells of the bodies immune system recognise the toxoid as forign abd make antibodies against it.

I have found tetanus combined with diptheria vaccine through Choice Healthcare (we used them for seperate MMR and seem to be fairly efficient)- it still has the mercury in it though. We left tetanus until ds was crawling and likely to get into trouble rather than straight off at 2 months, 3 months, 4 months etc. Also we suported his system through homeopathy which really helped too.

Ds1 had the combined diptheria and tetanus jab in August (NHS). It was the last of the batch and no more was going to be ordered. We had literally 2 days before the use-by date expired.

HI socci- yep hmb's explanation is as I remember.

We haven't given tetanus although I wouldn't say I'm especially happy about that decision. I was planning to give ds2 tetanus at pre-school booster age when I thought he would be able to cope with the thimerosil but that choice has been removed now the single jab is only available for over 10's. There's no way I'm giving him a 5 in 1.

According to neudstaedter it is a safe jab (the single- no idea about the 5 in 1), but its effectiveness is unclear. Most cases are in elderly people who supposedly should have full protection (and there is a problem with increasing sensitivity with age). The mortality rate for tetanus is lowest in the young- but of course it does still kill.

I don't know about long term plans really in our case. I would be happier if I could give a single thimerosil free tetanus jab- but it doesn't exist. I calm myself with the thought that tetanus is quite hard to get and any deep puncture wound could be treated with the passive injection anyway . As I said though (and hmb has said) it's the one decision I'm not 100% on. Just cannot give the 5 in 1 though- can't do it!

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I worry about splinters at farms I'll try and dig out some more info from Neudstaedter later about the incidence in young children. HOwever I have very bad "period pains" today so if I go into labour you may have to wait a bit (of course could be working up to the peuky bug!)

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