DS2 15 months having 1st jabs on Wednesday

[TheHouseofMirth]

Have decided to not put off decision any longer and give DS2 DTP vaccine, largely because he's now running about outside eating mud & stuff and I worry about Tetanus.

What, if any side effects could we xpect at this age? Also he's a bit under the weather (swollen glands) so should I postpone?

Can you catch tetanus from eating mud? I thought tetanus needed anaerobic conditions to survive hence the risk from deep puncture wounds....

No, I know you can't but we do have an allotment and I guess it's a possibility he'd find a rusty nail. He's that kind of child...

It is not the rusty nail that would give tetanus, it is a deep wound in a dirty environment and the dirt would need to harbour tetanus - ie infected soil, a rusty nail in itself does not give you tetanus. It is the wound itself - IF infected with tetanus, wether that wound be from a knife, nail, anything you like really!

Right, so basically if he was in a position where he was vulnerable to Tetanus it would be because he had a wound bad enough to require medical attention, in which case they could give him a Tetanus shot (which I know would be DTP) anyway?

well........yes, although you can refuse it!! the wound itself need to become infected. A deep wound does not mean tetanus, just provides the tetanus with a way in..........as it were!

DS had his first at 13 months and was fine, apart from being inconsolable to the point where he wouldn't even breastfeed - take chocolate buttons! He was a little bit clingy for a few days but I think that was more "I can't believe you let them do that to me!" than anything else.

So much for everyone telling me that if you feed them/deposit chocolate in the mouth at the same time as the jab they don't notice! He is a sensitive child clearly!