Do I go back for the 2nd and 3rd Tetnaus shots after dog bite

[rocky]

One month ago I was bitten by a dog while out jogging. There are 4 big teeth gashes in my calf, one of which went nearly to the muscle. The doctor actually put his finger all the way into the wound. The other three were puncture wounds but not nearly as deep as the first. The time that passed from the bite until the cleaning in the hospital was probably just over an hour. I did douse it with betadine which someone had in their first aid kit about 10 minutes after the bite as well.
The doctor cleaned out the wounds with hydrogen peroxide and gave me the 1st of three tetnaus shots. I was told to come back for the 2nd one after one month (today) and the third after 6 months.

Does anyone have any info on this? What would happen if I don't do the other two shots and I am bitten again? Do they start over? Can I be sure one month after the bite that I do not have tetnaus.

I live on a Caribbean island that is full of stray dogs and dogs left by their owners out on the street, so the chances of me being bitten are higher than in the US or elsewhere.

I was vaccinated as a child but my children are completely unvaxed. I was in such shock when this happened and did not have time to research it or think about it, even though this is a really important subject for me. I did tons of research when my first son was born nearly 9 years ago and haven't kept up on the vaccines since - made my decisions, read lots of books, decided not to vax at all. But now me actually getting a vaccine and voluntarily going to the doc to get more? The irony.

Please let me know what you would do.

Thanks!

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

Why are you getting three? Are you sure its not rabbies your getting shots for? Because as far back as I can remember, adults only get 1 tetnus booster as needed. or Like every 7 years or something like that. Ive never heard of a series of three, except with children getting the Dtaps but Im not very educated in the area.

Its been a month and your symptom free? I say you are out of the tetnus woods.

[Marnica]

If you were vaxed for tetanus as a child, why would they give you the 3 dose series?? This is for unvaccinated folks. What you may have needed was a booster shot and perhaps the TIG if they were that worried. The fact they didn't offer it, makes me think they weren't that worried. If all I needed was a booster, no I would def not return for any additional doses.

[QUOTE]If someone experiences a deep or puncture wound, or a wound contaminated with dirt, an additional booster dose may be given if the last dose was more than five years ago.[/QUOTE]

[Emmeline II]

Are you sure this is Tetanus and not rabies?

I would not have gotten the Tetanus vax for a dog bite.

[rocky]

Yes I am sure it was tetnaus and not rabies. I know the nurse and just called her to ask. She said it is correct that I should go back to get the other two shots.

So I don't do it and then if ever something happens again I would need the tetnaus booster? Or would the one shot I got serve as the tetnaus booster?

I have been beating myself up about not declining the shot and going back the next day to get it after thinking it over.

Thanks very much for your replies.

[Marnica]

If you got the inital serries as a child (which you said you did), then the one you just got served as the booster. You're done. The nurse is wrong or is assuming you have never been vaccinated

[peainthepod]

I wouldn't go back, no. And stop beating yourself up, mama! Getting attacked by a dog must have been shocking and more than a little terrifying. I'm as anti-vax as they come and I can see myself getting completely talked into a tetanus shot under those circumstances even though rationally, I don't think it would be necessary in my case.

Feel better soon.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by rocky

Yes I am sure it was tetnaus and not rabies. I know the nurse and just called her to ask. She said it is correct that I should go back to get the other two shots.

It seems she thinks you have never been vaxed. Tetanus, previously vaxed or no, is a "one shot" deal for adults.

So I don't do it and then if ever something happens again I would need the tetnaus booster? Or would the one shot I got serve as the tetnaus booster?

Routine Tetanus vaccines are every 10 years; you don't "need" a vax every time you are injured--the TIG is what should be offered for immediate "benefit."

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by Emmeline II

It seems she thinks you have never been vaxed. Tetanus, previously vaxed or no, is a "one shot" deal for adults.



Routine Tetanus vaccines are every 10 years; you don't "need" a vax every time you are injured--the TIG is what should be offered for immediate "benefit."

I actually didn't find this to be the case when I looked into it. It says on multiple medical sites if an adult has not been immunized previously that a primary series of 3 shots would need to be done.

Adults without documentation of ever receiving the basic series of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids should first receive a primary series of three doses, properly spaced

http://www.vaccineinformation.org/tetanus/qandavax.asp

[rocky]

I don't have the 'documentation' but the doctors weren't asking for that. They just asked if I had had a shot within 7 years. I said no.

I would like confirmation that this first of three would actually serve as the booster and as a pp stated I am done. I do not plan to go back regardless at this point but I would be interested in where this brings me vaccine-wise.

thanks so much everyone.

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by rocky

I don't have the 'documentation' but the doctors weren't asking for that. They just asked if I had had a shot within 7 years. I said no.

I would like confirmation that this first of three would actually serve as the booster and as a pp stated I am done. I do not plan to go back regardless at this point but I would be interested in where this brings me vaccine-wise.

thanks so much everyone.

Look at the link I provided above. It's all in there.

Once the primary series is done...a routine booter is rec. every 10 years. In the case of a deep puncture wound if it has been over 5 years since the booster, they would rec one as well. So in your case, the fact that you were vaxed as a child, but hadn't had a booster within the last 5 years and had a puncture wound would indicate that a booster was advised. So this is what it means:
If nothing happens in the naxt 10 years, and you want to stay up to date then in 10 years you get a booster. If 3 years from now you get another dog bite...you need nothing. If 8 years from now you get a dog bite, then since it had been over 5 years, you could get a booster at that time.

[rocky]

I looked at that link but it didn't answer the question I am curious about which is the following.

Is the 1st of the 3 shots in the 3 shot series equivalent to the booster or is it the booster? Is this in the product info somewhere? Or are we just assuming that this first shot is fine.

Also reading that site I have to report that I did have the localized reaction - sore arm and some swelling which they associate with adults who go back and get the shot and have too much tetnaus antibody already in their blood. The shot was exactly one month ago and there is still a small bump at the site of the shot (size of a mosquito bite when you touch it but invisible to the eye and painful when pressed) There is no way I would go get the other two shots having read what that may mean.

Thanks again,

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by rocky

I looked at that link but it didn't answer the question I am curious about which is the following.

Is the 1st of the 3 shots in the 3 shot series equivalent to the booster or is it the booster? Is this in the product info somewhere? Or are we just assuming that this first shot is fine.

Also reading that site I have to report that I did have the localized reaction - sore arm and some swelling which they associate with adults who go back and get the shot and have too much tetnaus antibody already in their blood. The shot was exactly one month ago and there is still a small bump at the site of the shot (size of a mosquito bite when you touch it but invisible to the eye and painful when pressed) There is no way I would go get the other two shots having read what that may mean.

Thanks again,

I see what your asking. No the vaccine is the same regardless of if you are getting a booster or the primery series. If you were unvaxed you'd get 3 doses of decavac (the is the DT) so no pertussis component. If you were getting a booster you'd just get 1 dose.
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Biologi.../UCM142638.pdf the info you are looking for is in the Dosage and Administration section on page 10.

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by Marnica

I actually didn't find this to be the case when I looked into it. It says on multiple medical sites if an adult has not been immunized previously that a primary series of 3 shots would need to be done.

http://www.vaccineinformation.org/tetanus/qandavax.asp

Shots 2 and 3 are to catch those who are not "immunized" by shot 1; one shot could be enough.

In any case, an unvaxed person who has an injury is not going to be "helped" by the vax for the current injury; they would still "need" the TIG; the three vax series is just part of the "never miss an opportunity to immunize" program.

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbo...2/tetanus.aspx

[peainthepod]

Originally Posted by Emmeline II

In any case, an unvaxed person who has an injury is not going to be "helped" by the vax for the current injury; they would still "need" the TIG; the three vax series is just part of the "never miss an opportunity to immunize" program.

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbo...2/tetanus.aspx

This is what has always confused me about the tetanus vaccine. If you're vaccinated and you get a wound that is truly a tetanus risk (severe burn, crushing wound, deep puncture that didn't bleed, etc.) then they're going to give you the TIG. If you're unvaccinated and you get that kind of wound, they're going to give you the TIG. If they don't offer you the TIG, then the wound probably wasn't a serious tetanus risk.

So what's the point of the vaccine again? If there's a serious tetanus risk, you're getting the TIG either way...

[Marnica]

Originally Posted by Emmeline II

Shots 2 and 3 are to catch those who are not "immunized" by shot 1; one shot could be enough.

In any case, an unvaxed person who has an injury is not going to be "helped" by the vax for the current injury; they would still "need" the TIG; the three vax series is just part of the "never miss an opportunity to immunize" program.

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbo...2/tetanus.aspx

Oh I know! this goes for any vaccines given in a series. I was just giving info about what is "officially reccomended"