Is one DT shot enough protection?

[tbone]

My 4 yr old ds has one DT shot about 1 1/2 yrs ago.  Yesterday, he stepped on an old screw that was sticking out of a chalkboard I picked up at a yard sale. :(

His current doc doesn't have the DT on hand only Daptacel.  I'm okay with even getting a DtaP but only Tripedia which they don't have. 

I've given him Ledum and cleaned the wound with Hydrogen Peroxide.  I'm just worried because it was a puncture wound and didn't bleed much.

Does anyone know how long and how effective just one shot of DT is at preventing tetanus?

Thanks!

[ma2two]

It's too late for a tetanus vaccine to do anything. If his doctor were truly worried, he would have highly recommended the TIG (tetanus immune globulin).

I'm curious why you would be okay with Tripedia. It's the only brand of DTaP that contains mercury.

There are about 30 cases of tetanus per year in the U.S., mostly in older adults or heroin users. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/tetanus.pdf The chance of your son getting tetanus is pretty much zero. Plus, is there any reason to believe the screw could have been covered with tetanus spores?

[tbone]

I was leaning more towards the Tripedia brand because it has half the amount of aluminum as Daptacel.  Although I'd prefer just the DT either way if the doc can get it.  

I agree the chances of tetanus are very low, but I just get so worried.  He's a very active 4yr old and is constantly (talking daily here) getting cuts, scrapes, etc.  He has an 7 yr old brother and they are always getting into something! 

After he stepped on this screw, I cleaned it and covered it.  He got up and just kept running around. At one point he was outside playing, kicked off his shoes and bandage and jumped in a big muddy puddle.  I just can't help but worry that one of these times he might just get sick. :(

[ma2two]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbone 

I was leaning more towards the Tripedia brand because it has half the amount of aluminum as Daptacel.  

At one point he was outside playing, kicked off his shoes and bandage and jumped in a big muddy puddle.  I just can't help but worry that one of these times he might just get sick. :(

But thimerosal and aluminum should NEVER be combined. What they do to the body and brain together is much worse than what they do by themselves.

That seems like a pretty common thing for a child to do. However, there are only about 30 cases of tetanus per year in the United States, and hardly any of the cases are in children.

[tbone]

Thanks for keeping me level headed with this!  

I haven't read anything about the mixing of thimerosal and aluminum together.  Why is the combo of lower doses of both worse then a larger dose of aluminum?  I would prefer to avoid both, but I thought that too much of one would be worse.  I don't have any research to back that up though, it was just my thoughts.