Please talk me out of getting a tetanus vaccine

[happydog]

I posted in the other forum looking for info regarding tetanus vaccines for my family.  We live on a farm with horses and cows and manure everywhere.  (The dog even loves to eat dried cow pies.)  We use manure on the gardens as fertilizer.  And as a working farm, there are scraps of metal/nails/glass around.  The kids are generally barefoot and running everywhere.  So I feel like it would be prudent to do this one vaccine.

But all the tetanus vaccines have such horrifying ingredients!  If you find one with no mercury, it's full of aluminum.  Finally after much research I figured dh and I (in our 50s and 60s) are more at risk than the kids, so I thought I would just get vaccines for us.  But when I actually try to go to the health department and DO it, I just can't bring myself to knowingly inject that stuff into our bodies.  Much less into the kids!

I read tons of threads like "my son fell into a rosebush and now I'm worried sick" and "my child was bitten by a dog and now I'm worried sick."  And there ARE awful stories of people having tetanus.  I don't want to go through life worrying about every cut and scrape.  (And most of the time I don't even see their wounds until much later.)  I just wanna get a shot and go on with it.  uh... but not the aluminum, etc...

aaackkk, I'm so conflicted!!!

So now I'm wondering, maybe there's either 1) a relatively innocuous tetanus vaccine that someone here knows about that I've not found in days of researching?  or since that's not likely  2) do you suppose there might be some way of naturally curing tetanus, should we be one of the unlucky few to get it?  or finally 3) is there a way to detox the bad components afterward to make getting the vaccine not so horrible?

And now I see that I'm just grasping at straws here, lol.

Any insight would be gratefully appreciated!

[Chloebelle]

There have been posts about how to deal with wounds to avoid Tetanus risk. I'll see if I can find a link.

If you do decide to get the vaccine, there are ways to minimize the damage it does to your body. My ND made me a homeopathic concoction when my DD was a baby to have on hand in case I decided to do some vaccines.

Tetanus is one of the things I worry about at times, as my kids tend to run around without shoes in the summer, but I know that if they did get a deep cut or step on a nail, etc., I "could" get them to an ER pretty quickly if I was worried, and I also know that there are ways to clean it and bleed it out to avoid Tetanus infection, so I feel more empowered knowing that.

[Turquesa]

We chose the DTaP, but here's a interesting and well-cited post about how and why not to choose vaccination for tetanus. The important take-away message is hat if you opt against it, know how to prevent it in the event of a questionable wound!

http://guggiedaly.blogspot.com/2010/05/one-thing-that-has-frequently-come-up.html

I'm not one to talk you out of it, per say, but hopefully this helps.

[Marnica]

Not sure if you are into homeopathy but Ledum is used in much the same manner as the tetanus "vaccine" for prevention.

I would be concerned as well given your circumstances, but I totally appreciate your conflict. There is no innocuous tetanus vaccine IMO. I wouldn't touch the DTaP with a 10 foot pole and the tetanus only vaccine is loaded with thimerosal. Not an easy choice for sure. 

With that said, when all is said and done, with proper wound care tetanus is pretty rare. I would probably focus on prevention and knowing how to treat wounds properly

[happydog]

Thanks for the responses.  The problem I keep running into is when articles try to be reassuring by saying things like "Tetanus is very rare, so unless you live on a farm you don't need to worry..." or "Tetanus is rare today because of increased sanitation..."  What we consider sanitary around here would be considered appalling to city people.  We drink milk still warm from a cow.  Our kids play barefoot in cow pastures and creeks.  I'm pretty sure my 5yo has explored every orifice on the dog.

And then they talk about "as long as the wound bleeds..."  I've stepped on a tack before.  They go right into your heel and no matter how hard you squeeze you can't get it to bleed. 

I just talked to a friend who casually mentioned a mutual friend who just lost a prize steer to tetanus.  Crap!  I hate this.  I don't know how parents ever decide among the myriad vaccines a baby is supposed to get.  I could not imagine giving this to an infant.  I'll look into the Ledum.  Thanks!

[kathymuggle]

dbl post

Edited by kathymuggle - 1/16/13 at 1:05pm

[kathymuggle]

This is what smartvax had to say on risk prevalence:  http://www.smartvax.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88

"To determine the average risk of an unvaccinated child contracting tetanus from an acute injury, we utilized the reported tetanus cases in the pre-vaccine era (1947 – 1949) of 580 cases per year [5] and assumed 75% of cases were reported to calculate an estimated tetanus incidence rate per year amongst unvaccinated individuals in the USA of 0.05 per 10,000 or 1 in 190,000.  The cumulative risk of death from tetanus due to acute injury up to age 5 was calculated to be 0.013 per 10,000 or 1 in 759,000"

So, before vaccines and in a era when more people did live on farms, tetanus incidence was low.

This is a reassuring look at tetanus (number -wise) from the Canadian government.

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/im/vpd-mev/tetanus-eng.php#fig1

1937 we had 11 000 000 people - and about 40 deaths ( or 4/ 1 100 000…which is about 1/ 275 000) and 1/3 Canadians lived on a farm in the 1930's.

I am not going to try and talk you out of tetanus (if your gut says "do it") but even given your life style I think the chances of getting tetanus are quite low.

Tetanus is more common in diabetics and drug users.  CDC pink book.

(ETA - I confused you with another poster asking a vax question, which is why I included the Canadian info as she is from Canada .  None the less, the point holds - you are very unlikely to get tetanus, even farming.)

Edited by kathymuggle - 1/16/13 at 1:17pm

[Minerva23]

Should you encounter a wound make sure to soak it in an alkaline solution (Epsom salt for example) as that will kill off the bacteria. Make sure wounds are cleaned because sepsis is much more common and deadly than tetanus.

After doing extensive research on tetanus I am not worried any more.

http://www.beyondconformity.co.nz/resources/tetanus

I found this link some time back quite helpful. And I envy you about the milk.
 

[Magali]

Originally Posted by Turquesa 

We chose the DTaP, but here's a interesting and well-cited post about how and why not to choose vaccination for tetanus. The important take-away message is hat if you opt against it, know how to prevent it in the event of a questionable wound!

http://guggiedaly.blogspot.com/2010/05/one-thing-that-has-frequently-come-up.html

I'm not one to talk you out of it, per say, but hopefully this helps.

I have seen that article before and I don't like it.  It says "The bottom line? Tetanus is difficult to contract and easy to cure. No vaccine required. Pretty sad isn’t it?".  Tetanus may very well be difficult to contract.  But easy to cure?  Having read accounts from ppl who have had tetanus and recovered it sounds horrific.  Prosciencemom posted a story of an unvaccinated boy who contracted tetanus.  His story of recovery doesn't sound easy in the least.  I think that article downplays tetanus and sugarcoats it.  I have heard of people contracting it from wounds that have been attended to properly and have bled profusely (anecdotal, however).  That being said, my kids haven't had this vax. 

[Turquesa]

Magali, according to the article and as we discussed in that thread, the family didn't seek treatment until he was symptomatic. So they were unaware of proper emergent management, which includes immunoglobulin administration before symptoms take hold.

TiG has its own set of risks and side effects, and I'm personally glad we get this vax. But I'm not going to try to talk the OP into it, esp in this forum. I also detest how news media elects to tell only part of the story.

[twinblessings]

The following links helps me understand tetanus in a new light - 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUpEAfcDSwI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=BsBkQUthWqw

Hope they of help to you.

[happydog]

Originally Posted by twinblessings 

The following links helps me understand tetanus in a new light - 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUpEAfcDSwI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=BsBkQUthWqw

Hope they of help to you.

That was VERY helpful, thanks!  The first part of the second video she said if you should experience a wound where you might worry about tetanus, you can just use an antibiotic.  She recommends Metronidazole/Flagyl.  Well heck, instead of getting a vax I could just go here and buy some Metronidazole and keep it in the medicine cabinet - problem solved!  Between that and the Ledum I feel protected.  Back to mucking out the barn. 

Thanks everybody! 

[happydog]

another good read on tetanus vacine from the Weston A Price Foundation.

[landofjuncovill]

Recently a doctor my husband works with received the tetanus vaccine. A few weeks later it seems he has developed some type of arthritis (do not know all the details) that has left him limited in the OR and in daily tasks such as putting on socks. His hands are his livelihood. He is now on steroids and much better. Hardly sleeps due to the steroids. He is in his 50-60's. I would not get this vaccine.

[organicgrrl]

http://www.mommypotamus.com/when-to-get-a-tetanust-shot/ Here is a great blog post on tetanus.

[newmainer]

Nice to see folks promoting Ledum on here. I would also recommend homeopathic Hypericum, which addresses the nerves, for stinging, shooting nerve pain. Between those 2, and proper wound care (allow the wound to bleed freely; it's the trapped bacteria that are the problem), it's peace of mind- at least for me. 

[Bronwen13]

Originally Posted by twinblessings 

The following links helps me understand tetanus in a new light - 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUpEAfcDSwI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=BsBkQUthWqw

Hope they of help to you.

This is the first I've ever heard to take antibiotics right away as a way of prevention after a wound.....if it were that 'easy' that would be very relieving to me, a non vaxxer. Anyone else ever hear of this? First part of the second video.....

[tarjasovay]

I am just now really learning all about vaccines -- but I wanted to share this herbal first aid course that 7Song is teaching -- in particular they use charcoal directly on wounds to pull out toxins. I haven't taken the course, but I saw the initial information where they did that with an infection. This might be helpful to know/have as you're on a farm and run into these types of emergency first aid situations where medical support might not be as easily accessible. I think they're closing registration for this class today -- but just FYI: http://www.herbfirstaid.com/sp/15832-herb-first-aid-with-7song-is-now-available

Follow your heart and trust yourself. I always pray to ask for information and guidance to come my way so that I may make the best informed decision I can.

[eminurse]

According to the CDC, from 01-08 13.2% of tetanus cases reported (in 45 states) were fatal. If you're over 65 (along with some other risk factors) this rate increases. Guess you have to decide if it's worth it.

[kathymuggle]

Originally Posted by eminurse 

According to the CDC, from 01-08 13.2% of tetanus cases reported (in 45 states) were fatal. If you're over 65 (along with some other risk factors) this rate increases. Guess you have to decide if it's worth it.

According to the CDC, the rate of tetanus in the USA is 1 in 12 million.  Most cases of tetanus were in the elderly ,drug users and diabetics.  

It is not just fatality that is the issue -it is prevalence as well.