Talk to me about Tetanus Immunoglobin

[nwmamas]

Hi~

Apologies if this isn't strictly a vax question but I figured since administering tetanus immunoglobin depends on vax status and may be a factor in deciding to vax, people here would know best.

We are a non-vaxing family. I have no problem refusing tetanus shots in the ER. However, I want to accept or decline tetanus immunoglobin with some confidence (you know, provided I need to consider what to do about a severe burn or something). What are the pros/cons/risks? If you had a tetanus-risk injury, would you do it?

[AlbertaJes]

If there was an actual risk, I probably would get the immunoglobin. But I also educate myself as to what constitutes a tetanus risk. Burns and other surface wounds are not a risk, because they are exposed to air. Wounds that bleed well are not a risk because the blood will clean the wound and expose any tetanus to oxygen which will kill it.

If I had a deep puncture wound and I couldn't get it to bleed, then yea, I'd probably go in for the immunoglobin shot.