How many years can the tetanus vaccine last?

Written by Ma Xian Shi
General Surgery
Updated on April 19, 2025
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Tetanus is an acute specific infection caused by the growth and proliferation of Clostridium tetani bacteria in human wounds, producing toxins. Tetanus is a Gram-positive anaerobic spore-forming bacillus. One type of tetanus vaccine is DTP, which includes diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis and is administered in childhood. It requires three doses and generally maintains effectiveness for five to ten years. Subsequently, a booster shot can be administered every five to ten years. If a new wound occurs and it's associated with tetanus, the duration of tetanus maintenance in the human body is generally five to six days, after which it is quickly cleared.

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Written by Liu Huan Huan
General Surgery
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Can you get tetanus from a plastic scratch?

In clinical practice, all injuries, if the wound is relatively deep, such as being cut by a sharp object into the subcutaneous tissue or even damaging the tendons, reaching the muscle tissue, can potentially be infected by tetanus. Wounds inflicted by plastic can also be infected by tetanus. In such deep wounds, Clostridium tetani can easily grow and reproduce. This bacterium can produce a toxin that causes muscle spasms, leading to related clinical symptoms. Therefore, if a plastic injury results in a deep wound, there is a risk of tetanus infection. It is advised that the patient seeks medical attention promptly, undergoes wound disinfection, and receives an injection of tetanus antitoxin to prevent infection.

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Can tetanus be cured in its early stages?

Whether tetanus can be cured in the early stages depends on the severity of the condition and the individual's constitution. If the tetanus is mild, indicating a lighter infection, treatment might be relatively easier. Through symptomatic treatment and anti-tetanus bacillus therapy, the condition can be alleviated and improved. However, if the tetanus is severe, with persistent convulsions and various complications, treatment becomes more complicated and may lead to death. Therefore, if an injury occurs, proactive measures should be taken to treat the wound to reduce the risk of tetanus infection. Also, within 24 hours, one should go to the hospital to receive tetanus antitoxin or tetanus immunoglobulin to prevent the onset of tetanus.

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Written by Xu Jun Hui
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How to administer an injection if the tetanus skin test is negative

A negative tetanus skin test indicates that there is no allergy to tetanus antitoxin, and 1500 to 3000 units of tetanus antitoxin can be directly administered via intramuscular injection in the upper arm or buttock. If the wound is heavily contaminated or the injection is not timely, the dose may be doubled or tripled at discretion, and it is also necessary to clean and dress the wound. The purpose of administering tetanus antitoxin via intramuscular injection is to prevent infection by Clostridium tetani. Therefore, patients with heavily contaminated or deep wounds must receive tetanus antitoxin treatment.

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Written by Tang Da Wei
General Surgery
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Where is the tetanus shot given?

Tetanus injections require administration into the muscle, typically in the deltoid or gluteus maximus, which is below the patient's shoulder or on the buttocks. Before administering a tetanus shot, a skin test is usually performed. The test takes place on the inner side of the forearm, where 0.1ml of the solution is injected. Patients might experience some pain during the tetanus shot, but most can tolerate it. The tetanus shot effectively prevents tetanus infections, especially in cases where the wound is deep with a small surface area that can create anaerobic conditions conducive to the colonization and proliferation of Clostridium tetani, leading to tetanus infection. Vaccination can effectively prevent some serious diseases.

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Written by Zhang Peng
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How long does a tetanus shot last?

Regarding how long a tetanus shot lasts, it depends on which type has been administered. Generally, there are two types of tetanus injections: tetanus immunoglobulin and tetanus antitoxin. Typically, doctors perform a skin test before administering the tetanus antitoxin; if the patient has a positive skin test and cannot tolerate desensitization treatment, tetanus immunoglobulin can be administered instead. These two medications have different metabolic times and their preventive effects vary. The metabolic time for tetanus antitoxin is generally one week, whereas for tetanus immunoglobulin, it can last about 28 days. Therefore, how long a tetanus shot lasts depends on the specific circumstances of the patient’s injection.