Which department do I go to for a tetanus shot?

Written by Xu Jun Hui

General Surgery

Updated on May 30, 2025

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Tetanus injections are generally given in the emergency department of public hospitals, and include tetanus toxoid and tetanus immunoglobulin. A skin test is required for tetanus toxoid, and it is contraindicated for patients with allergies. Tetanus immunoglobulin does not require a skin test and can be used directly. It is advisable not to drink alcohol before getting a tetanus shot, and for best effectiveness, it is recommended to administer the shot within 24 hours of injury. It is essential to administer the tetanus shot promptly for deeper wounds, small openings, open fractures, and wounds contaminated with rust or dirt.

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How long does a tetanus shot last?

Tetanus prophylactic treatment is advised to be carried out as soon as possible, ideally within 24 hours for optimal effectiveness. However, prevention treatment can still be carried out after 24 hours, as long as the disease has not manifested. Current research does not prove that tetanus prevention is ineffective after this period. Therefore, timely and effective preventive treatment should be implemented following high-risk tetanus infection factors, choosing either tetanus antitoxin or tetanus immunoglobulin. The incubation period for tetanus infection is about a week, and as long as the disease has not manifested, choosing appropriate medication can have a preventive effect. Tetanus antitoxin and tetanus immunoglobulin have different metabolic cycles; the half-life of tetanus antitoxin is generally about three days, whereas tetanus immunoglobulin can last up to three weeks.

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Which department should I go to at the hospital for a tetanus shot?

Tetanus shots should be administered at a regular hospital in the emergency department. There are two types of tetanus injections: one that requires a skin test, called tetanus toxoid, and one that doesn't require a skin test, called tetanus immunoglobulin. It is generally recommended to get the tetanus shot within 24 hours of injury, and it is best to avoid alcohol before the injection. Drinking can cause dilation and reddening of the skin's capillaries, which can affect the results of the tetanus skin test. Tetanus is usually caused by the invasion of Clostridium tetani into the body, a type of anaerobic bacterium. Thus, for wounds that are small, deep, and heavily contaminated, such as with dirt, rust, or in cases of open fractures, anti-tetanus treatment is essential, and a tetanus shot can be administered in the hospital's emergency department.

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Can tetanus be cured?

If the patient does not have severe complications, most cases of tetanus can be cured. Tetanus is usually a specific infection caused by toxins secreted by Clostridium tetani. The incubation period for tetanus is usually six to seven days, but it can be as short as within 24 hours or as long as several months or even years. Therefore, after cleaning a wound, it is important to get a tetanus vaccine at a formal hospital. When tetanus occurs, we should actively go to the hospital for formal and systematic treatment, as the vast majority of patients can be cured.

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Is tetanus administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously?

Tetanus is widely used clinically and is known as tetanus antitoxin, intended solely to prevent the clinical symptoms caused by infection with Clostridium tetani. Therefore, a skin test must be conducted before administering tetanus injections. The common skin test involves creating a skin wheal intradermally; if the skin test is negative, one can proceed with the tetanus antitoxin injection. The injection can be administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously. For example, the common sites include the deltoid attachment area on the upper arm for subcutaneous injections, and the deltoid or the lateral part of the buttock for intramuscular injections, among others. These are the injection sites for tetanus.

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Can I eat before getting a tetanus shot?

Tetanus shots are a common preventive measure. Once symptoms appear, they can directly impact many aspects of the body, and further judgement is based on specific conditions. Generally, if there are no special problems, a normal diet is acceptable. However, during eating, it is advisable to avoid spicy and irritating foods, as such foods can directly affect certain functions or enhance immunity, which is the most important treatment approach. Additionally, it is necessary to consider the patient's physical condition to assess whether the tetanus bacillus injection can still be effective beforehand, or if a light diet is required. This can provide a very precise approach, which is more beneficial for the prevention of subsequent vaccinations.