Tetanus vaccine is important to be given to children and adults to avoid tetanus. The reason is, people who do not get the tetanus vaccine are more susceptible to tetanus disease which can cause paralysis or even death.
Tetanus is caused by a bacterial infection Clostridium tetani. These bacteria are found in soil, mud, and animal or human feces. Tetanus-causing bacteria can enter the body through cuts or open areas of the skin, for example from a dirty sharp object stab wound.
In addition, tetanus can also attack babies. Tetanus in infants or tetanus neonatorum usually occurs in infants whose umbilical cord care is inadequate or who are born to mothers who have not received the tetanus vaccine.
In 2018, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia recorded 10 cases of tetanus with 4 cases of death due to tetanus in Indonesia.
Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia recommend that the tetanus vaccine be given to children and adults to prevent the occurrence of this deadly disease.
What is the Tetanus Vaccine?
When infecting a person's body, the tetanus germ will release a toxin that can damage the body's nerves, causing muscle stiffness and paralysis or even death.
The tetanus vaccine contains tetanus toxoid, a substance that chemically resembles tetanus toxin but does not damage nerves. When given the tetanus vaccine, a person's immune system will form antibodies against the toxins produced by the tetanus germ.
Thus, when infected with the tetanus bacteria later in life, the body of the person who has received the tetanus vaccine will be stronger against the bacteria that cause tetanus.
What Are the Types of the Tetanus Vaccine?
The tetanus vaccine is usually combined with vaccines to prevent other diseases, such as whooping cough or pertussis. Therefore, the tetanus vaccine is available in several types, such as:
DPT Vaccine
The DPT vaccine is a combination vaccine used to prevent diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis. In children, this vaccine is given 5 times. The initial three doses are given at 2, 3, and 4 months of age, followed by a repeat or vaccine booster when the child is 18 months and 5 years old.
DPT/Hib Vaccine
Apart from DPT, there is also a DPT/Hib vaccine which is equally effective at preventing tetanus. The DPT/Hib vaccine has the same administration schedule as the DPT vaccine.
It's just that, apart from protecting against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, this vaccine also produces immunity against bacteria Haemophilus influenzae type b which causes a number of serious infections, such as meningitis and pneumonia.
TD Vaksin Vaccine
The TD vaccine (tetanus and diphtheria) or TDaP (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) is a follow-up vaccine and is given as the sixth and seventh doses, to children who previously routinely received DPT or DPT/Hib vaccines. It is given when children are 10-12 years old and 18 years old.
The TD vaccine can also be given to children over the age of 10 and adults who have never received a tetanus vaccine before. In people who have never had the tetanus vaccine before, the TD or TDaP vaccine is given once with a dose of TD vaccine every 10 years.
In addition to the vaccines above, there is also a tetanus vaccine which is available in a combination of 5 vaccines, namely the DPT-HIB-HB vaccine. This vaccine provides protection against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, infections Haemophilus influenza type B, and hepatitis B. The schedule for administering this vaccine is the same as the DPT/Hib vaccine.
Do Pregnant Women Need to Receive the Tetanus Vaccine?
The answer is yes. It is recommended that every pregnant woman receive the TDaP tetanus vaccine once at 27–36 weeks of gestation. If you have never received a tetanus vaccine during pregnancy, this vaccine can be given when the mother has just given birth or is breastfeeding.
The tetanus vaccine can sometimes cause side effects such as fever and pain or swelling at the injection site. However, these side effects are mild and usually go away on their own in about 2 days.
Therefore, giving the tetanus vaccine is a simple but important step to prevent tetanus. If you or your family have never received a tetanus vaccine before, you should see a doctor to get a tetanus vaccination with the right schedule of administration.