On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 15:52:56 +0100, Malcolm wrote:

READ: http://www.indianpediatrics.net/feb1999/feb-198-200.htm
That's the best article i found on the net that CLEARLY explains what
is what!

I note that the above URL refers to the situation in India.

The advice given by the UK National Health Service differs in saying:

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles...ArticleId=1039

"Tetanus – if all childhood vaccinations are up-to-date, a tetanus
booster is only needed for people who are at risk of getting tetanus
following injury."

The recommended five-dose tetanus immunization schedule is a
primary course of three plus two further booster doses 10 years apart.

Who should we believe, the NHS, the Indians, or your somewhat alarmist
(if I may say so) advice? Unless, of course, you are a qualified
medic???

I never claimed that i was a medic - My purpose was to remind my
fellow gardners about their periodic Tetanus shots and what things to
look into when they see their doc about cuts and bruises (the
importance of a TIG shot and the difference between a TIG and a
tetanus-vaccine).

"Alarmist" - is merely a point of view - Remember when you call my
views alarmist you are taking a stand, on something that you yourself
MAY not be qualified to comment on..Anyway, the important thing here
is to remind ppl to get their 5/10/whatever year shots and let them
decide after interacting with the doc and checking on the Internet and
talking to people.

On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 15:52:56 +0100, Malcolm wrote:
The recommended five-dose tetanus immunization schedule is a
primary course of three plus two further booster doses 10 years apart.


The Mayo Clinic has some info:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tet...227/DSECTION=7
This what they say:

"The DTaP vaccine consists of a series of five shots, typically
administered in the arm or thigh and given to children at ages:

* 2 months
* 4 months
* 6 months
* 15 to 18 months
* 4 to 6 years"

"Adults should receive a routine tetanus booster shot every 10 years."

"If you receive a deep or dirty wound and it has been more than five
years since your last booster shot, get another booster shot."

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/696_tet.html [Adult immunization]

"Immunization is especially recommended for:
adults, especially those 50 years and older, because most of
the tetanus cases in recent years have occurred in this age group"

"In some individuals, antibody levels may fall too low to provide
protection before 10 years have passed. That's why people who sustain
a deep or contaminated wound should receive a booster dose if it has
been more than five years since the last dose."


http://www.drreddy.com/shots/tetanus.html [Drug company - spells it
out clearly]

"If you are exposed to tetanus within 5 years after your last dose of
vaccine (toxoid), you do not need a booster. If it's between 5 and 10
years after your last dose, you need an early dose of vaccine. If you
haven't had a tetanus immunization in more than 10 years you will need
to have both toxoid and TIG to give you full protection."