On 29 Jul 2006 08:53:56 -0700, wrote:
Vivek.M wrote:
though a doc i spoke to suggested every 1 year, if
you are past 65 and garden.

In the UK (and this is uk.rec.gardening) the advice is very different.
In fact, my Doctor refuses to give the 10-year booster to anyone over
50 at all. I can't imagine any way you would be able to get an annual
booster.
I don't think that he is right. Do remember that tetanus is no
respecter of nationality - Plus the whole uk.rec thing implies that
the newsgroup is for uk specific gardening (issues), but surely that
doesn't mean you can't quote from web-site's outside the UK!

Check out the FDA ( Food and Drug Administration ) web site:
"http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/696_tet.html" (American regulatory
body)

" 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 ( A Indian pharmaceutical
firm)
"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."