Side effects of tetanus shot

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Side Effects of Tetanus Shot: A Comprehensive Overview

Common Local Reactions: Pain, Redness, and Swelling

The most frequently reported side effects of the tetanus shot are localized reactions at the injection site. These include painful reddening and swelling, which occur in over 80% of cases with side effects 12. These reactions are generally mild and temporary, typically resolving within 2 to 48 hours 12. The likelihood of these local reactions can be influenced by the site of injection, with injections in the thigh associated with more severe pain and decreased movement compared to injections in the arm .

General Reactions: Malaise and Fever

General reactions such as malaise and an increase in body temperature are reported in about 10% of cases 12. These symptoms are usually mild and transient. Fever and other systemic reactions tend to peak later than local reactions, often within the first 6 hours following vaccination .

Rare Systemic Reactions: Nervous System and Cardiac Symptoms

Severe systemic reactions are exceedingly rare, occurring in fewer than 3 cases per 1 million doses 12. These can include symptoms affecting the cardiac, circulatory, respiratory, locomotor, or nervous systems. However, the probability of experiencing an allergic-anaphylactic or anaphylactoid reaction is highly improbable, and no cases of anaphylactic shock have been observed 12.

Age and Prior Vaccinations: Impact on Side Effects

Young and middle-aged adults who have received multiple tetanus vaccinations are more likely to report side effects, often due to hyperimmunization 12. The type and rate of adverse reactions can also be influenced by the age of the recipient, with younger children experiencing different patterns of side effects compared to adults .

Injection Technique: Minimizing Adverse Reactions

Proper vaccination techniques can significantly reduce the incidence of adverse reactions. More than 90% of adverse reactions can be avoided by ensuring correct injection methods and thorough vaccination anamnesis . For instance, using longer needles for thigh injections can reduce redness and swelling compared to shorter needles .

Safety in Older Adults: Tdap Vaccine

In adults aged 65 years and older, the Tdap vaccine (tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis) has been shown to be safe, with the most common adverse events being injection site erythema, pain, and swelling . Serious adverse events are rare, and no new safety concerns have been identified in this age group .

Conclusion

The tetanus shot is generally well-tolerated, with most side effects being mild and localized to the injection site. Severe systemic reactions are extremely rare. Proper injection techniques and consideration of the recipient's age and vaccination history can further minimize the risk of adverse reactions. Overall, the benefits of tetanus vaccination in preventing a potentially fatal disease far outweigh the risks of side effects.

Sources and full results

Most relevant research papers on this topic

[Tetanus vaccination--tolerance and prevention of side effects].

Tetanus vaccination has a high tolerance, with only 27 cases of side effects for 1 million doses, and most side effects are related to hyperimmunization and injection site reactions.

Observational Study

1986·

0citations

·G. Korger et al.

Tetanusimpfung — Verträglichkeit und Vermeidung von Nebenreaktionen

The tetanus vaccination has a high tolerance, with only 27 cases of side effects for 1 million doses, and more than 90% of adverse reactions can be avoided by correct vaccination techniques and detailed vaccination anamnesis.

Observational Study

1986·

3citations

·G. Korger et al.

Longitudinal study of adverse reactions following diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine in infancy.

Age has a greater impact on the type and rate of adverse clinical events following diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine in infancy, with no significant effect from existing antibody levels, vaccine lot, breast-feeding, or gestational age.

RCTLarge Human TrialHighly Cited

1990·

93citations

·S. Long et al.

Rational approaches to reduce adverse reactions in man to vaccines containing tetanus and diphtheria toxoids.

Minimizing adverse reactions to tetanus and diphtheria vaccines can be achieved through purification, well-tolerated adjuvants, and rapid immunity checks.

Highly Cited

1998·

109citations

·E. Relyveld et al.

Predictors of adverse events after the administration of acellular and whole-cell diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccines.

Injection in the buttock reduces common adverse events compared to thigh, while simultaneous administration of oral polio vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine does not increase the risk of side reactions.

RCT

1998·

17citations

·A. Tozzi et al.

Safety review of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, acellular pertussis vaccines (Tdap) in adults aged ≥65 years, Vaccine Adverse Event reporting System (VAERS), United States, September 2010-December 2018.

Tdap vaccination in adults aged 65 years has not identified any new safety concerns, maintaining its effectiveness and safety profile.

Rigorous Journal

2019·

8citations

·P. Haber et al.

Safety and Immunogenicity of a Recombinant Tetanus Vaccine in Healthy Adults in China: A Randomized, Double‐Blind, Dose Escalation, Placebo‐ and Positive‐Controlled, Phase 1/2 Trial

The recombinant tetanus vaccine is safe and immunogenic, offering a promising alternative to the current tetanus toxoid-based vaccine in China.

RCT

2021·

4citations

·Xiaowei Xu et al.

Adverse reactions to diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis-polio vaccination at 18 months of age: effect of injection site and needle length.

The deltoid muscle is the preferred site for injection of diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and polio vaccine at 18 months of age, as it causes fewer moderate to severe adverse reactions than the anterolateral thigh.

Observational StudyHighly Cited

1989·

90citations

·M. Ipp et al.

Adverse reactions after diphtheria-tetanus booster in 10-year-old schoolchildren in relation to the type of vaccine given for the primary vaccination.

The aluminium adjuvant in primary diphtheria-tetanus vaccine may increase local side-effects in 10-year-old schoolchildren, potentially due to a change in infant immunization programs.

Observational Study

1994·

23citations

·M. Blennow et al.

[Trismus and tetanus vaccine].

Trimus associated with tetanus toxoid immunization is a rare but potentially serious adverse event, and physicians should be aware of this potential risk.

Case Report

1999·

0citations

·C. Mayaud et al.

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Side effects of tetanus shot

Pro Research Analysisby

Side Effects of Tetanus Shot: A Comprehensive Overview

Common Local Reactions: Pain, Redness, and Swelling

General Reactions: Malaise and Fever

Rare Systemic Reactions: Nervous System and Cardiac Symptoms

Age and Prior Vaccinations: Impact on Side Effects

Injection Technique: Minimizing Adverse Reactions

Safety in Older Adults: Tdap Vaccine

Conclusion

Sources and full results

[Tetanus vaccination--tolerance and prevention of side effects].

Tetanus vaccination has a high tolerance, with only 27 cases of side effects for 1 million doses, and most side effects are related to hyperimmunization and injection site reactions.

Tetanusimpfung — Verträglichkeit und Vermeidung von Nebenreaktionen

The tetanus vaccination has a high tolerance, with only 27 cases of side effects for 1 million doses, and more than 90% of adverse reactions can be avoided by correct vaccination techniques and detailed vaccination anamnesis.

Longitudinal study of adverse reactions following diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine in infancy.

Age has a greater impact on the type and rate of adverse clinical events following diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine in infancy, with no significant effect from existing antibody levels, vaccine lot, breast-feeding, or gestational age.

Rational approaches to reduce adverse reactions in man to vaccines containing tetanus and diphtheria toxoids.

Minimizing adverse reactions to tetanus and diphtheria vaccines can be achieved through purification, well-tolerated adjuvants, and rapid immunity checks.

Predictors of adverse events after the administration of acellular and whole-cell diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccines.

Injection in the buttock reduces common adverse events compared to thigh, while simultaneous administration of oral polio vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine does not increase the risk of side reactions.

Safety review of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, acellular pertussis vaccines (Tdap) in adults aged ≥65 years, Vaccine Adverse Event reporting System (VAERS), United States, September 2010-December 2018.

Tdap vaccination in adults aged 65 years has not identified any new safety concerns, maintaining its effectiveness and safety profile.

Safety and Immunogenicity of a Recombinant Tetanus Vaccine in Healthy Adults in China: A Randomized, Double‐Blind, Dose Escalation, Placebo‐ and Positive‐Controlled, Phase 1/2 Trial

The recombinant tetanus vaccine is safe and immunogenic, offering a promising alternative to the current tetanus toxoid-based vaccine in China.

Adverse reactions to diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis-polio vaccination at 18 months of age: effect of injection site and needle length.

The deltoid muscle is the preferred site for injection of diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, and polio vaccine at 18 months of age, as it causes fewer moderate to severe adverse reactions than the anterolateral thigh.

Adverse reactions after diphtheria-tetanus booster in 10-year-old schoolchildren in relation to the type of vaccine given for the primary vaccination.

The aluminium adjuvant in primary diphtheria-tetanus vaccine may increase local side-effects in 10-year-old schoolchildren, potentially due to a change in infant immunization programs.

[Trismus and tetanus vaccine].

Trimus associated with tetanus toxoid immunization is a rare but potentially serious adverse event, and physicians should be aware of this potential risk.

Try another search

Safety review of tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, acellular pertussis vaccines (Tdap) in adults aged ≥65 years, Vaccine Adverse Event reporting System (VAERS), United States, September 2010-December 2018.