One of the most important childhood vaccinations, a tetanus booster from a travel clinic can also sometimes be needed when travelling, depending on age, destination, itinerary and other more individual circumstances.
In some cases, routine childhood vaccinations will provide enough protection from a widespread
disease that can be of particular concern whilst on holiday, but in others, there might be a need for an additional booster shot.
Here is what tetanus is, why it is potentially dangerous and when you might need more protection.
What Is Tetanus?
Tetanus is an infectious and potentially life-threatening bacterial infection typically caused by dirt entering an open wound.
Symptoms generally start to appear after ten days, although they can be as low as four and as many as 21, and if they do it is an emergency.
The most commonly associated symptoms are lockjaw and muscle spasms, as well as a rapid heartbeat, seizures, breathing and swallowing difficulties, sweating and a high fever. Any of these symptoms mean that you need to be immediately taken to hospital.
Treatment involves cleaning the wound, using immunoglobulin to immediately give the body the antibodies that would be produced through the vaccine, using antibiotics, and supplying other medicines to treat the other symptoms and relieve pain.
As many as ten per cent of cases lead to death, caused either through difficulty breathing or as a consequence of extremely violent muscle spasms.
This means that protection is essential, and most people alive today have it.
When Do You Need Additional Protection?
Almost everyone in the UK will have had at least one tetanus vaccination, but the current immunisation routine has no less than five separate doses of the tetanus vaccines, given at varying stages during childhood in order to maximise protection.
The first three are part of the 6-in-1 vaccine, which also protects against Hib, hepatitis B, polio, whooping cough and diphtheria after the doses at two months, three months and four months old are taken.
After this and just before a child starts preschool there is the 4-in-1 vaccine, which also includes vaccines for polio, diphtheria and whooping cough.
Finally, there is the 3-in-1 vaccine, offered to teenagers and provides protection for tetanus, diphtheria and polio.
If you need additional protection whilst travelling, you may be advised by a travel pharmacist or your doctor to take an additional booster.
One reason might be to protect you from diphtheria or polio, as the 3-in-1 vaccine protects from those as well, but it may also be recommended if there is a concern that your protection from tetanus is not complete.
If your last dose of the vaccine was over ten years ago, you may not have had all three doses in the first place or if you are planning to travel to an area where there is a greater risk of getting infected and not being within easy access of emergency medical help.
As well as this, people who work in areas or professions where they are at a higher risk of touching infected material will also likely be recommended a 3-in-1 booster.