Typically I don't do any of this stuff, but I had a tentanus shot the day before in preparation for my upcoming trip to Zim. Yesterday I got up to find my arm swollen and very painful and running a fever all day and last night too. Moral of the story don't take any of these damn shots.

If you had ever watched a patient die of Tetanus--
I believe you would reconsider your conclusion.

Just had a new booster about ten days ago and other than some normal soreness did not have any reaction.

Probably varies by individual.

At one time tetanus shots were made froma horse culture which caused me to get sore and swell up. I requested the human serum shots and had no reaction. Don't know if this is still the case, but asking your doctor might be a good idea.

Tetanus vaccinations are good for a minimum of 10 years in humans (some studies indicate much longer), taking one or a booster more often than every 5 years is definitely wasting your time and money.

One of my friends during my youth died of tetanus ... terrible way to go. As a result I get a booster the same year I renew my carry permit. Never had a bad reaction.

Probably not a good idea to get any shots close to the date of travel. Might want a couple of weeks ... just in case

quote:

Originally posted by reddy375:
Typically I don't do any of this stuff, but I had a tentanus shot the day before in preparation for my upcoming trip to Zim. Yesterday I got up to find my arm swollen and very painful and running a fever all day and last night too. Moral of the story don't take any of these damn shots.

Tell your doctor, not us. Tetanus is a horrific way to die. I get a shot every 7 or 8 years. You just had a mild reaction to it. I have the same reaction. No big deal. Your doc is the better source of info.

Reactions to shots, at least for me, have more to do with the person/technique giving it than the actual shot. Having had several shots of the same substance over a given period by different nurses, some where painless, some swole up like a golf ball, some where so bad I would request a different nurse rather than take a repeat of the same abuse.

quote:

Originally posted by reddy375:
Typically I don't do any of this stuff, but I had a tentanus shot the day before in preparation for my upcoming trip to Zim. Yesterday I got up to find my arm swollen and very painful and running a fever all day and last night too. Moral of the story don't take any of these damn shots.

Bad idea! Deal with it.

From CDC:
EXPECTED REACTIONS TO Td

Mild Problems
(noticeable, but did not interfere with activities)

* Pain (up to about 8 in 10)
* Redness or swelling (up to about 1 in 3)
* Mild fever (up to about 1 in 15)
* Headache or tiredness (uncommon)

Moderate Problems
(interfered with activities, but did not require medical attention)

* Fever over 102°F (rare)
* Extensive swelling of the arm where the shot was given (up to about 3 in 100).


Severe Problems
(unable to perform usual activities; required medical attention)

* Swelling, severe pain, and redness in the arm where the shot was given (rare).

A severe allergic reaction could occur after any vaccine. They are estimated to occur less than once in a million doses.



NOT FROM CDC:

Some recent studies imply that over age 60 we may want to re-vaccinate more often than the 10 year time frame.

(CDC has not amended recommendations at this time.)

The immune response in those over age 60 produces insufficient levels.

Largest group worldwide of fatalities in those previously immunized is those over 60.

Anyone who chooses to not get a vaccination for a reason of a litttle discomfort is a fool. I hear this kind of BS all the time from people who have no idea of the seriousness of not getting the required shots. Not only do you put yourself at risk (your choice) but often you put the people around you at risk as well. Those people dont have a say in being exposed because someone else didnt get a shot. Although that is not the case with tetanus it is still prudent.

I just recently got a tetanus, diptheria, pertusses, polio, and yellowfever shots and took the typhoid pills.

No side effects.

quote:

Originally posted by reddy375:
Moral of the story don't take any of these damn shots.

Ok folks calm down I was just pissed off at myself for getting myself poked & feeling as sick as a dog, especially when I was totally fine before the damn vaccine.

I have lived for 20+ years in India in cities, villages, jungles and other places and have never had any problems or BS with tetanus or any of these other ills! My great grandfather did die of black water fever in Africa though! Went off to work on the railways and never came back. So take your shots and suffer.

Passing on this type of useless and dangerous advice is a consistent problem with the internet. Really hope this does not become common here on AR.

quote:

Originally posted by reddy375:
Ok folks calm down I was just pissed off at myself for getting myself poked & feeling as sick as a dog, especially when I was totally fine before the damn vaccine.

I have lived for 20+ years in India in cities, villages, jungles and other places and have never had any problems or BS with tetanus or any of these other ills! My great grandfather did die of black water fever in Africa though! Went off to work on the railways and never came back. So take your shots and suffer.

if you think that what happened to your great grandfather in Africa 100 years ago has any relationship to what may happen to you in Africa today- well, good luck. the "damn shot" beats the hell out of a case of tetanus.

Since many people are comming to America from African and other countries, where many diseases are still common, it is not a bad idea to get current on "several" injections.

Also, even if you are going to countries where injections are not required, that country might have travelers that have been exposed....

A quick update on Tetanus. Getting a tetanus shot, most of us do not know what we are getting,,, the nurse pulls out a vial and pops us. There is a tetanus "only shot referred to as {TT} but is rarely given. It is usually give in a combination vaccine along with pertussis. There is actually DTaP,DT, Td, and Tdap varieties and depending on age of the patient, etc, and availability,,,,we get stuck sometimes with different actual vaccines thus, sometimes a reaction and maybe less another.
The first Tetanus vaccine was produced in 1924, for our military and was an inactivated "toxin, or toxoid". In the 40's they addeddiptheria and pertussis, the DTP vaccine most of us got as kids. Most of the reactions were thought to be the result of the pertussis component or serum sickness to equine antitoxin.. The horse component,,,,,The tetanus toxin vaccination at this time contains no horse components and the vaccines are much purrer than in the past. A booster every 10 years is reccommended.
Take the vaccine but do not do it the week of your trip,,
Had my flu shot yesterday,, wasn't for the swine flu cause I am still squaeeling,,,

reddy375

I smiled at reading your last post. I don't think anybody ever likes a needle being jabbed. I hate to rub salt in the wound -but I always took all kinds of shots from military service as a teenager to going to Africa in 1993 and never experienced any reaction whatever. (BTW, what you read in the prior posts I totally agree with as do you, of course. (Also, ever see the pictures of a baby being injected with (whatever) and see baby crying ?- I always want to tell that baby that it won't be any better a long ways down the road when someone hits you with a needle!)

The typhoid injections of several years ago always made me run a fever for a couple of days, but the new oral vaccine is a piece of cake.

got my tetanus booster last year at this time as part of the treatment for my rattlesnake bite. it didn't bother me near as much as the 18 subsequent vials of antivenin( at $3000 plus per vial!!!) guess i don't need another booster.

I remember gettin ready to deploy to SouthEast Asia. Walked down a hall that had six navy corpsman on each side. Each one had an air syringe in each hand. Do the math. Yes the next morning we could hardly move our arms and half the guys were pretty green and spiking fevers. Heard very little bitching then, absolutely none soon as we got in country. No regrets from anyone. Even when we got back to thhe states in the late 70s. The govt decided to use the military as a testing ground for that particular strain of swine flu. That is the only vaccination I reacted badly to but was still happy to have it. In the end the best treatment is to prevent a disease from taking hold and spreading. An ounce of prevention prevents a pound of cure. Immuniztions protect not only you, but also your families and friends. Or for that matter anyone else you come into contact with. I guess I unintentionally lied, I forgot about the couple strains of plague that made me somewhat sick for a day or two. That said that WAS THE WORST OF IT AN WENT AWAY VERY QUICKLY WITH NO LONG TERM EFFECTS

It has been the only seriously suggested by my Doc when I went the first time in Namibia. He told me to avoid any other vaccination or profilaxis for the July month, but to absolutely get the Tetanous shot. And I did. No particular problems for me. +1 For a little sufference to avoid a terrible death way.

quote:

Originally posted by Gerrypeters375:
reddy375

I smiled at reading your last post. I don't think anybody ever likes a needle being jabbed. ... (Also, ever see the pictures of a baby being injected with (whatever) and see baby crying ?- I always want to tell that baby that it won't be any better a long ways down the road when someone hits you with a needle!)

And just think, my one year old came home from the doctor today with 2 bandaids on each leg and he isn't too grumpy!!!

I had the same reaction to my last tetanus booster; about two days of fever and alot of soreness. Still beats dying.

I just recently got a tetanus, diptheria, pertusses, polio shot.

No side effects.


Seloushunter