When to give tetanus immunisation and tetanus toxoid
Adapted from PHE Tetanus: The Green Book 2013
IMMUNISATION STATUS |
CLEAN WOUND |
TETANUS-PRONE WOUND |
||
Vaccine | Human Tetanus Immunoglobulin | Vaccine | Human Tetanus Immunoglobulin | |
Full Immunisation (5 vaccinations in lifetime at appropriate intervals) | Not Required | Not Required | Not Required | High risk wounds only |
Primary immunisation completed, boosters incomplete but up-to-date | Not Required | Not Required | Not Required | High risk wounds only |
Primary immunisation incomplete or boosters not up-to-date | Single dose vaccine initially with further vaccinations to complete recommended schedule | Not Required | Single dose vaccine initially with further vaccinations to complete recommended schedule | Yes: single dose of human tetanus immunoglobulin to separate site |
Not immunised or immunisation status unknown | Single dose vaccine with completion of five vaccination course if required | Not Required | Single dose vaccine with completion of five vaccination course if required | Yes: single dose of human tetanus immunoglobulin to separate site |
Useful links
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