vaccination question

lola_run

I had to go for a medical exam for work today and was asked if all my tetanus injections are up to date - after the first one, need to get another one ten/eleven years after.

I may have got one when I was in final year of primary school, but not really sure. and i have no idea what doctor gave it to me then. In France, there exists such a thing called a carnet de vaccination. Not sure if this even exists in Ireland. Anyone here know? My GP is now retired and I've changed doctors dozens of times, so not sure who would have my records anyway. My parents don't know either.

Is there some kind of test that can be done to check whether I have had a tetanus injection?

g'em

moved to Bio & Med

lola_run

g'em wrote: »

moved to Bio & Med

Anyone got an answer to this?

tallaght01

You can have your immunity measured by a blood test.

I'm not sure of it's common availability in Ireland.

I've done it once I think in the UK

But there is a test available to measure your antitoxin antibody titres.

Ask your doc about getting it done, or just have the vaccine.

lola_run

tallaght01 wrote: »

You can have your immunity measured by a blood test.

I'm not sure of it's common availability in Ireland.

I've done it once I think in the UK

But there is a test available to measure your antitoxin antibody titres.

Ask your doc about getting it done, or just have the vaccine.

Thanks a million, tallaght01. The doctor I saw recently had no idea if this was possible. Will be looking for another one now. ;-))

N8

Lola what job requires a tetanus vaccination?

Dr Galen

rabid dog tamer
broken glass picker-upper
drunk persons bite strength tester

DrIndy

N8 wrote: »

Lola what job requires a tetanus vaccination?

Everyone should be boosted - you can get tetanus from any dirty wound. Tetanus is NASTY and can be lethal and so easily avoided.

N8

DrIndy wrote: »

Everyone should be boosted - you can get tetanus from any dirty wound. Tetanus is NASTY and can be lethal and so easily avoided.

has anyone actually seen it or seen it recorded? Just I understand its occurrence is extremely rare and read somewhere a while back of there having only been something like a dozen cases reported in Australia with half of those having occurred in people recently vaccinated.

Recently vaccinated? Huh? I hear.

I did read that the antibodies produced from the vaccination did not bring immunity, even when their levels are very high due to sensitisation, the opposite of developing immunity – when susceptibility to the pathogen is increased.

Then there are the side effects and whilst rare – do you really want to play the lotto with your health for a job?

I know I am going to be rounded upon so I will find out where I read this and get the papers this time…

DrIndy

N8 wrote: »

has anyone actually seen it or seen it recorded? Just I understand its occurrence is extremely rare and read somewhere a while back of there having only been something like a dozen cases reported in Australia with half of those having occurred in people recently vaccinated.

Recently vaccinated? Huh? I hear.

I did read that the antibodies produced from the vaccination did not bring immunity, even when their levels are very high due to sensitisation, the opposite of developing immunity – when susceptibility to the pathogen is increased.

Then there are the side effects and whilst rare – do you really want to play the lotto with your health for a job?

I know I am going to be rounded upon so I will find out where I read this and get the papers this time…

If you substantiate it then it will make a genuinely interesting scientific debate on vaccinations.

Tetanus is rare now because of extensive vaccination - but immunity only last so long - since its a toxin vaccine rather than an inactivated or live virus which can cause milder version of the illness they protect (measles vaccine can rarely cause a mild measles like illness) - the adverse reaction rate is much lower.

What could be the cause of the tetanus cases after vaccination is that it is routine to give the tetanus vaccine opportunistically after a dirty wound - but the vaccine takes time to take effect and in the window period, tetanus may develop. Those people who are particularily high risk should instead get anti-toxin.

N8

I think this was the website I read it in and if not the same information was evidently carried in both:

http://www.vaccination.inoz.com/Tetanus.html

DrIndy wrote: »

Tetanus is rare now because of extensive vaccination.

is this correct? how common was it?

DrIndy wrote: »

since its a toxin vaccine rather than an inactivated or live virus which can cause milder version of the illness they protect (measles vaccine can rarely cause a mild measles like illness) - the adverse reaction rate is much lower.

is this right Dr Indy? Personally I have seen it more than once twice or even three times that a vaccinated child go on to develop measles or an atypical form...

DrIndy wrote: »

What could be the cause of the tetanus cases after vaccination is that it is routine to give the tetanus vaccine opportunistically after a dirty wound - but the vaccine takes time to take effect and in the window period, tetanus may develop. Those people who are particularily high risk should instead get anti-toxin.

fair point