Although pregnancy is a time of great joy, it is also a time when women must be extremely cautious. With so many changes happening inside the body, there are always many risks, and one of them is tetanus. That’s why the medical recommendation to take the tetanus vaccine during pregnancy should be taken seriously.
What is Tetanus?
Tetanus is a bacterial condition that threatens life. It is caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani1, which is often found in soil, dust, and animal feces.
The tetanus bacterium can easily enter the body through an open wound, which can be caused by a minor scratch on the skin or by a deep wound from a bite, burn, puncture, laceration, among other things.
Once the bacterium enters the skin, it produces a toxin known as tetanospasmin, which circulates through the bloodstream. It attacks the nervous system and can be fatal if not treated in time. That is why it is essential to get the tetanus vaccine during pregnancy. The bacterium’s incubation period ranges from 3 to 21 days.
Symptoms of Tetanus
- Blockage of the neurological system
- Mild jaw muscle contractions
- Fever
- High blood pressure
- Sweating
- Rapid heartbeat
- Stiffness in the neck and nape
- Stiffness of the abdominal muscles
- Spinal fractures
- Difficulty swallowing
- Bodily spasms that cause pain and last for several minutes, usually triggered by loud noises, physical touch, and sensitivity to light.
Tetanus can be prevented through vaccination. Antibodies against tetanus form in the woman’s body and also in the baby’s body, since the fetus receives these antibodies through the placenta. They protect the child for a few months after birth, until the baby can also receive the vaccine.
Neonatal Tetanus
Neonatal tetanus is a severe and often fatal condition that affects newborns. It used to be called “7-day disease” because the illness develops rapidly and the newborn can die in about a week.
The infection can be contracted during childbirth, through a cut in the umbilical cord, or in the days after birth, if the umbilical stump is not cleaned properly2. Babies are affected because they do not have the immunity that would be passed from the mother after vaccination. Therefore, it is highly important for women to take the tetanus shot during pregnancy.
Tetanus Vaccine During Pregnancy
Most countries follow a universal standard for tetanus immunization during pregnancy3. Women who have had an abortion or those who have a wound prone to tetanus should receive the tetanus vaccine in pregnancy to prevent any risk.
It is also important to administer the vaccine in rural areas, since some births take place under unsafe conditions. If the pregnant woman’s vaccination schedule is incomplete, it is sufficient to finish the previously started schedule. But if she has never been vaccinated, doesn’t have a vaccination record, or doesn’t remember if she has had tetanus immunization, in that case, three doses are recommended.
She should receive two doses of the adult diphtheria-tetanus (dT) vaccine or the simple tetanus vaccine, at intervals of no less than 30 days, and complete with the dTpa vaccine, which includes immunization against pertussis.
If she received a tetanus vaccine more than 10 years before pregnancy, the recommendation is to reinforce the schedule with two doses: one of dT or the simple tetanus vaccine, and another of dTpa, with a minimum interval of 30 days.
Important Tips about the Tetanus Vaccine
- In both pregnancy and for prevention of tetanus after any kind of injury, the booster interval should be reduced to 5 years.
- Booster shots every 10 years after the 3rd dose will be needed for life.
- The interval between the 1st and 2nd dose is 60 days (with a minimum of 30 days); between the second and third dose, the ideal interval is 180 days (six months), or three doses at intervals of two months between them (minimum of 4 weeks).
- For prevention of neonatal tetanus it is important that the pregnant woman receives at least 2 doses of the adult dT vaccine.
- If the woman becomes pregnant again within two years after the first pregnancy and received two doses the first time, she will receive only one booster dose.
If I Get Hurt After the Vaccine, What Should I Do?
If the woman gets hurt after having received any of the doses of the tetanus vaccine during pregnancy, nothing needs to be done. The vaccine will have already started to form antibodies that protect the body from any infection. At the same time, it is important to seek medical assistance if there are serious injuries.
Even though the tetanus vaccine during pregnancy offers the necessary protection to the baby through the transfer of antibodies from the mother, it is important that delivery is carried out with hygienic practices, in order to prevent maternal and neonatal tetanus. Do not hesitate to consult your doctor if you have any problems. Stay alert and stay healthy!
See also: Vaccines During Pregnancy – Which Are the Main Ones to Take
Photos: Prefeitura Municipal Itanhaem
