How long does a tetanus jab last in the UK?
A full UK course is 5 doses. Once you've had all 5, you're considered protected for life in most situations. For tetanus-prone wounds, UKHSA still recommends a booster if it's been more than 10 years since your last dose, and tetanus immunoglobulin may be added for high-risk wounds.
Do I need a tetanus shot after a rusty nail or bite?
Rust itself doesn't cause tetanus, but puncture wounds, soil-contaminated wounds, and animal/human bites are classed as tetanus-prone. Whether you need a booster depends on your immunisation history and the wound category. Use the calculator on the home page or see UKHSA wound-management guidance.
What is Revaxis?
Revaxis is the UK adult/older-child low-dose combined tetanus, diphtheria and inactivated polio vaccine (Td/IPV). It's a single 0.5 mL intramuscular dose used for routine boosters and post-exposure prophylaxis in people aged 10 years and over.
What's the difference between TIG, HTIG and HNIG?
TIG (tetanus immunoglobulin) and HTIG are the same product — human-derived antibodies specific to tetanus. HNIG (human normal immunoglobulin, e.g. Subgam, Cuvitru, Gammanorm) is a JCVI-approved alternative when specific TIG is unavailable. UKHSA recommends 250 IU IM, doubled to 500 IU if it's been over 24 hours since the injury, the wound is heavily contaminated, or it's a burn.
How do I know if my tetanus vaccinations are up to date?
If you grew up in the UK and completed the routine childhood schedule plus the teenage 3-in-1 booster, you've likely had all 5 doses. Your GP record is the source of truth. If you're unsure or were vaccinated abroad, treat your status as 'unknown' — UKHSA recommends acting as if the schedule is incomplete.
What are the symptoms of tetanus?
Early symptoms include jaw stiffness (lockjaw), neck stiffness, difficulty swallowing, and painful muscle spasms. Tetanus is a medical emergency — suspected cases should be discussed with infectious diseases or microbiology immediately and reported to UKHSA.
Is the tetanus jab free on the NHS?
Yes. Routine childhood and teenage doses, post-exposure boosters after a tetanus-prone wound, and catch-up courses are all free under the NHS.
Are there side effects from Revaxis?
Most side effects are mild: soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site, mild fever, headache or tiredness for 1–2 days. Serious reactions are rare. See the BNF entry for tetanus vaccine for full details.
Can I get tetanus from a small cut?
Clean, minor cuts are low-risk. The risk rises with puncture wounds, contamination with soil/manure/saliva, devitalised tissue, burns, and surgical delays of more than 6 hours. The calculator scores these factors against UKHSA Tables 4 and 5.
Is TetanusCheck a medical device?
No. It hasn't been registered with the MHRA and is provided as an educational decision-support aid for UK healthcare professionals only. The responsible clinician retains full accountability for any decision made.
How long does a tetanus shot last?
A single booster of a tetanus-containing vaccine (e.g. Revaxis) gives strong protection for about 10 years. Once you've completed the full UK five-dose course you're considered protected long-term, but UKHSA still recommends a reinforcing dose for tetanus-prone wounds if it's been more than 10 years since the last dose.
How often do you need a tetanus booster in the UK?
After the routine five-dose UK course (three infant doses, a pre-school booster, and a teenage booster around 13–18 years), no further routine boosters are needed. Additional doses are only given for tetanus-prone or high-risk wounds when the last dose was more than 10 years ago, the primary course is incomplete, or immunisation status is unknown.
What are the side effects of the tetanus jab (Revaxis)?
The most common side effects of Revaxis are soreness, redness or mild swelling at the injection site, a low-grade fever, headache, fatigue or aching muscles for 1–2 days. Allergic reactions are rare. Serious adverse events are very uncommon and should be reported via the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.
What is the UK tetanus vaccine schedule?
The UK schedule, set out in Green Book Chapter 30, is five doses: three doses of the 6-in-1 vaccine at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age, the 4-in-1 pre-school booster around 3 years 4 months, and the 3-in-1 teenage booster (Td/IPV, Revaxis) between 13 and 18 years. All five together confer satisfactory long-term protection.
What are the symptoms of lockjaw?
Lockjaw is the common name for trismus, the jaw stiffness caused by tetanus toxin. Early symptoms include difficulty opening the mouth, painful neck and jaw muscle stiffness, dysphagia, and generalised muscle spasms. Tetanus is a medical emergency — suspected cases must be discussed urgently with infectious diseases or microbiology and notified to UKHSA.
Is a puncture wound dangerous for tetanus?
Yes. Puncture wounds are classed as tetanus-prone under UKHSA criteria because the deep, anaerobic environment favours Clostridium tetani spore germination. Punctures from soil-contaminated objects, animal bites, contaminated needles or compound fractures all warrant assessment for booster and, in high-risk cases, tetanus immunoglobulin alongside thorough wound toilet.
What's the difference between Revaxis, Boostrix-IPV and Td?
All three are UK adult/older-child tetanus-containing vaccines. Revaxis is low-dose tetanus, diphtheria and inactivated polio (Td/IPV), used routinely for teenage and adult boosters. Boostrix-IPV adds acellular pertussis (dTaP/IPV) and is used in pregnancy and for the pre-school booster. Single-antigen tetanus toxoid (Td) is no longer routinely available — combined products are preferred.