Tetanus shots: Is it risky to receive 'extra' boosters?

What happens if you get tetanus shots too close together-within a few years instead of the recommended 10 years? I need one before starting college. Last edit by Joe V on Dec 5, '12 : Reason: removed html
We are not allowed to give medical advice on this site. Only your doctor or your school's health center can advise you on the vaccinations you need before starting college.

sorry, I wasn't asking for advice about needing a tetanus shot. It's just a general question about the danger of having a tetanus shot within a certain period. I will talk to a health center in the next few days. Thanks.

Ok, this isn't advice on what anyone should or shouldn't do, but I'll share what I recently learned when researching this very question for a doctor in my office.The tetanus vaccination is considered fully effective for five years, and then it begins to wane, until the time to receive a booster at ten years' post previous injection.If after the first five years one has an injury that would make one think of tetanus, it's recommended to get the booster at that time--it will have been at least five years, but before ten.If one receives a booster "early", then the new time frame starts with that injection. You do not have one at say six years after the first, and then only four years later "just because". You'd wait until either you needed the ten-year booster OR you had another accident more than five years down the road again.

Thank you, You answered my question. I appreciate your time and sharing with me.

My school is saying I need proof of 3 tetanus shots. I had one in 2011 for my CNA class and figured that would suffice since it's good through 2021. Well, once again I was told I needed 3 shots (one within the last 10 years) so I went ahead and had one last month since I was already there to re-do my Hep B series (my titer came back negative). Now I'm thinking enough is enough; I don't see why I would need another tetanus? It seems silly to get another tetanus shot this month just to get my 3 shots done before school starts.

Quote from RunnerRN2b2014My school is saying I need proof of 3 tetanus shots. I had one in 2011 for my CNA class and figured that would suffice since it's good through 2021. Well, once again I was told I needed 3 shots (one within the last 10 years) so I went ahead and had one last month since I was already there to re-do my Hep B series (my titer came back negative). Now I'm thinking enough is enough; I don't see why I would need another tetanus? It seems silly to get another tetanus shot this month just to get my 3 shots done before school starts.

I can see needing 3 of the other vaccines in the Tdap series but it seems silly for just tetanus. According to Employee Health (my school is affiliated with a hospital system), I need 3 in my records. I'm not going to get another one unless they call me on it.

Quote from RunnerRN2b2014My school is saying I need proof of 3 tetanus shots. I had one in 2011 for my CNA class and figured that would suffice since it's good through 2021. Well, once again I was told I needed 3 shots (one within the last 10 years) so I went ahead and had one last month since I was already there to re-do my Hep B series (my titer came back negative). Now I'm thinking enough is enough; I don't see why I would need another tetanus? It seems silly to get another tetanus shot this month just to get my 3 shots done before school starts.

OP: you need to discuss this with your PCP or local health department, as per the Terms Of Service we are not allowed to give medical advice.Best of luck with nursing school.