Repevax®
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Tetanus vaccines can be used in pregnancy.
What is it?
Tetanus can be a fatal illness and can be caught through skin injuries that happen outdoors, as well as animal bites.
Tetanus is rare in the UK as most people are vaccinated against the disease.
A number of vaccines are used to protect against tetanus in the UK, including Repevax®, and Revaxis®, as well as ADACEL®, and Boostrix-IPV®, which also protect against whooping cough.
Benefits
What are the benefits of having a tetanus vaccination during pregnancy?
Tetanus vaccination can prevent the complications of tetanus, including death.
You might be offered a tetanus vaccine in pregnancy if:
• You have not had a complete course of tetanus vaccinations (or do not know whether you have had a full course). You will be offered catch-up vaccinations to ensure you are fully protected. A full course is usually five tetanus vaccinations, starting when you were a baby.
• You experience a ‘tetanus-prone injury’ - most commonly a deep puncture wound that happened outside, particularly if there was soil or manure around. Some animal bites or scratches might also need a tetanus vaccination. If you get a skin wound outside, or are bitten or scratched by an animal, phone your GP for advice about whether you need a tetanus vaccination. After these sorts of injuries, you might be advised to have a tetanus vaccination if your last tetanus vaccination was more than 10 years ago.
Risks
Are there any risks of having a tetanus vaccination in pregnancy?
No. Information from over 200,000 pregnant women who received tetanus-containing vaccines raises no concern of harm to the baby.
Alternatives
Are there any alternatives to having a tetanus vaccination in pregnancy?
No. If you need a tetanus vaccination it is important to have one as tetanus can be very serious.
If you need a tetanus vaccination after week 16 of pregnancy, you can have a combination vaccine that also protects against whooping cough. This will help to protect your baby from becoming seriously ill if they catch whooping cough after birth. For more information, see the Bump leaflet on whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy.
If you have had a tetanus vaccination in early pregnancy, you should still have an extra whooping cough vaccine after 16 weeks of pregnancy to protect your baby. It is best to leave at least four weeks between the two vaccinations as this is thought to reduce the chance of an ‘injection site reaction’ - like a tender arm.
No treatment
What if I prefer not to be vaccinated against tetanus in pregnancy?
You can decline the vaccination. However, this is not advised as protection against tetanus is very important. Tetanus can be life-threatening and can cause problems with your jaw and neck muscles which can make it difficult to swallow and breathe.
Will my baby need extra monitoring?
No. The tetanus vaccine is routinely given in pregnancy and does not mean that any extra monitoring is required.
Who can I talk to if I have questions?
If you have any questions about the information in this leaflet, please discuss them with your health care provider. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org.