Tetanus is a bacterial infection caused by Clostridium tetani and has no specific cure. It is important women should receive Tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccination during pregnancy. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), most reported cases of tetanus in the newborns and the mothers were associated with insufficient immunizations (1). Read to understand more about the safety and effectiveness of tetanus toxoid vaccination, its types, and administration time.
What Is A TT Injection?
TT vaccine helps prevent and treat tetanus infection. It is given alone only when needed for wound prophylaxis. Usually, it is available in combination with diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap). Toxoids are inactivated, and purified toxin strains from the bacteria. They are sterilized and lack pathogenic properties to trigger infection and activate an immune response (2).
Is Tetanus Toxoid Vaccine Safe In Pregnancy?
Tetanus toxoid, diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine is safe for the mother and the unborn baby. It can be administered at any time during pregnancy. There have not been any safety warnings issued or found after Tdap administration in both the mother and the baby (3). However, specific timings are often recommended for better outcomes. The US CDC and the Food And Drug Administration (FDA) regulate and monitor the safety and effectiveness of vaccines through a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). The US CDC and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) say that the benefits of the Tdap vaccine outweigh the theoretical risk of severe hypersensitivity due to multiple shots (3).
Why Do You Need The TT Injection (TT Vaccine) In Pregnancy?
TT vaccine is the only way to prevent maternal and neonatal tetanus. According to the US Centers For Disease Control And Prevention (CDC), nearly all cases of tetanus occur in unvaccinated persons. Although vaccine recommendations may vary, people of all ages, including pregnant women, can get the Tetanus vaccine (4). Most countries follow a universal standard for TT immunization in maternal health care (1). Women who had an unsafe abortion and those who carry a tetanus-prone wound should go for TT vaccination to prevent tetanus risks (5). It is also important to administer the TT vaccine in rural areas since deliveries happen in unsafe conditions.
Maternal Tetanus And Neonatal Tetanus
Inadequate maternal vaccination and unhygienic delivery or perinatal practices could lead to maternal or neonatal tetanus. Both maternal and neonatal tetanus can be eliminated together as the risk factors are similar or related.
Maternal Tetanus
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines maternal tetanus as the tetanus during pregnancy or within six weeks after childbirth, miscarriage, or an abortion (6). The tetanus bacteria can easily pass through an open wound into the mother’s body. Anything from light scratches on the skin to a deep wound caused by a bite, burn, or lacerations can aid bacterial skin penetration. Once the bacteria enters the skin, it produces a toxin known as tetanospasmin in the bloodstream. It thus attacks the nervous system, leading to death if not treated on time. The incubation period of the bacterium varies from 3 to 21 days (7). The symptoms of tetanus are lockjaw (mild contractions of the jaw muscles), stiffness in the neck, abdominal muscles, spinal fractures, and swallowing difficulty. Some rare signs include fever, sweating, and rapid heartbeat (7).
Neonatal Tetanus
Neonatal tetanus is a life-threatening condition that affects newborns because of the use of unsterilized cutting instruments and unhealed umbilical cord stumps. Babies are affected because they have no immunity that passes from the mother who has not been immunized. It is, therefore, of high importance that pregnant women should take the TT vaccine (8). Tetanus is preventable by vaccination (1). Antibodies form in your body after vaccination, passing to your little one and protecting them for months after birth. ACOG also recommends that other family members, including fathers, grandparents, caregivers, or anyone in close contact with newborns, get TT vaccines two weeks before coming in contact with newborns. All healthcare workers involved in newborn care are also up to date on their TT vaccines.
What Are The Steps To Be Taken Before Taking The TT Vaccine?
The immunization will only be given after thoroughly screening your medical reports. Health care providers may also ask about the vaccine history and known allergies or side effects on previous shots. The healthcare provider may shake the vial containing the vaccine vigorously so that the sediment properly mixes with the fluid. A shake test is compulsory to ensure that the vial is not damaged while being frozen and thawed. Vaccines that are previously frozen should not be used (9).
When Should A Pregnant Woman Take Tetanus Injection?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends getting Tdap vaccination between 27 and 36 weeks of gestation. This time window maximizes the maternal immune response and passive antibody transfer in the newborn. However, Tdap can be safely administered anytime during the pregnancy (10). Wound management, pertussis outbreaks, or other extenuating situations can be reasons for earlier or later administration of Tdap vaccines in pregnancy. There is no adverse effect though it is administered other than the recommended time frame (10).
What Is The Ideal TT Injection Dosage In Pregnancy?
The schedule for vaccinating pregnant women recommended by the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) is as follows (10).
Recommendations for unvaccinated and not known immunization history
If the pregnant woman has never been vaccinated before or her immunization results are not known, two doses of TT/Td are given one month before delivery and further doses as per table one. Source
Recommendations for known vaccine history
If the pregnant woman had 1 to 4 TT doses earlier, the remaining one dose of TT/Td could be given before delivery. If the pregnant woman shows vaccination proofs of her infancy, childhood, and adolescence of tetanus-containing vaccines like TT, Td, DTP, or DT, doses are given as per table two.
Source For complete protection during pregnancy, the last TT dose should be given two weeks before delivery. The doses are recorded on a personal immunization card that a woman should keep with her.
How Many TT Injections Are Given During Pregnancy?
The number of TT injections and their booster doses in pregnancy may vary depending on the previous vaccine history and number of pregnancies.
First pregnancy recommendations
The first pregnancy TT recommendations may include (11):
A dose of Tdap is administered during each pregnancy regardless of prior history of getting Tdap. Three doses of Tdap are given to pregnant women who have never been vaccinated or whose medical history is unknown. It is usually recommended for 0, 4 weeks, and 6 through 12 months.
Second pregnancy recommendations
Your healthcare provider will review your vaccination history and recommend doses accordingly (11).
If you have received two doses of Tdap during the first pregnancy, you may be given a third dose during the second pregnancy. If the subsequent pregnancy occurs after a long gap, the vaccination schedule will differ depending on your previous Tdap doses since the duration of protection may vary for each dose. Your doctor will assess your vaccination card and schedule the doses accordingly.
If you get hurt after taking any TT vaccine doses, you do not require any shots immediately. The vaccine will start forming antibodies that protect your body from infections. It is also better to check with your doctor if you have serious injuries.
What Are the Side Effects of TT Injection During Pregnancy?
There are no specific or concerning side effects for TT vaccines during pregnancy. Side effects of Tdap vaccinations, even in pregnant women, can be mild or moderate severity and self-resolving. Severe side effects are rare in the adult population (12). The common Tdap side effects may include:
Injection site pain, tenderness, redness, or swelling Fever
Fatigue Body aches
These effects may last for a day or two and resolve without complications. Usually, these symptoms occur as a result of the initiation of the immune response against the inactive toxins or bacterial material in the vaccine.
