Hi Moms,
My daughter was visiting my grandfather and scraped her face on barb wire. I read online that the DTaP shot is supposed to be given 5 times (2, 4, 6, and 12-18 months) with the last one between the ages of 4-6. She just turned 4 and has not gotten her last shot. Would she be covered from her other shots or should I take her in tomorrow? I am going to call the doc tomorrow but I was just getting nervous wondering if she could get tetnus from this. Thanks in advance.
If she had her last shot when she was 12-18 months old, then she is still protected. I'd call her Dr. tomorrow just to verify her last Dtap date, and to see what they recommend.
When is the last time she was vaccinated?
Call the pediatrician.
That's the only way to know if she is protected by her last vaccination.
It might not hurt to get her another one, but it all depends, and only your doctor can advise you.
These shots are now required for even older children because of the rise of pertussis.
My 15 year old son and I received ours a few weeks ago at a free clinic in our town that was offered throught the health department.
I work at a hospital and was required to have it.
I know that sometimes if a person can't remember the last time they had a tetanus shot, they will go ahead and give them one in the event of an injury that could cause problems. That way, you know from there on out you are covered for X amount of years.
Clean the wound. Use neosporin to topically prevent infection and call the doctor in the morning.
Also check for fever and signs of inflammation. Get her in sooner if any of that occurs.
Best wishes.
Tetanus is an issue if you have a deep puncture wound that cannot get oxygen into it. It s an anaerobic disease. If it is just a scratch on her face you do not need to worry about tetanus. I would clean the wound, spray colloidal silver on it, and make sure it stays clean.
wash it out really really really good with soap and water. I'd never heard giving it to them 5 times. My kids have been scraped with rusty metal and I didn't get them another shot. I treated them naturally instead. My brother, however, stepped on a rusty nail and it went through deep and they did give him another shot. Good luck!!
