Can I get a tetanus (Td) vaccine booster after 6 years?

From the Guidelines

Yes, you can get a tetanus (Td) vaccine booster after 6 years, although the standard recommendation is to receive tetanus boosters every 10 years for adults. Getting it earlier than the 10-year mark is safe and will provide protection against tetanus. The Td vaccine protects against tetanus and diphtheria, and is typically administered as a 0.5 mL intramuscular injection in the deltoid muscle. If you haven't received the Tdap vaccine (which also includes pertussis protection) as an adult, consider getting that instead of Td for one of your boosters. Early boosters are particularly recommended if you've had a deep or dirty wound and your last tetanus shot was more than 5 years ago. The vaccine works by stimulating your immune system to produce antibodies against the tetanus toxin, providing protection against this potentially fatal bacterial infection that affects the nervous system. Side effects are generally mild and may include soreness at the injection site, mild fever, or fatigue. According to the most recent guidelines from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) 1, either Tdap or Td vaccines can be used in situations where only Td vaccine had been recommended, increasing provider point-of-care flexibility.

Some key points to consider:

• The Td vaccine is recommended every 10 years for adults, but it can be given earlier if necessary, such as in the case of a deep or dirty wound 1.
• The Tdap vaccine, which also protects against pertussis, can be given in place of Td for one of the boosters 1.
• The ACIP recommends a 5-year interval for Td when indicated for wound management, and a 10-year interval for routine administration of Td 1.
• Administering Td more often than every 10 years is not necessary to provide protection against tetanus or diphtheria, but administering a dose of Tdap <5 years after Td could provide a health benefit by protecting against pertussis 1.

Overall, getting a tetanus booster after 6 years is safe and can provide protection against tetanus, and the decision to get a booster should be based on individual circumstances, such as the risk of exposure to tetanus or the presence of a deep or dirty wound.

From the FDA Drug Label

Routine booster immunization against tetanus and diphtheria is recommended at 11-12 years of age and every 10 years thereafter. For post-exposure diphtheria prophylaxis and for management of a tetanus prone wound, a booster dose of TENIVAC may be administered if at least 5 years have elapsed since previous receipt of a diphtheria toxoid and tetanus toxoid containing vaccine.

The answer to whether you can get a tetanus vaccine booster after 6 years is yes, but only under certain circumstances, such as for post-exposure prophylaxis or management of a tetanus-prone wound, if at least 5 years have elapsed since the previous receipt of a tetanus toxoid containing vaccine 2. For routine booster immunization, it is recommended every 10 years.

• Key points:
  • Routine booster: every 10 years
  • Post-exposure or tetanus-prone wound: if at least 5 years have elapsed since previous vaccine receipt

From the Research

Tetanus Vaccine Booster After 6 Years

• The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that a single dose of tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine replace a single decennial dose of tetanus diphtheria (Td) vaccine for persons aged 10-64 years 3.
• For adults with infant contact and health-care personnel (HCP) with direct patient contact, the single recommended Tdap dose is suggested to be administered as soon as 2 years after the last tetanus vaccination 3.
• However, the general recommendation for tetanus toxoid in adults is to administer it only if it has been more than 10 years since their last immunization 4.
• A study on the safety and immunogenicity of revaccination with Tdap vaccine in adults 10 years after a previous dose found that a second dose of Tdap vaccine in adults approximately 10 years after a previous dose was well tolerated and immunogenic 5.
• There is no evidence to suggest that getting a tetanus vaccine booster after 6 years is necessary or recommended, unless the individual is at increased risk for transmitting pertussis to those who are most susceptible, such as adults with infant contact or HCP with direct patient contact 3, 5.

Key Considerations

• The ACIP recommendations and the study findings suggest that the timing of tetanus vaccine boosters depends on various factors, including the individual's risk factors and vaccination history 3, 5.
• The decision to administer a tetanus vaccine booster after 6 years should be made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the individual's specific circumstances and the latest scientific evidence 3, 5, 4.