Tetanus - are you up to date?

[johnty greentoes]

As most of my plot has been mulched with broken greenhouse over the years I am forever cutting myself. A colleague, on seeing my tattered fingers, asked if I was up to date with my tetanus. The answer was, "Dunno!" Another colleague said that there is a lifetime tetanus now available and that I should ask for it.

Has anyone heard of this or had it? In the meantime I'm doing the girlie thing and wearing gloves.

[TonyF]

Get a tetanus shot, too much of a problem if you don't have one.

Interesting that I can just go and buy them over the pharmacy counter here (and the flu jab, no prescription needed for either) costs about £2.50 and you can either do it yourself of have the community nurse come in to your home, no wait for six weeks usually within 36 hours, and do it for free.

I had a chumlette who's a nurse do it, so that's me sorted for the next ten years and she does my flu jab for me as well.

[johnty greentoes]

Get a tetanus shot, too much of a problem if you don't have one.

Interesting that I can just go and buy them over the pharmacy counter here (and the flu jab, no prescription needed for either) costs about £2.50 and you can either do it yourself of have the community nurse come in to your home, no wait for six weeks usually within 36 hours, and do it for free.

I had a chumlette who's a nurse do it, so that's me sorted for the next ten years and she does my flu jab for me as well.

Will chumlette home visit in the East Riding?

[TonyF]

You pay the fares, sure that she might - alternatively, I have to do my own injections 5 days a week so you may get me doing them!

[Squash Muppet]

Not sure about this one! I last had a tetanus in 1980.

I had a cycling accident last summer - was cycling (stupid child) in flip-flops and the flip-flop got caught in the cycle chain and suddenly I was missing half the sole of my foot. Grim!! Got grit and chain oil and allsorts in the wound. My surgery said I was still covered from the 1980 innoculation which I found slightly hard to believe but maybe they were right.

Better to be safe rather than sorry Johnty.

Blessings
Squash Muppet

[Sue]

Hi JT
I trod on a rusty nail (flip-flops again) on my allotment and went to see the surgery nurse to get it cleaned and she was horrified when I said I hadn't had a tetanus injection and she made me do the course right away, also made me do polio and something else which I've forgotten.
Sue

[Flummery]

I have a tetanus booster every 10 years (this follows from a course of 3 initially) Due again in 3 years. Never heard of a lifetime one though. It must be new. I don't think it's worth the risk.

[Earthbabe]

I believe the current thinking is that after the initial course when you are a small person, once you have had the three boosters you are covered for life. If in doubt have jab. Although I would have thought by now JTG if you were at risk you'd have been hospitalised.

Now there's a cheery thought for a Saturday.

Any OH nurses or practice nurses out there who can clarify?

[Snadger]

Luckily, we have an innoculation programme at work covering us for Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis
Knowing my luck though, I'll probably catch some obstropolis incurable disease no ones heard of!

[Alison]

I've found that whenever I've ended up in A&E over the years with any wounds (don't ask, I've had a few accidents over the years) they tend to give you a jab just to be on the safe side - any chance of an overdose?

[johnty greentoes]

I think I'll get a jab next week.

Tony - I'll take my chances with local NHS staff - thanks for the kind offer!

[Nicos]

I somehow can't imagine you with lockjaw Johnty!!

I found these links which may be of interest

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles...ectionId=12475

www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068839/

I also understand that some areas of the country carry a higher risk of contracting the disease too.......If in doubt - check it out!!

[TonyF]

The usual regime is three to start with when a small person and then boosters every 10 years.

[johnty greentoes]

I somehow can't imagine you with lockjaw Johnty!!

I found these links which may be of interest

http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/articles...ectionId=12475

www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068839/

I also understand that some areas of the country carry a higher risk of contracting the disease too.......If in doubt - check it out!!

Very funny Nicos...

Thanks for the links...

Will definitely take action as I sat on a piece of glass yesterday...

[Mrs Dobby]

Very funny Nicos...

Thanks for the links...

Will definitely take action as I sat on a piece of glass yesterday...

Ouch, must have been painful, hope its not too painful to sit down and peruse the vine!