Do people really need tetanus boosters?

A viral video claims tetanus shots are unsafe, not very helpful, rarely needed, and that taking vitamin C is a better way to prevent or survive tetanus.

Tetanus, or lockjaw, is a disease caused by the toxin produced by the Clostridium tetani bacteria. The bacteria are often in dirt and soil, not just in manure, like the video claims. Tetanus can cause severe, painful muscle spasms and rigidity, primarily in the jaw and neck. That’s why it is called “lockjaw.” Even with treatment, it can be fatal in about 10% of people who have it.

The bacteria are anaerobic, which means that they cannot survive in oxygen. When oxygen is present or the environment isn’t best for their survival, the bacteria will form spores and go dormant until conditions improve. The spore can happen because of the oxygen.

At one time, the toxin was made using a mix that included Beef Heart Infusion. But for the past 20 years, companies have used other options made from plants. The screenshot in the video came from a study that is more than 20 years old. That study showed a different mix that does not have a risk of mad cow disease and does not have a risk for people with dairy allergies.

The post also speaks to Vitamin C and cites Klenner and “other modern reports.” This study concludes that “single, non-randomised, poorly reported trial of vitamin C as a treatment for tetanus suggests a considerable reduction in mortality. However, concerns about trial quality mean that this result must be interpreted with caution and vitamin C cannot be recommended as a treatment for tetanus on the basis of this evidence”

In the end, before the vaccine, there were still hundreds of cases of tetanus per year with an over 10% fatality rate. Since 1947, reported tetanus cases have declined more than 95%, and reported deaths have declined more than 99%. Get your tetanus booster!