Article professionally consulted by Dr. Nguyễn Hải Hà, MSc, MD - Head of the Vaccine Unit, Pediatric Surgery Department, Vinmec Times City International Hospital.
In addition to ensuring a proper diet, disease prevention is a crucial step to help expectant mothers have a healthy pregnancy. Vaccination against tetanus is one of the essential vaccines during pregnancy to help expectant mothers have a healthy pregnancy. So, what is the vaccination schedule for tetanus for first-time mothers and subsequent pregnancy?
1. Why should pregnant women get vaccinated against tetanus?
Tetanus is an acute infectious disease with a very high mortality rate due to the toxins produced by the Clostridium tetani bacteria, which are lethal. These bacteria are found everywhere, and they can thrive and survive in extreme conditions, even boiling them for a long time cannot completely eliminate them.
In particular, the mortality rate from tetanus is very high (> 90%). If a newborn contracts it, the mortality rate can be as high as 95%. The people at risk for the disease are those with open skin wounds, women during labor and delivery, and newborns through umbilical cord cutting, etc.
Moreover, according to physicians' observations, vaccinating pregnant women against tetanus essentially serves as pre-exposure vaccination, creating antibodies for mothers to avoid infection during labor, while also allowing the transfer of antibodies from mother to baby, minimizing the risk of tetanus infection during umbilical cord cutting.
Therefore, vaccinating pregnant women against tetanus is extremely important. The vaccine helps protect the pregnancy from external harmful agents, especially during labor, which can prevent tetanus bacillus from attacking both the mother and child.
2. Vaccination schedule for first-time pregnant women
For women who are pregnant for the first time and have not previously received a tetanus vaccine or the diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine or who are unsure of their vaccination history or have not received a complete series of 3 vaccines containing tetanus, a basic schedule includes 2 doses will be administered:
- Dose 1: Administered when the pregnancy is around 20 weeks along; it is not advisable to administer it earlier as the initial weeks of pregnancy are not stable.
- Dose 2: Administered one month after the first dose (at least 28 days) and must be given at least one month before delivery.
For those who have received a complete vaccination series of 5 tetanus vaccines before pregnancy, with the last dose not more than 10 years ago, there is no need for further vaccination. However, if it has been over 10 years since the last dose, a booster shot of 2 doses is required.
In cases where the individual received 2 doses during the previous pregnancy, and the subsequent pregnancy is not more than 10 years later, only one booster vaccine against tetanus is necessary starting from week 20 onwards. This additional booster for pregnant women during their second or third pregnancy is also very important.
3. Notes after tetanus vaccination for pregnant women
- Receiving a tetanus vaccine can cause swelling or local allergic reactions. However, expectant mothers should not worry too much as these are typically mild side effects that will resolve on their own without the need for medication or compresses at the injection site. Additionally, pregnant women should choose a reputable vaccination facility certified by the Ministry of Health to ensure safety.
- During pregnancy, the Ministry of Health of Vietnam mandates that women only need to receive a tetanus vaccine. However, based on recommendations from the World Health Organization and the CDC, pregnant women between 27 to 35 weeks can receive the diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine to protect newborns from whooping cough early if they have not been vaccinated prior to pregnancy. In special cases, such as bites from animals like dogs, cats, or monkeys, women need to receive rabies vaccination as indicated by a doctor.
Above is detailed information about the tetanus vaccination schedule for pregnant women. We hope this information will be helpful for expectant mothers to have a healthy pregnancy and ensure the well-being of both mother and baby.
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