Shortage of tetanus vaccinations felt both on local and state level

By Mike Bockoven
mbockoven@theindependent.com

One of the vaccinations Americans are most familiar with, the tetanus shot, is in rather short supply, and the pinch has been felt on not only the local level but the state level as well.

"There have been vaccination shortages, and in some cases, there continue to be shortages," said Grey Borden, immunization program manager with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. "There were some guidelines that were set when it was realized there would be a shortage."

One guideline is that tetanus shots are only to be administered to adults as needed after a person has suffered a wound. The guideline has worked very well, pediatrician Dr. Janice Kutilek said, considering that tetanus is a fairly common vaccination.

"Tetanus is everywhere. It lives in the soil, so it's not going to go away any time soon," she said. "We don't see many cases of it because of the vaccinations, but we haven't seen an outbreak or anything because of the shortage."

The shortage stemmed from a production cutoff when one of two companies that made the vaccine stopped making it. Because a vaccination for tetanus takes close to a year to produce, the shortage has been fairly constant.

However, Borden said, that's beginning to change, and orders put in by both health organizations and individual practitioners are now beginning to be met.

"I'm not saying the shortage is over, but it's beginning to become a little more available," he said. "It had been prioritized to emergency rooms, but now it's something you're seeing in other places."

An adult should have a tetanus shot every 10 years, Borden said, unless he or she suffers a "dirty wound" or a deep wound that can become infected with tetanus. Tetanus shots are also recommended for children.

That 10-year rule has been relaxed slightly due to the shortage, but Borden encourages both children and adults to get a shot as soon as they can if they are of the age where they need it.

"I wouldn't wait," he said. "Those who wait are going to have longer lines come August when school starts up. It's not a good idea to put something like that off if you can help it."

Kutilek said those who get into a situation where they need a tetanus shot shouldn't have to worry about availability.

"We have enough shots for those who need them," she said. "If you come into the ER and have a dirty wound, we'll get you a tetanus shot."

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