You really have to ask a Dr to give it. They think that if you get cut you will come to the ER and get one so they don'te remind you once you are older. Here is another article.You can google hundreds of stories ,some of people who died from a minor scratch or thorn prick. You can go to your Health dept or a walk in clinic that is what I did. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````` National Post Warning, home gardeners. Before you get your hands dirty - stop! When did you get your last tetanus vaccination? If it was 10 years ago or more, put down your trowel. Call your doctor. You could be at risk of getting a dangerous and deadly disease for which there is no cure. Most people link tetanus with rusty nails. But tetanus is everywhere. It's in soil, dust, animal waste, and anything that comes in contact with them. You can get it from insect bites, animal bites, scratches from claws or thorns, or through the tiniest crack or puncture in the skin. More than 30% of all tetanus injuries occur in the garden. How easy is it to get? Cleveland Clinic admitted a home gardener with an advanced case of tetanus. He had no visible punctures and no idea of how he'd contracted the disease. A detailed examination of his hands, however, revealed the culprit: an almost invisible splinter in the pad of his thumb. Fortunately, the patient survived (after six weeks in intensive care). Not all are so lucky. In recent years, 10% of all cases in North America have been fatal. In non-Western societies, the death rate is much higher. Back to Body & Health Tetanus is notoriously difficult to diagnose and treat. Here's how it starts: The spores of a bacteria called C. tetani enters the body through a wound. The spores thrive and germinate in the low-oxygen environment inside the body. The germinating spores produce a toxin that spreads through the blood and lymphatic system. The toxins disrupt the nervous system. First they strike the nerves nearest to the puncture. Then they spread out to the spinal cord and brain. Within five to 10 days after the infection, tetanus may exhibit its most famous symptom -- lockjaw. Lockjaw is followed by stiffness in the neck. The patient has difficulty swallowing. The abdomen grows rigid. The toxins spread. Generalized muscles spasms begin. These symptoms can go on for weeks. Once a full-blown case of tetanus is underway, there is no stopping it. The disease can only be managed. Not cured. The good news is that this disease can be prevented. There is a highly effective vaccine that delivers full immunity from tetanus. Adults often don't realize, however, that the vaccine wears off after a few years. Fewer than a quarter of people over the age of 75 years are still immune to tetanus. The National Foundation for Infectious Disease, a U.S. organization for which I serve as medical director, sponsors a program called "The Power of Ten" to educate people about the need to get re-vaccinated for tetanus every ten years. The vaccine is first administered in a series of three injections a "primary series." After that, it needs to be renewed with a single booster every 10 years. These days, most people receive the primary series in infancy but some older individuals may have grown up in the era before tetanus immunization was available. Those whose tetanus vaccination history is uncertain should discuss it with a physician. For many years the diphtheria vaccine has been given along with the tetanus vaccine. This year, a third component, directed at whooping cough (pertussis), has been added for adolescents and adults. Parents, health care workers and others who spend time with young infants should speak with a physician about getting the new vaccine, called Tdap (tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis) early. Tetanus is rare in our day, and getting rarer. But don't test the odds. Remember "the power of ten." Get your 10-year tetanus booster with the diphtheria and pertussis boosters thrown in. Then, get out and dig the earth. - Susan Rehm, M.D., Department of Infectious Disease Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic (clevelandclinic.org) is ranked as one of the four leading hospitals in the U.S. and operates Cleveland Clinic Canada -- Toronto Health and Wellness Centre. Cleveland Clinic Canada offers executive physicals, prevention and wellness counseling, and personal health care management. Send comments, questions or inquiries to nationalpost@ccf.org. © (c) CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc.

this is so opportune I am down in Florida, half a year and so garden year round Was at a garden club meeting for Bromliads and there was a discussion about this same thing. One man explained how he had this bit of a cut on his hand, didn't pay it much attention But next day there where red lines three of them going up his arm After another day and in the mean time he had tried cleaning, icing and whatever else he and his wife thought to do, but his arm the entire arm had swollen and by the time he was to the hospital with his wife, in 24 hours, the doctor told his wife, he might not survive this. And if he did he could have severe lasting trauma and disability He now gets a tetanus shot. and suggested we all do so I had never heard of this before And am myself one who does not wear gloves, nor long sleeves or long pants. Forever have cuts and scratches and my hands right in the dirt. I am sure this will never change But when I return home am going to get my Tetanus shot for sure Have suggest to my family to do the same I thought the shot is only needed every five or ten years.

Hi BK...I just took a pic of FW along with others today. She doesn't look terrific due to the cursed necrosis, but her leaves are huge, lots still blue and I just love her...we go back many years as I've taken her along when I moved. I experimented with her this year...in mostly shade she did not get her edges melted out, but you are in a much hotter zone. Since you are allowing her a last chance, could you adopt Mocc's umbrella solution perhaps to provide shade during April? And ramp up the water significantly? I think air circulation is also key when it's scorching outside...our humidity was so high that it took 2days only for the desiccation to hit. I have mine in a poor location ( under deck, close to brick wall which retains heat in summer...ugh) but she will have a better growing site next spring. Regardless of this negative growing locale, she is doing better than she should. OBL is not supposed to have that problem but I don't think it can be helped when temperatures soar to 100 or more. Mine is new this year. Again, my F W won't win any awards for esthetics, but if you can ignore the blemishes and see beyond them........you have been a trooper about your FW, no one can blame you if she gets the thumbs down...it's up to you. Fingers crossed for better luck next year. :-).

It's pretty common in horses, and again totally preventable in them, too. I am a professional g'house operator. IOW I make my living in dirt. So, it's one immunisation I try to stay current on. It didn't hurt my father related to me that when he was a child (before tetanus shots were given) he watched a child-hood friend die of it after his friend was burnt from an accident with firecrackers. Any noise would set his little friend off in spasms, and his back would arch up clean off the bed. What a memory to live with.