RFK Jr.'s CDC Released a Report on Tetanus

Tetanus remains "rare" with up to 37 cases and 5 deaths each year…

Are you surprised that RFK Jr.’s CDC released a report on tetanus surveillance?

“Tetanus is a serious but vaccine-preventable disease caused by the toxin produced by germinated spores of Clostridium tetani bacteria. Despite substantial declines in incidence resulting from immunization, cases continue to occur, particularly among unvaccinated and undervaccinated populations.”

I sure am!

Especially after news that they had just buried yet another report on vaccine safety…

RFK Jr.’s CDC Released a Report on Tetanus

So what does the Tetanus Surveillance — United States, 2009–2023 report say?

Well, let’s look at some highlights of the report:

• Tetanus remains rare in the United States, underscoring the success of current vaccination policies and programs.

• Tetanus remains rare with up to 37 cases and 5 deaths each year…

• Tetanus is a serious and life-threatening disease. Ninety-five percent of patients with reported tetanus are hospitalized. Approximately 1 in 10 persons who develop tetanus in the United States will die.

• Of the two neonates with available information, both births occurred in a home setting with a midwife, and neither mother had documentation of ever having received a TTCV dose.

• Seventy-six of 173 (43.9%) tetanus cases were among persons who had no documented history of receiving a TTCV dose.

• Among 80 persons with tetanus who had received at least 1 TTCV dose, 47 (58.8%) received their most recent TTCV dose ≥10 years before tetanus onset (Table 2); the median interval since the most recent TTCV dose was 12.5 years (IQR = 7–20 years).

• A total of 225 of 237 (94.9%) persons were hospitalized; of those hospitalized, 65.0% (141 of 217) required care in an intensive care unit and 41.9% (91 of 217) required mechanical ventilation.

• Among persons with tetanus whose vital status was known, the CFR was 12.4% (37 of 299) (Table 2).

• No deaths were reported among persons with tetanus who had received ≥3 TTCV doses.

So basically, the report shows what most of us know - that unvaccinated people who do not get tetanus post-exposure prophylaxis after a wound can get tetanus and die!

Why aren’t there more deaths from tetanus?

A lot of people must have gotten hit by meteors before we had tetanus vaccines… The CDC report is a good reminder why you shouldn’t listen to anti-vaccine influencers if you have a tetanus prone wound.

Because most people ignore the ridiculous advice from anti-vaccine influencers and are vaccinated and/or they get tetanus post-exposure prophylaxis after a wound.

More on Tetanus and Tetanus Deaths

• How Often Do the Amish Get Tetanus?

• Dangerous Anti-Vaccine Propaganda About Tetanus and Tetanus Vaccines

• 5 Myths About Tetanus and Tetanus Shots

• Tetanus Surveillance — United States, 2009–2023

• Rust Doesn’t Give You Tetanus

• Vaccinating against Tetanus

• Tetanus vaccine claims shot down by experts

• Summary Guide to Tetanus Prophylaxis in Routine Wound Management