Safe - A Practical Guide to Preventing Childhood Injuries Advertisement Tetanus, also called lockjaw, is very rare in the United States due to the very high immunization rates of persons living here. Tetanus is difficult to treat, but is completely preventable through vaccination.
Children receive tetanus vaccine in combination with the pertussis and diphtheria vaccine.
After childhood, adults need a booster injection every 10 years to make sure they are protected. Tetanus is caused by infection with the bacteria Clostridium tetani. These bacteria are common in the soil but are quickly killed by oxygen. Tetanus is usually acquired when a person who has not been immunized acquires such a wound by stepping on a dirty nail or being cut by a dirty tool. The bacteria infect the wound and produce a toxin that spreads through the blood.