According to the CDC, how often should an adult get their Tetanus booster vaccine?

• A. 5 years
• B. Never
• C. 10 years
• D. 20 years

Answer: (C)

Maintaining tetanus immunity requires a booster every ten years. The CDC recommends a Td or Tdap shot about once a decade to keep antibody levels high enough to protect against tetanus. In specific wound situations, a booster might be advised sooner if it’s been more than five years since the last tetanus-containing vaccine, but the standard interval is ten years. The other options don’t fit routine practice: five years is too short for routine boosters (except in certain wound scenarios), never would leave you protected in general, and twenty years is too long and could allow immunity to lapse.