Tetanus vaccine is a vaccine used against Clostridium tetani

Clostridium tetani

Clostridium tetani is a rod-shaped, anaerobic bacterium of the genus Clostridium. Like other Clostridium species, it is Gram-positive, and its appearance on a gram stain resembles tennis rackets or drumsticks. C. tetani is found as spores in soil or in the gastrointestinal tract of animals. C...

, the agent that causes tetanus

Tetanus

Tetanus is a medical condition characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. The primary symptoms are caused by tetanospasmin, a neurotoxin produced by the Gram-positive, rod-shaped, obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani...

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The vaccine is composed of tetanus toxoid, tetanus toxin inactivated with formaldehyde

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is an organic compound with the formula CH2O. It is the simplest aldehyde, hence its systematic name methanal.Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a characteristic pungent odor. It is an important precursor to many other chemical compounds, especially for polymers...

, which is immunogenic but not pathogenic. It is a component of the DPT vaccine

DPT vaccine

DPT refers to a class of combination vaccines against three infectious diseases in humans: diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus...

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The tetanus vaccine is required again after 10 years if the individual is exposed to possible infection.