How often should you have a tetanus vaccination?

As of 2015, children should receive one dose of the combination tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccine at 2, 4, 6 and 15 months, as well as between the ages of 4 and 6. Adults should receive a tetanus booster shot every 10 years, reports the Centers for Disease Control.

Common side effects of the tetanus vaccine include fever and swelling at the injection site. In some cases, the vaccine can cause a seizure, a fever over 105 degrees Fahrenheit or nonstop crying for over three hours. Very rarely, the vaccine is suspected to cause permanent brain damage, coma or long-term seizures, notes the Centers for Disease Control.