Unvaccinated Child's Tetanus Scare Highlighted By CDC Amid Anti-Vaxx Movement

Despite the reported dangers, the anti-vaxx movement has managed to get through to many people throughout the U.S. The recent measles outbreaks in the Pacific Northwest have been credited, largely, to anti-vaxxers. Now, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released details about an unvaccinated boy who contracted tetanus.

Tetanus is an acute neuromuscular disease that poses a danger, especially to younger children. In the report from the CDC, it specifically focuses on an unvaccinated boy that had to be hospitalized in 2017 after contracting Tetanus. At the time, the 6-year-old was playing on his family’s farm when he suffered a cut on his forehead that was initially treated at home.

A few days later, he began to have episodes of crying, muscle spasms, and jaw-clenching followed by neck and back pain with more muscle spasms. The parents reached out to medical services when their son had trouble breathing and he was transported to a local pediatric medical center.

The boy would end up spending almost 60 days in intensive care or inpatient acute care, suffering from further muscle spasms, respiratory problems, and dangerous fever. When he was stabilized, he was transferred to a rehabilitation center for 17 days. Despite his medical emergency, the CDC says the boy's family decided against giving him recommended vaccinations.

The CDC's report comes amid confusion about the safety of vaccinations and the widespread anti-vaxx movement. Last month, Texas Rep. Bill Zedler said that he wasn’t concerned about vaccinations because of antibiotics. However, vaccinations are meant to target viruses whereas antibiotics target bacteria. While antibiotics can battle the symptoms of the virus, they can’t eliminate the virus itself.