Independent cost reference. Not a pharmacy, not an insurance carrier, not a clinic finder, not a medical practice. For an injury that may require a tetanus shot, contact a healthcare provider promptly.

Last verified: April 2026
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Glossary

Tetanus vaccine glossary: medical, insurance, and cost terms

Plain-English definitions for the medical, insurance, and programme terms used across this site. Each term that has a dedicated page is cross-linked.
Cost data verified: April 2026
ACA preventive care
The Affordable Care Act requirement that non-grandfathered health plans cover certain preventive services, including ACIP-recommended adult vaccines, at no cost when delivered in-network. Read more
ACIP
Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, the CDC body that makes US vaccine recommendations. ACIP guidance drives US insurance coverage rules and the standard adult and child immunisation schedules.
Adacel
A Tdap vaccine made by Sanofi. Clinically interchangeable with Boostrix per ACIP. Read more
Administration fee
The pharmacy or clinic fee for administering a vaccine, typically $7 to $20. GoodRx and SingleCare coupons usually cover the medicine, not the administration fee.
Boostrix
A Tdap vaccine made by GSK. Clinically interchangeable with Adacel per ACIP. GoodRx publishes a Boostrix coupon starting at $60.86. Read more
Booster
A dose of vaccine given after the primary series to maintain immunity over time. For tetanus, the routine booster is recommended every 10 years for adults.
Cal VFA
California's Vaccines for Adults programme, administered through EZIZ. Provides Section 317-funded vaccines (including Tdap and Td) to uninsured and underinsured adults at participating providers. Read more
Copay
A fixed dollar amount the patient pays for a covered service under a health plan. Most ACA-compliant plans have a $0 copay for ACIP-recommended preventive vaccines in-network.
Cost-sharing
The portion of a healthcare cost the patient pays out-of-pocket: deductible, copay, and coinsurance combined. For ACIP-recommended preventive vaccines in-network, ACA-compliant plans have $0 cost-sharing.
Deductible
The amount the patient pays before insurance starts paying. The ACA preventive-care rule applies before the deductible: ACIP-recommended vaccines are $0 in-network even if the deductible has not been met.
DTaP
The full-strength childhood vaccine covering diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis, given as a 5-dose primary series for children 0 to 6 on the CDC schedule. VFC-eligible children receive it free. Read more
EPSDT
Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment, the Medicaid benefit for children under 21 that includes ACIP-recommended vaccines.
Formulary
The list of drugs and vaccines a health plan covers. Tdap and Td are universally on Medicare Part D and major-insurer formularies for ACIP-recommended preventive coverage.
FQHC
Federally Qualified Health Center, a clinic in the HRSA Health Center Program network. Serves all patients on a sliding-scale fee, accepts Medicaid and most major insurance, and many participate in Section 317. Read more
FSA
Flexible Spending Account, an employer-sponsored pre-tax account for medical expenses. Out-of-pocket tetanus shot expenses are FSA-eligible.
GoodRx
A discount-card service that aggregates coupon prices for prescription medicines and vaccines. GoodRx publishes Boostrix coupons starting at $60.86 and Tdvax coupons starting at $31.38.
HDHP
High-Deductible Health Plan. The ACA preventive-services exception applies before the HDHP deductible: ACIP-recommended vaccines are $0 in-network for HDHP enrollees.
HRSA
Health Resources and Services Administration, the HHS agency that runs the Health Center Program (FQHCs). The HRSA Find a Health Center tool locates participating clinics by ZIP code.
HSA
Health Savings Account, a tax-advantaged account paired with an HDHP. Out-of-pocket tetanus shot expenses are HSA-eligible.
Inflation Reduction Act
The 2022 federal law (IRA) that, among other things, eliminated cost-sharing for Medicare Part D ACIP-recommended vaccines as of January 2023 and required Medicaid coverage of adult ACIP vaccines as of October 2023. Read more
In-network
Provider that has contracted with a specific health plan to deliver services at agreed rates. The ACA preventive-care rule applies in-network.
Medicare Advantage (Part C)
A private alternative to traditional Medicare that bundles Part B and (usually) Part D coverage. The IRA Part D vaccine cost-sharing change applies to MA-PD plans.
Medicare Part B
The medical-services side of Medicare. Covers tetanus when administered as treatment for an injury (puncture, animal bite). Standard 20% coinsurance applies; Medigap typically covers it. Read more
Medicare Part D
The prescription-drug side of Medicare. Covers routine tetanus boosters. Since the 2023 IRA, Part D ACIP-recommended vaccines have $0 cost-sharing. Read more
Medicaid
The joint federal-state programme covering low-income individuals. Since October 2023, ACIP-recommended adult vaccines are mandatory Medicaid benefits with no cost-sharing. Read more
Medigap
Supplemental Medicare insurance that fills cost-sharing gaps in Part B. Most Medigap plans cover the 20% Part B coinsurance for injury-related tetanus shots.
Out-of-pocket maximum
The annual cap on cost-sharing under an ACA-compliant health plan. After the patient hits the maximum, the plan pays 100% for in-network covered services.
Pertussis
Whooping cough, a bacterial respiratory infection. Tdap and DTaP both cover pertussis (the aP and P components). Td does not.
Section 317
The federal vaccine-purchase programme under Section 317 of the Public Health Service Act. CDC funds flow to state health departments, county clinics, and FQHCs to provide vaccines to uninsured and underinsured adults. Read more
Tdap
Tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis vaccine for adults and adolescents (age 7 and above). Reduced doses of d and aP. Brand names Boostrix (GSK) and Adacel (Sanofi). Read more
Td
Tetanus, diphtheria vaccine for adults and adolescents (age 7 and above). No pertussis component. Brand names Tenivac (Sanofi) and Tdvax (MassBiologics). Read more
Tetanus immune globulin (TIG)
Antibody product given alongside the tetanus toxoid booster when prior immunity is in doubt and the wound is dirty or severe. Administered at urgent care or ER, not pharmacy.
Tenivac
A Td vaccine made by Sanofi. Clinically interchangeable with Tdvax per ACIP.
Tdvax
A Td vaccine made by MassBiologics. GoodRx publishes a Tdvax coupon starting at $31.38.
VFA
Vaccines for Adults, the umbrella name for state-level Section 317-funded adult vaccine programmes. California has Cal VFA; North Carolina has the NC VFA.
VFC
Vaccines for Children, the federal programme that provides ACIP-recommended vaccines free at participating providers for under-19s who are uninsured, Medicaid-enrolled, AI/AN, or underinsured at FQHC/RHC. Read more