Is tetanus vaccine still effective after first signs of symptoms experienced?

Tetanus treatment: Tetanus is very rare in the U.S.- on the order of only 30 or so cases a year. I'd like to know what exactly your symptoms are- since sometimes a mouth infection or drug reaction could be confused with tetanus. If you really have tetanus now, the vaccine won't help - and you'll need an Infectious Diseases doctor urgently to take control of the situation. Tetanus immune globulin might have a role.