It is generally recommended to receive an injection as soon as possible after a trauma, ideally within 24 hours, because tetanus has a certain incubation period, with the shortest being able to cause disease within 24 hours. There is still value in receiving the injection after 24 hours; it can alleviate symptoms and play a preventive treatment role. For tetanus, it is usual to administer a tetanus shot, and most people can choose between tetanus antitoxin or tetanus immunoglobulin. The duration of these two drugs is not the same; tetanus antitoxin lasts about three days, while tetanus immunoglobulin can last up to three weeks. However, this is not an absolute conclusion. Beyond this time, if there are high-risk factors for reinfection, a repeat injection is needed. If a patient has previously been protected by an active immunization regimen, in most cases, no special preventive treatment is needed within three years of the last vaccination.