Oregon researchers reveal Americans are more likely to be struck by lightning than contract tetanus, yet the CDC continues mandating billion-dollar booster programs.

Story Overview

• OHSU study shows childhood tetanus/diphtheria vaccines provide 30+ years of protection, not the CDC’s claimed 10 years
• U.S. could save $1 billion annually by ending adult boosters while maintaining safety, following U.K. and French models
• Disease rates are extraordinarily rare: fewer than 1 tetanus case per 10 million people yearly
• CDC maintains costly booster recommendations despite mounting evidence they’re medically unnecessary

Government Recommendations Contradict Scientific Evidence

Oregon Health & Science University researchers published findings in Clinical Microbiology Reviews challenging the CDC’s decade-old booster mandate for tetanus and diphtheria vaccines. Lead researcher Mark Slifka demonstrated that childhood immunizations provide protection lasting at least 30 years, triple the CDC’s conservative 10-year estimate. The evidence suggests Americans have been subjected to unnecessary medical interventions that drain healthcare resources while providing no additional protection against diseases so rare they’re statistically insignificant.

More likely to be struck by lightning than get tetanus. So why the boosters? https://t.co/O8tkJf97qM

— Leen Kawas (@LeenKawas) August 28, 2025

International Success Stories Expose Government Overreach

European countries including the United Kingdom and France discontinued routine adult tetanus and diphtheria boosters years ago without experiencing increased disease rates. These nations aligned their policies with World Health Organization guidelines, which don’t recommend adult boosters when childhood vaccination coverage remains high. The international evidence demonstrates that America’s continued booster requirements represent government overreach rather than sound medical practice, forcing citizens into unnecessary medical procedures while enriching pharmaceutical companies.

Current U.S. disease incidence data supports the researchers’ conclusions. Tetanus occurs in fewer than one case per 10 million person-years, while diphtheria strikes approximately one person per billion person-years. These statistics make contracting either disease less likely than being struck by lightning, yet federal health authorities continue pushing expensive booster programs that generate massive pharmaceutical revenues without meaningful health benefits.

Billion-Dollar Savings Potential Ignored by Federal Bureaucrats

OHSU’s analysis reveals that eliminating adult boosters could save the American healthcare system approximately $1 billion annually in direct costs. These savings could be redirected toward genuine health priorities rather than maintaining bureaucratic vaccination schedules that serve pharmaceutical interests more than public safety. The research team emphasizes that high childhood vaccination rates provide the necessary population protection without requiring lifelong adult interventions.

Despite overwhelming scientific evidence, the CDC maintains its current booster recommendations pending further review. This bureaucratic inertia represents the kind of wasteful government spending and regulatory overreach that frustrates taxpayers. Federal health agencies appear more interested in preserving established programs than adapting to evidence-based policies that would reduce costs while maintaining safety standards that have proven successful internationally.

Sources:

OHSU News Release – Review suggests ending adult boosters for tetanus, diphtheria
Vax Before Travel – Ending tetanus diphtheria booster adults could save 1 billion
CIDRAP – Adults largely don’t need tetanus, diphtheria vaccine boosters, researchers say
CDC Vaccine Recommendations for Diphtheria
NCOA – Tdap vaccine what older adults need to know