How to Find Tenivac In Stock Near You (Tools + Tips)

Since MassBiologics discontinued TdVax in 2024, Tenivac by Sanofi Pasteur is the only tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine available in the United States. That single-source supply chain means shortfalls can pop up without warning at your local pharmacy. This guide walks you through the best ways to find Tenivac in stock today.

Why Is It So Difficult to Find Tenivac Right Now?

Tenivac requires cold-chain storage (refrigerated between 36–46°F). Not every pharmacy stocks it, and those that do may receive limited shipments. With only one manufacturer supplying the entire US market, a regional distribution lag can leave dozens of pharmacies empty simultaneously. Vaccine inventory also turns over quickly — what was available yesterday may be gone today.

Step 1: Use medfinder to Call Pharmacies For You

The fastest approach is to let medfinder do the work. Here is how it works: you enter your medication (Tenivac) and your ZIP code, medfinder calls pharmacies in your area to check which ones can fill your prescription, and you receive the results via text message. No hold music, no repeated callbacks, no wasted trips.

Step 2: Expand Your Search Beyond Chain Pharmacies

Most people's first instinct is to check CVS, Walgreens, or Walmart. These are good starting points, but do not stop there. Other places that often carry Tenivac:

Hospital outpatient pharmacies: Often receive separate vaccine allocations from hospital supply chains.

Travel medicine clinics: Frequently stock Tenivac for travelers needing updated vaccinations.

County or city health department clinics: Receive Vaccines for Children (VFC) allocations that may include Tenivac.

Urgent care centers: Many urgent cares carry Tenivac for wound management situations.

Occupational health clinics: Industrial and workplace health programs often stock Td vaccines for employees.

Step 3: Ask Your Prescriber to Check Supplier Availability

Your doctor's office or clinic may have a direct relationship with a vaccine distributor (like McKesson, Cardinal Health, or AmerisourceBergen) that allows them to check real-time Tenivac availability. Some providers can also order the vaccine directly and administer it in their office, bypassing the retail pharmacy system entirely.

Step 4: Consider Whether Tdap Is an Option for You

If you need a routine tetanus booster and do not have a contraindication to pertussis-containing vaccines, ask your doctor whether Adacel or Boostrix (both Tdap vaccines) would work for you. The CDC recommends this substitution during periods of Tenivac shortage. Both are widely available at major pharmacies and cover tetanus, diphtheria, AND pertussis.

However, if you have a documented contraindication to pertussis vaccine (such as a history of encephalopathy after a prior pertussis-containing vaccine), Tenivac is specifically necessary and you should continue searching.

Step 5: Check vaccines.gov

The CDC's vaccines.gov website allows you to search for vaccines by type and ZIP code. While its data is not always real-time, it can point you toward clinics and pharmacies that typically carry Tenivac, giving you a list to call or medfinder to verify.

Tips to Save Time When Calling Pharmacies Yourself

If you do call pharmacies directly, follow these tips to get accurate answers quickly:

Ask specifically for "Tenivac" or "Td vaccine" by name — do not just ask for a "tetanus shot," which may result in being offered Tdap instead.

Ask to speak with the pharmacist (not a tech) for the most accurate inventory information.

If the pharmacy says they expect a shipment, ask them to hold a dose for you and confirm with your prescriber.

Summary: Your Tenivac Search Action Plan

Use medfinder — fastest option, no hold music.

Search beyond chain pharmacies: hospitals, travel clinics, urgent care, and health departments.

Ask your prescriber if they can order and administer Tenivac in-office.

Ask your doctor if Tdap (Adacel or Boostrix) is an acceptable substitute for your situation.

Check vaccines.gov for a broader list of local vaccination sites.

Want more context on why Tenivac is in short supply? Read our full explainer: Why Is Tenivac So Hard to Find?