Denton County Living Well Magazine Summer 2014 | Page 23

Vaccines and Health Screenings for the 50+ Set
Courtesy Ashford Family Medicine

I

f you want to keep something running in tip-top
condition, you have to treat it to an occasional
tune-up. The same holds true
for your body.
Much like your car or your
air conditioner (especially here in
Texas), you require regular “preventive
maintenance” to keep you running and
feeling your best. Unlike a costly repair
bill, prevention-based screenings and
immunizations for your body are relatively inexpensive or even free for many
seniors.
“As an adult medicine specialist, it’s
my aim to prevent, detect and treat conditions before they become serious or
chronic as a person ages,” said Shane
Ashford, D.O., of Ashford Family Medicine. “To help ward off illness, I encourage my patients who are 50+ to visit with
me regularly about the proper recommendations. Sometimes the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) change their recommendations so
it’s important to do a review with a physician periodically.”

The Vaccines You Need at 50+
Vaccines are not just for kids. Even adults age 50+ need
to get vaccinated against certain diseases. Always discuss
any risk factors or concerns you may have with your physician before getting a vaccine. Here are some recommended
guidelines provided by the CDC (www.CDC.gov):
Annual Flu Vaccine: Unless you have had a severe reaction from

the flu shot in the past or are allergic to eggs, you should be vaccinated yearly. Influenza, or flu, is responsible for thousands of deaths
every year in the United States, and older Americans are among the
most vulnerable groups. If you are 50+, we don’t recommend the nasal spray form of the vaccine because it hasn’t proven to be especially
effective.

Pneumonia Vaccine: Even seniors who are diligent about getting

their annual flu shot sometimes forget to get a one-time pneumonia
vaccine. Both should be an important part of preventive health care
for adults 65+ and people 50+ with certain risk factors.

Tetanus Vaccine: If you’ve never received a Tdap vaccine for teta-

nus, diphtheria and pertussis, you should be vaccinated once for
these illnesses. Due to a rise in pertussis, or whooping cough, cases
in the U.S., the Tdap vaccine is especially crucial for people who have
close contact with infants younger than 12 months of age––including
grandparents. If you have received Tdap in the past, you should get a
tetanus/diphtheria booster every 10 years.

Shingles Vaccine: Some experts recommend getting the shingles

vaccine only if you’ve had a prior episode of chicken pox. The CDC

reco