Recommended vaccines for adults
Newborn babies endure quite a bit
in the first few days and months of
their lives. Routine immunizations
help newborns overcome these obstacles,
and as newborns get old they
receive vaccines to prevent measles,
mumps, rubella, hepatitis, and chicken
pox.
A common misconception suggests
that vaccines are only for the young.
However, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention notes that
the protection provided by some
childhood vaccines can wear off. In
addition, some people may be at risk
for certain vaccine-preventable diseases
due to lifestyle, existing health
conditions and age. As a result, it’s
important for adults to make sure
their vaccines are up-to-date.
Those who are unsure of their
vaccine status should discuss their
health history with their doctors. In
the meantime, adults should know
that the following vaccines are recommended
for people of various ages.
• Influenza: An annual flu shot is
highly recommended. Doctors and
health officials indicate that getting
the flu vaccine is the single most
effective way to prevent seasonal flu
or reduce the duration and severity
of the illness should it be contracted.
• Tdap: This vaccine contains strains
of tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis
(whooping cough). All three are
implicated in serious illnesses or
death, according to WebMD. Just
about every person, young and old,
should receive the Tdap vaccine. The
CDC says that every adult should
get the Tdap vaccine once if they did
not receive it as an adolescent. Then
a Td booster shot every 10 years is
sufficient.
• Shingles: People who have been
exposed to varicella (chicken pox) in
their youth are at risk for shingles as
they grow older. The CDC says nearly
one out of three people in the United
States will develop shingles in
their lifetime. A shingles vaccine can
protect against shingles and complications
from the disease. Adults
who are 50 and older should get the
vaccine, which is administered in
two doses.
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine
(PPSV23): This vaccine protects
against serious pneumococcal
diseases, including meningitis and
bloodstream infections. It is recommended
for all adults age 65 and
older.
• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
(PCV 13): This protects against
serious pneumococcal disease and
pneumonia. Adults 65 years or older
who have never received a dose of
PCV13 should discuss PCV13 with
their physicians.
Vaccines protect the very young
from various diseases, but there are
many vaccines that are still vital to
health in adulthood.
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