Windsor Essex County Health Unit
Vaccines are important for adults too
As North America currently deals with
the outbreaks of measles and other vaccine
preventable illnesses, it is a good time to
review the topic of adult immunizations.
Adults are often not aware that they are not
up-to-date on their routine and
recommended vaccinations. Immunizations
are safe and provide the most effective
protection against diseases. Childhood
vaccinations provide an excellent
foundation for immunity; however they do
not provide lifelong immunity. An
additional benefit to our community, when
adults are up-to-date on their vaccinations,
is that it indirectly adds protection for
infants too young to be vaccinated and to
those immune-compromised in our
community. For example, if grandma or
grandpa hasn’t had a booster as an adult
and catches whooping cough (pertussis),
they can pass it to those most likely to be
seriously harmed by the disease, their infant
grandchildren. Those infants could have
serious and even fatal outcomes with
whooping cough.
Your health care provider is the best
person to talk to about your health. They
will review your particular medical history
in order to determine which vaccines are
appropriate for you. They consider:
Your overall health: Certain health
conditions affecting your immune system,
liver, kidney and spleen may warrant
additional free vaccines to protect you. Your
health care provider will review any health
condition you may have and prescribe
additional vaccinations as needed.
What risks your occupation poses:
Yep, there’s
an app for
that! Click
the photo
for more
info about
the
Immunize
Canada app
Any health care professional, laboratory
employee, police officer, and firefighter
should ensure their routine adult
immunizations are up to date. As well,
additional vaccines such as Hepatitis B that
reduces risks during exposures to blood,
body fluids, and infectious diseases should
also be updated
If you are planning a pregnancy: Talk
to your health care provider as part of your
pre-pregnancy check-up to ensure you are
up to date on your vaccinations. Mom’s
immunizations protect the baby from
serious problems during development in
pregnancy from vaccine-preventable
diseases.
Your age: Some vaccinations are
recommended for adults at certain ages,
such as the Zoster vaccine, also known as
the Shingles vaccine.
Your plans to travel: Diseases that are
rare or don’t exist in Canada still exist in
other parts of the world. If you’re planning
to travel outside of North America, discuss
your travel plans with your health care
provider well in advance. Some vaccines
may be recommended.
Here are a few additional tips:
• Ask your health care provider for an
immunization tracking card. Record
vaccinations and protect those records.
• Immunize Canada offers a
downloadable Adult Immunization
Record and a recommended adult
vaccine schedule to help guide you.
• If you prefer to keep these records
electronically, there’s an app for that!
Immunize Canada offers a free app that
helps you keep track of your
immunizations on your smartphone.
http://www.immunize.ca/en/app.aspx
If you have further questions about
immunizations, you may call and speak to a
Public Health Nurse about vaccines at
519-258-2146 ext. 1222. You c