Immunization or Vaccination is a safe, effective and simple way to prevent life threatening illnesses not only for infants and kids, but also for adults. In fact, adults in the United States have a far greater risk of dying from a vaccine-preventable disease than kids. Adults are 100 times more likely to die from vaccine-preventable diseases than kids. The good news is that immunizations can protect you.
As an adult, immunizations you get depends on your age, your general health… even your lifestyle or profession can make a difference in which immunizations you need, if you are not sure, talk to your doctor on your next visit.
At Kyrene Internal Medicine, our internists usually recommend and offer the following vaccinations amongs others:
Influenza (the flu)
Every year a wave of influenza sweeps the nation. For healthy adults, it can mean days in bed with a fever and severe cough. But it can be life-threatening for people age 50 or older or those with chronic health conditions. For healthy adults, one vaccination every fall prevents the virus. For high-risk adults, it prevents complications. W hold Annual flu Clinics in our practice, please ask about it the next time you visit our office.
Pneumococcal Infections (pneumonia)
These infections of the lungs, blood-stream or brain cause 15,000 deaths each year in the United States, while a single shot protects against them. If you’re over 65 and your pneumococcal vaccination was more than five years ago, ask your doctor about a booster.
Tetanus-Diphtheria
Adults need a one-dose “Td” booster every 10 years to protect themselves against these life-threatening infections. Not sure if you’re due? Check with your internist on your next visit.
Chicken Pox (varicella)
If you were the only kid on the block who didn’t get chicken pox, you should be the first in line to get immunized against it! A relatively mild illness in kids, it’s usually very serious in adults.
Measles, Mumps & Rubella
If you never had these diseases as a child, nor were immunized against them, talk with your physician. They are highly contagious (can be caught just by talking with an infected person) and have serious complications for adults. One series of two shots protects you.
Immunizations only for those at risk:
Hepatitis A: Two shots 6-12 months apart
Hepatitis B: Three shots over a six-month period
Immunization against these viruses that infect the liver are recommended for people who are either at risk or in contact with people at risk. Your internist can determine if you are one of them. A partial list of those at-risk includes health care workers, those whose sexual activity puts them at risk, intravenous drug users, international travelers, immigrants, native Americans, and Alaskan natives.
COLLEGE STUDENTS AND TEENAGERS
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends these 3 vaccines
* Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap)
* Meningococcal vaccine (MCV4)
* Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine series – The HPV vaccine is also known as the “cervical cancer vaccine”. In June 2006, ACIP recommended the HPV vaccine series for females only based on research results available at that time. If future research shows that the vaccine is also safe and effective for males, additional recommendations may be made.
Older children should get the following vaccinations if they did not receive all recommended doses when younger:
* Hepatitis B series
* Polio series
* Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) series
* Varicella (chickenpox) series – A second catch-up varicella shot is now recommended for children, adolescents, and adults who have previously received one dose.
