IMMUNIZATION
Tdap/Td Today, children in America receive a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis — also known as whooping cough) booster shot at age 11 or 12, because protection from the vaccines for these three diseases, given earlier in childhood, fades over time. But this booster did not exist prior to 2005, so many adults may not have gotten it. If you haven’t received it, you should. All teens and adults need a Td (tetanus) booster every ten years. It is extra-important for adults who will be around infants since whooping cough is a serious infection for young children.
Pneumonia Pneumonia, an infection of the lungs, can become serious and even deadly in older adults, whose immune systems may not be as strong as they used to be. The pneumococcal vaccine, therefore, is recommended for all adults age 65 and older and those younger than 65 who suffer from chronic conditions.
Ask your provider if you need the following vaccines as well.
MMR This shot protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Most Americans receive this vaccination in two doses by the age of six. The CDC recommends that any adult who has not received this vaccine do so, especially if traveling outside the U.S., as measles is still common in some countries and those who are unprotected may get it while abroad and bring it home.
Hepatitis There are three types of hepatitis: A, B and C. Vaccines are available for types A and B, but not for type C.
34 | MATTERS OF HEALTH
Hepatitis A is an infection in the liver caused by a virus,
spread through contact with fecal matter or by eating or drink- ing food or water infected with the disease. The CDC recom- mends that those over the age of one year receive this vaccine if they: live in an area with a high rate of hepatitis A; work in or travel to countries with high rates of the disease; use street drugs; are a male having sex with other men; have long-term liver disease; receive blood products to help clot their blood or do research on HAV or work in a lab with HAV-infected animals. Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by a virus trans-
mitted when blood, semen or other bodily fluids of an infected person enter the body of someone not infected, by sexual con- tact, needle-sharing or from mother to baby during childbirth. The vaccine is given in three doses and is recommended for
all children, as well as adults who live in or travel to areas with high rates of hepatitis B; have sex with more than one partner; have diabetes and are under the age of 60; work in healthcare and may be exposed to patients with hepatitis B; have HIV or end-stage renal disease; are on dialysis; inject drugs; have chronic liver disease; and have other special circumstances. Hepatitis C is a serious liver disease spread primarily through contact with the blood of an infected person.
Meningococcal Disease Meningococcal disease is the leading cause of bacterial men- ingitis, an infection around the brain or spinal cord that kills one in ten people who develop it. The CDC advises vaccinating all children and young adults, as well as some older adults at higher risk, such as those who travel to areas with high rates of the disease. Some older adults should not get this vaccine, so consult your provider about whether it’s appropriate for you.
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