Your Health Matters
By Claudia Parks, R.N.

Just because you are an adult or maybe even a senior adult doesn't mean that you stop receiving your immunizations- just like you received as a youngster. The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommendations for routine immunization for adults. I know this will be thrilling for most of you- remembering and thinking those times where over!

Some family practice doctors are very conscientious about reminding their patients about the need for their booster shots. Tetanus, Diphtheria & Pertussis Vaccine (Td/Tdap): protects against three bacterial diseases. Tetanus bacteria poisons can cause lockjaw and muscle spasms. Respiratory diphtheria initially causes a sore throat, fever and chills. Pertussis (whooping cough) causes severe coughing spasms that can last for weeks.

Adults should have completed a three-dose primary series of DPT as a child, and subsequently should get Td/Tdap every 10 years starting at age 11- 12 years. Adults with no record of vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis will need a series of shots to get them up to date.

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (German Measles) vaccine (MMR): protects against three viruses. Adults born before 1957 can generally be considered immune to measles, mumps and rubella. Adults born in 1957 or after should receive one dose of MMR, if they are not already immune or vaccinated. Women of childbearing age should have evidence of rubella immunity or vaccination.

Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine: protects against a very contagious virus that causes fever and an itchy blister/rash. Adults born in the U.S. before 1980 (except healthcare personnel and pregnant women) can be considered immune to chickenpox. All other adults who do not have proof of immunity to chickenpox (including healthcare personnel and women of child-bearing age) should receive two doses of varicella vaccine separated by 4-8 weeks. This vaccine is not given during pregnancy.

Flu (Influenza) Vaccine: This is an annual event. There is a new vaccine each year and you should receive it each fall. Everyone is encouraged to get a "flu shot", but especially individuals who have health problems and all health care workers.

Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine

PPV23): protects against 23 types of pneumococcus bacteria that can infect the blood (bacteremia), the lungs (pneumonia) and the fluid around the spinal cord and brain (meningitis).

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV): protects against four types of HPV that cause 70 percent of cervical cancers and 90 percent of genital warts. Women 19-26 years of age should receive three doses over a 6-month period. This vaccine is not given during pregnancy. This is the vaccine that some states are encouraging young girls around the age of 12--14- especially if they are sexually active--to receive.

Hepatitis A (Hep A) and Hepatitis B (Hep B) Vaccines: both protects against a virus that causes liver disease, liver scarring or even cancer of the liver.

Hep A: Adults at increased risk for infection (e.g., people with chronic liver disease or clotting factor disorder, illegal drug users, men who have sex with men and many international travelers) should receive two doses of hep A vaccine at least 6 months apart.

Hep B: Adults at increased risk for infection (e.g., people with chronic liver disease or clotting factor disorder, people who inject illegal drugs, people on dialysis, sexually active persons with more than one partner in 6 months, people with sexually transmitted diseases, household and sex partners of someone infected with hepatitis B, some international travelers and healthcare personnel) should receive three doses of hepatitis B vaccine over a 6-month period.

Meningococcal Vaccine (MPSV4 or MCV4): protects against four types of meningococcal bacteria that can infect the blood (septicemia) or the fluid around the spinal cord and brain (meningitis). Adults at increased risk for meningococcal disease (e.g., military recruits, some international travelers and firstyear college students in a dormitory) should receive one dose of meningococcal vaccine. MCV4 vaccine is preferred for adults under 55. MPSV4 should be used for older adults, or if MCV4 is not available.

This is a general guide and if you have specific questions, be sure to discuss them with your family physician. For more information go to cdc.gov and you will find more topics and news to keep you reading for days.

Claudia Parks, RN, is a former doctor's office and emergency room nurse and retired as an educator from Fulton County Schools.