The following are vaccinations adults should consider with the approval of their physician.
Chickenpox Vaccine
The chickenpox vaccine should be administered to anyone who has not had chickenpox, or who doesn't know if he has had chickenpox. Those who are pregnant, or who might become pregnant within four weeks of getting the vaccine should not get the chickenpox vaccine., nor those who have a weakened immune system.
Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap)
The Tdap vaccine is appropriate for adults 19 to 64 years who received their last tetanus vaccine more than 10 years ago, or,who have a wound likely to become infected and whose last tetanus-diphtheria booster was five or more years ago.
Hepatitis A Vaccine
Hepatitis A is an infectious disease of the liver and is typically transmitted via contaminated food or drinking water. Those who should receive the hepatitis A vaccine include anyone with a clotting factor disorder, chronic liver disease, men who have sex with other men, anyone who injects illegal drugs or has sex with someone who does, health care workers who might be exposed to the virus in a lab setting, or anyone who travels or works in countries with a high incidence of hepatitis.
Hepatitis B HPV (cervical cancer)
HPV (human papillomavirus) is a sexually transmitted virus passed on through genital contact (such as vaginal and anal sex). Anyone who has had more than one sex partner in six months, men who have sex with other men, those who have sex with a person infected with hepatitis B, people who inject illegal drugs, hemodialysis patients, health care or public safety workers who might be exposed to infected blood or body fluids, or those who live in a household with someone who has chronic hepatitis B infection, should recieve this vaccine..
Influenza (The Flu Vaccine)
The flu kills approximately 36,000 people each year in the US. The flu vaccine could prevent many of these deaths. The following adults should receive the flu vaccine:
- Those with a chronic illness, such as diabetes, heart disease or asthma,
- People with a weakened immune system,
- Health care workers,
- Those who live in a long term care facility,
- Women who are pregnant (the inactivated vaccine only), or
- People who want to reduce their chances of missing work because of flu.
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
Before the widespread use of a vaccine against measles, its incidence was so high that infection and death from measles was believed to be inevitable. Rubella, or the German measles, was also very common before the advent of widespread vaccination. If a pregnant woman is infected, her baby may have significant birth defects. Mumps is another disease of childhood that was once very common. If a male past puberty gets the mumps, it can possibly lead to sterility. All three diseases are highly contagious, but the MMR vaccine will provide immunity for all three, and is appropriate for the following adults:
- Those who should receive this vaccine include:
- Those who were born during or after 1957 and never had an MMR vaccination,
- Those recently exposed to measles or in an outbreak setting,
- Health care workers,
- People vaccinated with killed measles vaccine or an unknown type of vaccine from 1963 to 1967,
- Travelers,
- College students, or
- People without immunity to Rubella.
Meningitis Vaccine
Meningitis is an infection of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is usually caused by a viral or bacterial infection. Anyone who didn't receive the meningitis vaccine as a child or adolescent should receive this vaccine. In particular those who:
- Are college freshmen living in a dormitory
- Travel to areas of the world with a high incidence of meningitis
- Have had their spleen removed
Pneumonia Vaccine
Some 5,000 annual deaths are due to pneumonia alone and can be prevented with the pneumonia vaccine. Who should receive the pneumonia vaccine? Those people who are:
- Over 65 years of age,
- Who has a chronic illness such as lung or cardiovascular disease, or diabetes,
- Who has a weakened immune system, or
- Who has had their spleen removed.
- Adults should receive one dose; two if they:
- Are age 65 or older and received their first dose before age 65 and five years or more ago,
- Have a weakened immune system, kidney disease, or have had an organ or bone marrow transplant or their spleen removed.
- Anyone with a moderate or severe acute illness should not receive the vaccine.
Herpes Zoster Vaccine (Shingles)
Shingles is a disease caused by reactivation of the herpes zoster virus (varicella-zoster virus, or VZV) that results in a painful localized skin rash, usually with blisters (fluid filled sacks) on top of the reddish skin. Anyone over the age of 60 should receive the shingles vaccine. A vaccine today can save needless suffering, illness and even death. For more information of adult vaccinations consult the Center for Disease Control's 2009 Adult Vaccine Schedule.
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