Q: I am an adult in good health. What vaccinations should I be sure to have at my next physical exam?
A: Protection against potentially life-threatening illness through vaccinations is an important preventive health measure for both children and adults. You should discuss the vaccinations that are appropriate for you with your doctor. The recommended adult immunization schedule is as follows:
- Tetanus, Diphtheria (Td): One booster dose is recommended every 10 years for people ages 19 and up. If, as an adult, you missed the primary series of tetanus injections in childhood you should receive the series of three injections administered over time as prescribed by your doctor.
- Influenza: Annually, if you are age 50 and older. If you have a chronic medical condition such as heart or lung disease and/or others, your physician might recommend that you have a yearly influenza vaccination beginning at age 19. Other reasons to receive this vaccination would be if you live with anyone who has a chronic medical condition and needs to be protected from influenza, or if you have a job, such as in the healthcare field, that increases your exposure to getting and/or transmitting influenza.
- Pneumococcal: This vaccine is to protect against pneumococcal pneumonia. One to two doses is recommended for people age 19-64 with certain chronic medical conditions, such as heart or lung disease, diabetes, or kidney disease. Individuals with specific chronic conditions such as chronic kidney failure and other specific conditions should receive a one-time revaccination after five years. For people who are 65 years old or older, who were vaccinated five or more years in the past, one dose of revaccination is recommended. One dose for unvaccinated individuals in this age group is recommended.
- Hepatitis B: Reasons to receive this three-dose vaccination include: being exposed to blood through work (healthcare workers and other public-safety workers); having certain chronic medical conditions; having certain sexual behavioral patterns such as having more than one sexual partner; having certain drug behavioral patterns such as use of needles; living with or are sexual partners with someone who has a chronic hepatitis B infection; being an international traveler.
- Hepatitis A: Similar to Hepatitis B, reasons to receive this two-dose vaccination include specific medical, behavioral, and occupational situations.
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella Vaccination (MMR): If you do not have a specific record of having received this vaccination, you should be vaccinated. Adults born after 1957 should discuss revaccination with their doctor. There are certain individuals with specific circumstances and/or conditions who should not receive this vaccine. As with every vaccination, the details should be discussed with your doctor.
- Varicella: If you do not have a specific, known history of having had varicella (chickenpox and herpes zoster) or evidence from a blood test of having had varicella zoster virus infection, you should be vaccinated with two doses. In particular, healthcare workers, some teachers and daycare workers, and those living with susceptible contacts such as ill people should be vaccinated. There are some conditions in which certain individuals should and should not receive this vaccination. Discuss these details with your doctor.
- Meningococcal: Beginning at age 19, those who have diabetes, heart or kidney disease, or other risk factors should have one or more doses. This vaccination is also recommended for first-year college students living in dormatories. Other circumstances could also indicate a need to be immunized, so talk to you doctor.
There are many benefits and potential adverse reactions to any vaccine. Be sure to discuss the appropriateness of these vaccines with your doctor at your next visit. And if your doctor recommends one or more of these for you, remember…it's only a shot! |
