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Immunization and Schedule
Vaccinations for Adults?
A note from Carol Madden, CFNP
At this time of year there is a lot of information put out about the influenza vaccine.
However many adults are surprised when I ask them when their last tetanus/diphtheria shot was given. It's a commonly held belief that once you are an adult all of that "shot stuff" is over. NOT!!
The recommendation is for a tetanus/diphtheria shot every ten years for adults after the initial series of 3 is completed. This will then protect from tetanus after relatively clean wounds such as those sustained in the kitchen, However is a person gets a "dirty" wound such as out in the garden or corral they should get a tetanus booster if it has been more than five years since their last Td immunization. Tetanus is our big concern here because once the signs and symptoms of the disease show up there isn't a whole lot that can be done for the patient and death rates are high.
Pneumococcal or pneumonia vaccine is recommended for all adults over 65 years old. One out of twenty persons who get pneumococcal pneumonia die from it or one of its complications.
The vaccine protects against 23 varieties of pneumococcal pneumonia.
Younger persons who have chronic illnesses such as diabetes, lung disease, liver problems, heart disease or blood problems are also encouraged to be immunized.
Also, persons whose immune systems aren't strong should be immunized. This includes persons on long-term steroid treatment and those being treated for cancer.
The current recommendation is for one injection at
age sixty-five. If the immunization is given before age 65 for one of
the reasons listed above, a second immunization is recommended 5 years
later.
Hepatitis B vaccine is new within the last 8 or so years.
Newborns receive their first dose before they are discharged from the hospital, and public schools in New Mexico require completion of the series for 7th graders.
It is recommended for all sexually active adults, health-care workers, and anyone with potential exposure to blood or blood products.
Hepatitis B is contacted in the same way as AIDS
and causes more deaths than AIDS every year but has received much less
publicity. Immunization is accomplished with a series of three easy
immunizations. They are best given with one month between the first two
and then a third immunization five months after the second. If this
schedule is interrupted the next immunization can be given without
restarting the series.
Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for anyone traveling to third world countries where sanitation, water purification and food preparation standards are not regulated like they are here in the States. That includes our neighboring Mexico.
It protects from "infectious hepatitis" or "yellow jaundice" an infectious disease of the liver that is rarely fatal but does cause a prolonged illness and recovery period.
The immunization is given in two shots six months
apart.
Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine is also available
for adults who have never had the disease.
When an adult or even a teenager gets chickenpox it is a serious illness
often requiring hospitalization and sometimes resulting in serious
complications.
The immunization is given as a two shot series
spaced 4-8 weeks apart.
All of the above vaccines are available in our office. Just call to set up a time to receive them.
Coverage of cost is variable by health plan.
If you are planning travel outside of the States and even cruises, if you plan to eat any meals in local restaurants rather than on the ship and do any exploring, it is worthwhile to check what immunizations are recommended for the areas where you will be traveling.
The Center for Disease Control has a web site that is easy to use that can give you this information. It is http://www.cdc.gov/travel/blusheet.htm
We can write prescriptions for some of the recommended immunizations or preventatives that are not available in our office, others are available from the Bernalillo County Public Health Department.
We always have the above mentioned vaccines plus
MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and IPV (polio) on hand.