Although it seems like ages ago now, the threat of the H1N1 virus got a lot of adults who hadn’t rolled up their sleeves in years to march into their doctor’s office and do so. But you might be missing out on other shots that are just as key. Beyond the flu shot, here are vaccinations that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends for adults.
Td booster. No, this is not something they inject into the arms of aging quarterbacks like Brett Favre. Rather it’s a vaccination that protects against tetanus and diphtheria. You should get one every 10 years.
Tdap booster. This 3-in-1 shot protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough). Whooping cough? Didn’t that get eradicated decades ago? Actually, it’s making a comeback, with thousands of new cases and some deaths being reported. Turns out, the original childhood vaccine only protects for about a decade. So get one when your 10-year Td booster comes due, or now if you or someone you’re in close contact with has a weakened immune system. (You can get a Tdap booster as soon as 2 years after a Td vaccine.)
MMR. This stands for measles, mumps, and rubella. Mumps is the disease that’s of most concern right now because it, too, is making a comeback and can lead to serious complications in adults, including brain infection. If you’re not sure you ever received this vaccine, get it again to be safe.
Varicella. Chicken pox is another common childhood disease that can be much more serious if contracted as an adult. If you never had chicken pox (or can’t remember having it), then you should get two doses of this vaccine, 4 to 8 weeks apart.
HPV. This 3-shot series is recommended for females 11 to 26. It targets four of the viral strains commonly associated with cervical cancer and genital warts. However, there is discussion about whether it’s worthwhile for sexually active women of all ages who are in nonmonogamous relationships. Talk with your doctor.
Hepatitis A and B. If your job carries the risk of exposure to bodily fluids and infected blood, if you’re intimate with more than one partner, or if you will be traveling to parts of the world where hepatitis is prevalent, you need to protect yourself with these vaccines. Hep A is administered in two doses; Hep B in three.
Worried about the safety of these vaccines? Keep in mind that they’re nothing more than a weakened form of the disease itself. Exposing yourself to it in such a controlled way triggers your system to produce antibodies to fight it. Then, if the disease ever returns in a more virulent form, your body will know how to quickly subdue it. Experts say vaccines of all kinds will play a much bigger role in preventive health care in the future.
For complete info about adult vaccinations, visit cdc.gov/vaccines, and, of course, check with your doctor.
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