9 vaccines older adults should consider

When my son was five, he received the typical battery of childhood vaccinations against diseases like diphtheria, whooping cough, measles, mumps, and rubella.

He was not a happy camper. For a while, we thought we weren’t going to be able to get it done.

While he sat crying, but unsuspecting, the doctor and nurse looked at each other over his head and stuck a needle in each arm.

I’m not too fond of needles myself. Fortunately, I’ve taken my vaccines with little drama.

You may be wondering why I need vaccines… aren’t those just for kids?

Not at all. Based on your health history, the work you do and even the year you were born, there are vaccines that are recommended for you, too.

Getting vaccines is always a personal decision. But a sore arm might be better than some of the diseases these vaccinations prevent.

Here’s the scoop on 9 you should think about getting.

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1. Pneumococcal vaccines – protects against diseases caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae. It’s recommended for adults 65 and older. You should consider it below age 65 if you:

• Have a disease that lowers your body’s defenses, like leukemia, kidney failure, HIV or AIDS.
• Smoke or have asthma
• Have heart or lung disease, diabetes or cirrhosis of the liver

Related: How to reduce pneumonia risk by 86%

2. Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Td, Tdap). A one-time Tdap shot against all three diseases, followed by a Td booster against tetanus and diphtheria every 10 years.

3. Hepatitis A. Usually given in childhood, this vaccine is recommended for adults who have worked or traveled to countries where Hep A is prevalent. If you have liver disease or HIV, or if you use blood products to help with clotting, it’s also a good idea.

4. Hepatitis B. This is a series of three shots. Adults at risk for Hep B include those who are health care workers, have diabetes, are on dialysis or have long-term liver disease.

5. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). This one helps protect against cancer and genital warts. It’s generally given at age 11 or 12, but older teens and even those in here 20s can benefit from it.

6. Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR). If you were born after 1957 and have never had measles, mumps or rubella, you don’t have immunity to these, and getting them as an adult can be a lot harder than a childhood case of the measles.

7. Varicella (chickenpox). You may have heard that chickenpox is a lot worse for adults than for children. It’s not just an old wive’s tale.

An adult case of chickenpox is pretty much like a bad case of the flu, along with hundreds of sores and weepy, itchy blisters. Adult chickenpox can also lead to complications, including blood infection, encephalitis (brain inflammation) and pneumonia. If you didn’t have chickenpox as a child, you are still quite susceptible if exposed to the virus.

8. Meningococcal vaccine. This protects against meningitis, a swelling of the membrane surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis can kill within hours.

Fever, a severe headache, cold hands and feet, and a pinprick rash are hallmark signs. It may be hard to keep a person with meningitis awake, and seizures may occur. If you’ve never had this vaccine, it’s time to go get one.

9. Shingles (Zoster) vaccine. This is a one-time vaccine, usually given after age 60.

Shingles is an extremely painful condition caused by the virus that also causes chickenpox. The virus can lie dormant in your body for years after having chickenpox, only to surface later in life and cause shingles. Shingles isn’t life-threatening, but it can be very, very painful, and it is contagious.

Sources:

1. Chickenpox in Adults — Healthline
2. Signs and symptoms of meningitis in children and adults — Meningitis Now
3. Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule—United States – 2014 — American Academy of Family Physicians
4. Shingles — MedlinePlus