The fall is here and kids are back to school. Many colleges insist on vaccination records for students, even if those students are adults! Even if you’re NOT returning to school, did you know that many adults need vaccinations, too? Print this list and discuss these vaccines with your doctor. They just might help save your life.
Adult vaccine: Flu This vaccine prevents from getting the flu. Different strains of the flu affect adults every year. You should talk with your doctor about getting a flu shot every year.
The best time to get your flu shot is in the fall. Many grocery stores have flu shot clinics.
Adult vaccination: HPV vaccine (Gardasil) This is a new vaccine and can help protect against cervical cancer. Four strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) cause 70 percent of cervical cancers. These same four strains of HPV also cause 90 percent of genital warts.
HPV is spread by sexual contact. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that all women under the age of 26 get this vaccination. It’s given in a series of three shots. Other women who are sexually active may want to talk with their doctor about whether or not this shot would provide any protection against cervical cancer and genital warts.
Adult vaccination: MMR This vaccine prevents mumps, measles, and rubella in adults. These viruses are easily spread from one person to another by coughing or sneezing. If you’re not sure if you’ve ever gotten this vaccine before, talk with your doctor about getting it now.
German measles can cause birth defects. Even if you’re not going to have children, if you’re around pregnant women, you may want to consider making sure you’re protected against these diseases.
Adult vaccination: Pneumococcal vaccine
This vaccine helps prevent pneumonia in adults. Pneumonia is easy to spread. Coughing, sneezing, or having direct contact with dirty Kleenex and similar things that people have used to wipe or blow their nose spreads it.
According to the Center for Disease Control people die from pneumonia or complications that it’s caused every year. The vaccine can’t guarantee that you won’t get pneumonia, but it protects most people from getting it.
The CDC recommends this vaccine for anyone over 65, however anyone with health problems may want to get it earlier.
Adult vaccination: Tdap booster
This vaccine prevents whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus. One vaccine protects you from all three diseases. The U.S. Center for Disease Control recommends getting a Tdap booster once every 10 years.
Adult vaccination: Zostavax
This vaccine prevents shingles and post herpetic neuralgia. Unlike other diseases, shingles is not spread by coughing or sneezing and usually affects adults.
Shingles usually affects people over 50, and it causes a very painful skin rash. Anyone who’s ever had chickenpox is at risk of developing shingles.
Talk with your doctor
Print this list and talk with your doctor about these vaccines.
