Vaccines: They’re Not Just For Kids

The most commonly known immunization for adults is the influenza vaccine which is given every year because the viruses that cause influenza are constantly changing.  So even if you received a flu shot last year, you will need another flu shot this year to be protected from influenza. The news this year is that the flu shot is recommended for all adults with very few exceptions.

If you are over 65 years of age, you should also get the Pneumococcal vaccine, sometimes called the “pneumonia shot.” Streptococcal pneumoniae (pneumococcus) can cause blood, brain and lung infections.  It is also recommended that individuals under age 65 with chronic diseases such as asthma, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and diabetes as well as smokers should also be immunized. Normally a single lifetime vaccine is all that is needed.

New vaccines available that are recommended for adults include Tdap, which consists of two old vaccines (tetanus and diphtheria), and vaccines for pertussis, also known as whooping cough, and shingles. Tdap should be given every 10 years or more often if a person has a dirty wound. As we age, the ability to make antibodies fades and our bodies need to be reminded every 10 years how to fight these diseases.

Pertussis vaccine was not given to adults previously because adults had serious reactions to the pertussis component. Now the pertussis component has been reformulated to eliminate these reactions. It is especially important to get immunized against pertussis because it is making a resurgence in this country.  Adults with whooping cough are usually not very sick, experiencing symptoms similar to those for a cold with a cough. However, they may unknowingly expose an unvaccinated infant to pertussis, which can be fatal.

Another new immunization for adults is the shingles vaccine.  Shingles is actually a reactivation of a chickenpox infection that many of us had as children.  The chicken pox virus becomes dormant in our nerves cells and reactivates many years later when our immune system is stressed or run down. Painful blisters erupt along nerve paths on the torso or face. The vaccine prevents this reactivation and only one shot is required. It is recommended for anyone over 60.

You should discuss the need for these vaccinations with your healthcare provider.  There are some circumstances when you should not get vaccinated, either because you are allergic to a component of the vaccine or your immune system is not working normally. For most of us, however, getting vaccinated is a smart and healthy thing to do.

Ray Luttinger is the Infection Control Coordinator at .  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology and a Master’s Degree in Nursing. He is also certified in Infection Control. Prior to joining the Mather Hospital staff in 2007, he spent 30 years working for the New York State Department of Health in various public health programs.

John T. Mather Memorial Hospital is an accredited 248-bed, non-profit community hospital dedicated to providing a wide spectrum of high quality health care services to Suffolk County residents, showing compassion and respect and treating each patient in the manner we would wish for our loved one.