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Shots
for Safety
Shots, or immunizations,
are not just for infants and children. Adults also need to be
vaccinated from time to time to be protected against serious
infectious diseases. In fact, some shots are more important
for adults than for children. Every year, thousands of older
people die needlessly.
The Public Health
Service strongly encourages older adults to be immunized against
influenza, pneumococcal disease (especially pneumonia), tetanus,
and diphtheria.
Influenza
Usually called the
flu, influenza is a highly contagious disease that causes a
variety of symptoms, including fever, aches and pains, sore
throat, runny nose, and chills. When older people get the flu,
they are more likely to get pneumonia, lose water (dehydration),
or lose weight.
A new flu vaccine
is made each year because the influenza virus tends to change
each flu season. For this reason, it is necessary to get a yearly
flu shot. To give your body time to build the proper defense,
it is important to get a flu shot by mid-November, before the
flu season usually starts.
Although side effects
from flu shots are slight for most people, there may be a brief,
low-grade fever and some minor aches and pains. According to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recent flu vaccines
have not caused serious side effects.
In addition to the
flu shot, two anti-viral drugs--amantadine and rimantadine--can
prevent or lessen infection by certain flu strains. These drugs
can be used by people who never had the flu vaccine or as extra
protection by those who have been immunized. They can be taken
soon after the early signs of flu are felt. While they don’t
actually prevent infection, they can reduce fever and other
flu symptoms.
Pneumococcal Disease
Pneumococcal bacteria
can cause a number of infections, including those affecting
the lungs (pneumonia), the blood (bacteremia), or the covering
of the brain (meningitis). Older people are two to three times
more likely than younger people to suffer from pneumococcal
disease. It can be much more severe in older adults.
Tetanus and Diptheria
Most people have
been immunized against tetanus (sometimes called lockjaw) and
diphtheria (a bacterial disease affecting the throat and windpipe).
A booster shot is needed every 10 years to keep you protected
from these rare but dangerous illnesses. During everyday activities
(such as gardening or outside recreation), the tetanus bacteria
can enter a break in the skin and cause infection. It is important
to have a booster shot if you have a severe cut or puncture
wound.
In most cases, the
tetanus shot also includes the diphtheria vaccine. The immunity
for diphtheria also lasts 10 years. The side effects of this
shot are minor (soreness and a slight fever). The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention suggests the use of mid-decade
(e.g., 45, 55, etc.) birthdays as regular dates to review adult
immunizations.
Other Immunizations
The Public Health
Service also recommends certain people at risk be vaccinated
against measles, mumps, rubella, and hepatitis B. Adults at
risk include those who work on college campuses, at vocational
training centers, and in the health care field. Ask your doctor
or local health department if you need to have these shots.
If you are planning
to travel abroad, check with your doctor or local health department
about shots that may be required or highly recommended. Since
some immunizations involve a series of shots, it is best to
arrange to get them within 6 months of your trip.
Keeping a Shot
Record
It is helpful to
keep a personal immunization record with the types and dates
of shots you have received, as well as any side effects or problems
that you had. The medical record in your doctor’s office should
also be kept up-to-date.
Widespread use of
vaccines can reduce the risk of developing a number of contagious
diseases that seriously affect older people. You can protect
yourself against these illnesses by including vaccinations as
part of your regular health care.
Resources
For a free copy of
the booklet Immunization of Adults: A Call to Action,
contact:
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
National Immunization Program
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30333
404-639-8225
For a free copy of
the booklet Flu, contact:
National Institute
of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
301-496-5717
For more information
about health and aging, contact:
National Institute
on Aging Information Center
P.O. Box 8057
Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057
1-800-222-2225
1-800-222-4225 (TTY)
National
Institute on Aging
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service
National Institutes of Health
1994
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