Take Your Best Shot

Most people think vaccines are just for kids. Yet, they’re actually a vital part of your overall health and wellness far into the Golden Years.

The most common vaccine-preventable diseases that affect adults are the seasonal flu, opens new tab; pneumonia, opens new tab; shingles, opens new tab; and tetanus (lockjaw), opens new tab, diphtheria and whooping cough, opens new tab. Your doctor may recommend others based on risk factors or health conditions.

Flu

The majority of the population should get a flu shot, opens new tab each year. As you get older, it becomes even more essential. People 65 and older are at the greatest risk for flu-related complications, opens new tab simply because the immune system weakens with age.

• Between 71%-85% of seasonal flu-related deaths are in people age 65 and older.
• Between 54%-70% of all flu-related hospitalizations are in people age 65 and older.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is one example of a flu-related complication that can result in death. In addition to pneumonia, pneumococcal vaccines can protect against meningitis, opens new tab and bloodstream infections.

There are two kinds of pneumococcal vaccines: conjugate, opens new tab and polysaccharide., opens new tab Your doctor can help you figure out which you need. If you’re age 65 or older or between the ages of 19-64 with certain medical conditions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends you get both types. If you’re a smoker between the ages of 19-64, the CDC recommends the polysaccharide vaccine.

Shingles

About one in three people will get shingles, which is triggered by the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you’ve had chickenpox, it can return in the form of shingles when you’re older. Symptoms include a blistering skin rash and nerve inflammation.

The CDC recommends, opens new tab that healthy adults 50 years and older get two doses of Shingrix^®, a new vaccine that is more than 90% effective at preventing shingles and related complications. The Zostavax^® vaccine, which has been around since 2006, is about 50% effective. The CDC recommends you get the Shingrix vaccine if you:


• Had shingles


• Received Zostavax


• Aren’t sure if you had chickenpox

Tetanus, Diphtheria

and

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Commonly referred to as Tdap, opens new tab, this vaccine protects again tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. It’s given once between ages 11-64. If you’re over 65, ask your doctor about a booster. You should also receive the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy to protect the baby against

whooping

cough. There’s also the related Td, opens new tab vaccine, which protects against tetanus and diphtheria. You should receive it once every 10 years.

Take Action

• See your primary care doctor, opens new tab about which vaccines you need.
• Visit a Meritas Health Express, opens new tab clinic.
• Stop by the Clay County Health Center, opens new tab or the Platte County Health Department, opens new tab.