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Published September 20, 2024
Vaccination isn’t just for kids. If you’re 18 or older, consider what Karen Brown, MD, medical director, Primary Care, Northeast Medical Group has to say about the six vaccines all adults should talk about with their clinician.
Tied for first position on Dr. Brown’s list are vaccines that help fight flu and COVID. “We don’t – and can’t – ever take these for granted,” Dr. Brown said. “Flu and COVID infections can lead to serious illness, hospitalizations and death. Rolling up your sleeve to take these vaccines every year is very important because the updates offer the best protection from current circulating variants.”
Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis are bacterial infections that can lead to serious health problems. Tetanus enters the body through cuts or wounds. Diphtheria and pertussis spread from person to person. Tetanus causes painful stiffening of the muscles making it hard to open your mouth, breath or swallow. Diphtheria can lead to difficulty breathing, heart failure, paralysis or death. Pertussis, also known as “whooping cough,” can cause uncontrollable, violent coughing that makes it hard to breathe, eat or drink.
“Tetanus is often fatal, which is why it’s so important to get the vaccine every 10 years as adults,” Dr. Brown said. “Another reason to stay up-to-date with Tdap vaccinations is that it also covers whooping cough. Pregnant women, grandparents of infants and anyone with regular contact with babies should be sure to stay up to date so they can avoid giving whooping cough to infants who aren’t yet vaccinated.”
Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus – the same virus that causes chicken pox. If you had chicken pox as a child, the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life and can resurface years later as shingles. Vaccines can help lower the risk of shingles.
“We recommend the two-part shingles vaccine for everyone over 50,” Dr. Brown said. “This is a disease that isn’t often fatal, but it does cause great pain. It’s known for the painful, itchy rash that appears on one side of the face or body. Similar to chicken pox, the rash usually scabs over in about a week and fully clears up after two to four weeks.”
A common respiratory virus like the cold, RSV can be serious for older adults and those who are immunocompromised. Symptoms include runny nose, coughing, fever and sneezing.
“RSV is the new kid on the block with respect to vaccines,” Dr. Brown said. “It’s extremely effective. For adults 60 and older, with healthy immune symptoms, the vaccine is over 75 percent effective in preventing lung infections.”
Dr. Brown added that adults who are in regular contact with children should get the vaccine because children are the primary carriers of the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that nearly all children in the United States. will have had RSV by their second birthday.
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, according to the CDC. There are more than 100 varieties of HPV. Some types of HPV infection cause warts, and some can cause different types of cancer.
The vaccine is typically given to adolescents, but it is also recommended for everyone through 26 years of age.
“We know this is a safe and effective vaccine and that it can prevent over 90 percent of the cancers caused by HPV,” Dr. Brown said.
Conversation starters
Dr. Brown acknowledges it can be hard to speak with your clinician about vaccines but encourages everyone to have an honest talk about it.
“Try linking it to the reason you want to know more,” she said. “Saying you want to know about any vaccines you should consider because of your diabetes, for example, will help your clinician guide you to the information that best meets your needs.”
