6 Important Types of Adult Vaccines

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), every year, thousands of adults fall seriously ill because of those diseases that could have been prevented if vaccinated at the right time.

• Vaccination isn’t only for children, WHO recommends vaccination for various stages in adulthood also for long-term health.
• If you are unaware of your immunization status, talk to your healthcare professional before it’s too late.

A famous quote says, “An ounce of prevention is really worth a pound of cure.” This means, preventing any disease before it sets inside your body is much more worth than curing it after you are affected. Vaccinations are not meant only for kids but you as an adult are prone to certain diseases that can be prevented only with vaccines. Also, the vaccination you received in your childhood can wear off with time. Hence, the doctor recommends the following adult vaccines for your best protection until your last breath.

Seasonal Influenza

The nature of the influenza virus is variable and hence it’s danger level is unpredictable. Doctor advise taking annual flu vaccines to reduce the risk of flu especially for those who are diabetic, pregnant women, and adults aged more than 65 years. Common symptoms of influenza are fever, sore throat, fatigue, runny nose, and cough.

Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis or Whooping Cough)

Tdap can cause serious illness or even death. Tetanus causes severe muscle cramps, Diphtheria causes paralysis and heart problems while Pertussis leads to intense coughing that can even result in broken ribs. You need to take a Td booster dose every ten years. Tdap vaccination is mostly recommended for pregnant women during their 3^rd trimester to protect the baby from these deadly diseases.

Shingles (Zoster)

Shingles aka Zoster cause painful rashes on your skin with blisters. Normally it reduces within 2 to 5 weeks, but some people develop continuous nerve pain (post-herpetic neuralgia). Shingles vaccination is recommended for adults aged more than 50 years. Even if you had shingles before, you should get vaccinated again because this disease can occur multiple times.

Pneumococcal Disease

Pneumococcal is a type of infection that causes sepsis, pneumonia, and meningitis. For adults aging 65 years or more, two doses of pneumococcal vaccines are recommended. Adults having certain risk factors like smoking, asthma, cochlear implants or weak immunity should also get this vaccine.

Hepatitis A and B

Hepatitis A and B are viral diseases that cause damage to the liver. Hepatitis B is a life-threatening disease that causes liver scarring or failure and cancer. Hepatitis spreads through body fluids and the vaccine is recommended for healthcare workers who come in contact with patients’ body fluids. Hepatitis A vaccine should be taken by travelers who frequently travel from one country to another.

Chickenpox (Varicella)

Chickenpox aka Varicella is a highly contagious disease that causes an itchy rash on the skin with small blisters that are filled with fluids. Complex cases have shown results like pneumonia, skin infections and brain damage. If you never had chickenpox or its vaccine, you should take 2 doses of chickenpox vaccine especially if you are a healthcare worker frequently coming in contact with children.

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