Yes, Even Adults Need Immunizations

Immunizations are not just for children. Adults--the elderly in particular--need immunizations, too, for protection against infectious diseases that occur later in life.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention makes the following recommendations for adults.

Influenza (flu) vaccine: All individuals 65 years or older should be vaccinated against influenza once a year (in the fall, preferably between October and mid-November). Before the age of 65, influenza vaccine should be administered to adults who:

* Reside in chronic-care facilities, such as nursing homes.

* Suffer from medical conditions such as heart or lung disease (including asthma), kidney disease, metabolic disease (including diabetes), sickle cell anemia, or diseases of the immune system.

* Provide health care to people at high risk of getting influenza; doctors and nurses, for example.

* Live with people at high risk of getting influenza.

Women who are in their second or third trimester of pregnancy during influenza season should also receive a flu shot.

Pneumococcal vaccine. All men and women 65 years of age and over should be vaccinated at least once with the pneumococcal vaccine. The following groups of individuals under age 65 should also be immunized:

* Men and women 50 years of age and over who live in institutions.

* Adults with medical conditions that place them at high risk of pneumococcal infection, including chronic heart or lung disease, diabetes, kidney or liver disease, cancers of the blood, multiple myeloma, and dysfunction of the spleen.

* People who suffer from alcoholism.

* Individuals with conditions that compromise their immune systems, including HIV infection and organ-transplant recipients on immunosuppressive medications. One-time revaccination is recommended for:

* Men and women 65 and older who were initially vaccinated before their 65th birthday.

* Individuals who were vaccinated before the age of 65 because of medical conditions that compromised their immune system. Revaccination should take place five or more years after the initial vaccination.

Hepatitis A vaccine. Individuals at risk of exposure to hepatitis A require immunization, including men who have sex with men; people traveling to or working in areas where hepatitis A is common; individuals who use illegal drugs; men and women with certain blood-clotting disorders; hospital and laboratory workers who are exposed to hepatitis A. People who have serious liver disease should also be immunized against hepatitis A.

Hepatitis B vaccine. Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all young adults who were not immunized during childhood. Older adults who are at high risk of infection also require immunization, including men who have sex with men; people who use intravenous drugs and their sexual partners; men and women who have multiple sex partners; household members of individuals infected with hepatitis B; sexual partners of individuals infected with hepatitis B; international travelers to countries where hepatitis B is common; residents and staff of institutions for the developmentally disabled; individuals receiving kidney dialysis; prisoners; and people in health-related jobs with frequent exposure to blood or blood products (such as laboratory workers and doctors).

Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine. This is recommended for men and women of any age who never had chickenpox and were never vaccinated against it. Tetanus-Diphtheria vaccine. Adults of any age should be immunized again at least once every 10 years.

If you have any questions about whether or not you require immunizations, talk to your physician.