GET
VACCINATED����
by: Eric D. Griggs, MD and Laura Jones
Why is it important for adults 65 years
and older to get vaccinated? As we get
older, our bodies
become more vulnerable to certain
diseases. The immune system weakens
in older adults, and it becomes harder
to fight infections. Older adults have
a greater risk of becoming sick and
developing long-term complications
from illnesses.
Vaccines are a preventative measure to
reduce the severity of the risk of getting
an illness. It is not only important to get
vaccinated but, as we get older, to stay
up to date with getting vaccines.
So what are the recommended
vaccines for an adult 65 years and
older? At that age, an adult should have
received already vaccines for tetanus
and diphtheria (Td), measles, mumps
and rubella (MMR) if born later than
1957, and varicella. For adults who were
more at risk for certain illness before 65,
they could have received vaccines for
hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and meningitis.
Many of those vaccines were given
to adults when they were a child or a
younger adult. Being 65 years or older,
an adult is at risk for more diseases
now such as the shingles, pneumonia
and whooping cough. Therefore,
it is important to not only get new
vaccinations but to continue to receive
updated vaccinations to obtain the
best coverage and protection from any
infectious disease.
Moreover, it is recommended that
an older adult should be protected
from the flu, pneumonia, tetanus and
diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough)
and the shingles. The flu vaccine should
be given annually during flu season,
and a higher dose of the flu vaccine is
recommended in order to have greater
coverage in protection. The pneumonia
vaccine is given in two doses. If an adult
has not received a pneumonia vaccine
before 65 years old, then the PCV 13
vaccine should be given first and then a
year later the PPSV23 vaccine should be
given.
If an adults 65 years and older
received the PPSV23 vaccine first, then
a year later the PCV13 vaccine should
be given. The tetanus, diphtheria and
whooping cough vaccine is a booster
shot of Td vaccine and is given every
10 years. Boostrix is the name of the
vaccine that protects an adult 65 years
or older from those three diseases.
Lastly, adults 65 years and older
should have received either the Zostavax
or Shingrix vaccine for the prevention
of shingles. If they haven’t by age
65, the Centers for Disease Control
recommends the Shingrix vaccine be
given because it is a more effective
vaccine than Zostavax. Shingrix is given
in 2 doses 2-6 months apart.
All of these vaccines are important in
older adults to maintain their health and
to sustain a
longer life. Vaccines may leave a
bruise for a couple of days, but they are
an investment for our health in the long
run.
Health
Talkin'
with
Welcome to “Health
Talkin’ with Doc Griggs.”
In conjunction with the
Xavier University School of
Pharmacy Health & Wellness
Center, we will discuss topics
that we find most relevant
in our community. Our
shared goal is to help you
Get Checked. Get Fit. Get
Moving!™
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