Vaccinations: More than just kid stuff

Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling This is the time of year when it’s important to think about flu vaccinations. And there’s good reason for that! The flu causes thousands of preventable hospitalizations and deaths each year. But what about other vaccinations? Do you think of them as something for kids? You aren’t alone. And it’s true, a number of vaccinations are recommended for young children as well as preteens and teenagers. These vaccinations have provided an enormous benefit to public health by preventing diseases that were common and sometimes deadly in the past, including polio, rubella, and whooping cough. But there are several vaccinations recommended for healthy adults as well. And over time, these recommendations change. Here is a quick rundown. Vaccinations for adults According to the CDC, adults should consider receiving vaccinations to prevent influenza (during the fall and winter) tetanus a certain type of bacterial pneumonia (called pneumococcal pneumonia) shingles In addition, adults should have vaccinations to prevent a number of infections if they were not received during childhood. Examples include the MMR vaccine (for measles, mumps, and rubella), HPV (human papilloma virus), chickenpox, and hepatitis. Additional or earlier vaccinations may be recommended if you have certain medical problems, such as having an immune system weakened by illness or medications. New recommendations Mumps In recent years, cases of mumps have spiked in the US. In 2...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health Infectious diseases Prevention Vaccines Source Type: blogs