Vaccines That You Need
Vaccinations are important because they help our bodies create antibodies (special types of proteins) that help us ward off certain illnesses.
As an adult, the necessity for vaccinations can often be overlooked, as we often think of vaccinations as something we get as children.
However, we all need vaccinations regardless of our age. While certain vaccinations are usually given to kids offer lifelong protection, some vaccinations will require boosters in later years to maintain proper immunity.
Below are vaccinations that you may need in order to maintain your health.
Influenza Vaccine
Influenza is a serious disease that can sometimes lead to fatalities. It is very important to receive the influenza vaccine every fall or winter, as every season of influenza is different.
The flu vaccine is not only important for your own protection, but for the protection of those you come in contact with, as the virus will affect everyone differently.
An annual influenza vaccine is especially important to those with asthma, diabetes, chronic lung disease, as well as pregnant women, children, and seniors.
Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine
Varicella, which is more commonly known as “the chickenpox,” is an extremely contagious and uncomfortable malady.
The chickenpox vaccine is commonly given to infants, and it should be administered to adults who were not vaccinated when they were younger.
For healthcare workers or teachers, those in close contact with others who are at high risks of infection, or those in contact with someone with a compromised immune system, it is especially important to have the chickenpox vaccine.
Shingles Vaccine
Shingles is also known as the adult form of chickenpox. It produces an extremely painful and often blistering skin rash, sometimes in uncomfortable places. The shingles vaccine protects against reactivation of the chickenpox virus.
While this vaccination is very important, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend this vaccine for those under the age of sixty.
The shingles vaccination is important for those over sixty years who have had chickenpox in the past, as the shingles only occur if this same virus never fully left the body.
Tdap Vaccine
The Tdap vaccine is a vaccination to prevent against tetanus (which results in death for one out of five people who are infected), diphtheria, and the whooping cough.
It is very common for the Tdap vaccine to be given to children at age eleven or twelve so that they may attend school without being a health risk to others.
For those who have not received this vaccine by the time they are teens, it is extremely important to get the Tdap vaccination as soon as possible.
The Tdap vaccination is also important for women to get every pregnancy. It should also be administered as soon as possible after a deep cut or burn. A Td booster vaccine, which helps to protect against tetanus and diphtheria only, should be given every ten years.
By getting the above vaccines, you protect yourself, as well as the people around you, from some of the world’s most infectious diseases.
