Adult Vaccinations
Our Commitment
"Keeping Children's Health on the Right Track" includes being sure the patient's family's healthcare includes appropriate vaccines
for parents, and caregivers. Pediatric Junction, while not providing all adult vaccines, does make available those which we
consider important to a healthy household.
Why immunize adults?
The answer is simple: It's the most natural, specific and cost-effective way of preventing illness. Vaccines take advantage of the body's ability to act as a chemical factory. Since a person who is vaccinated is prevented from getting an infection, he or she also can't pass it on, thus helping break the chain of infection.
Immunizations during adulthood are recommended for more than a dozen diseases:
- Chickenpox
- Meningitis
- Diphtheria
- Mumps
- Hepatitis A
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Hepatitis B
- Pneumonia
- HPV (cervical cancer)
- Rubella
- Influenza
- Shingles
- Measles
- Tetanus
Not enough adults getting the shots they need
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that not enough adults are getting all the shots they need to prevent serious diseases. Very few adults take advantage of vaccines that could prevent suffering and death. What's more, a new survey shows that the vast majority of adults lack awareness of vaccines and the severity of infectious diseases. A survey by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases revealed that most adults cannot name more than one or two diseases that are preventable by vaccines in adults. Consumers said they were most concerned about flu, which likely reflects media attention to the disease. Survey findings include:
- Flu and related cases of pneumonia kill 36,000 people annually. Wider flu immunization could prevent many of these deaths.
- Only 10 percent of women age 18 to 26 have received the vaccine for human papillomavirus, which causes cervical cancer.
- Whooping cough is on the rise in children and adults. The rise in the number of whooping cough cases puts vulnerable infants at risk of severe disease and even death.
- Only 2.1 percent of adults 18 to 64 years old are immunized against tetanus-diphtheria-whooping cough.
- One million adults get shingles every year, even though a vaccine eases the disease and even prevents it.
- Only 1.9 percent of qualified adults receive the vaccine.
Recommendations for Adults
The CDC recommends certain vaccines for adults of various ages.
- Tdap: This newly introduced vaccine boosts protection against diphtheria, whooping cough and lockjaw, a horrible illness caused by certain soil bacteria when they enter the body through a deep injury. The vaccine should be repeated every 10 years and should also be given after an injury if it's been more than five years since your last dose.
- Varicella (Chickenpox Vaccine): Two doses of chickenpox vaccine and, if you were born after 1957, at least one dose of measles, mumps or rubella vaccine. If you are 60 years or older, the shingles vaccine is strongly recommended. None of these should be given to pregnant women or people with suppressed immune systems.
- HPV Vaccine: If you are a woman under 27, three doses of the HPV vaccine guards against cervical cancer and genital warts.
- Flu Shot: The CDC now recommends the flu vaccine for all ages. Formerly the recommendation was if you were older than 50 or lived in a household with a child under 2, get an annual flu shot.
- Hepatitis A Shot: If you are traveling to a wonderful place with less than wonderful sanitation, seek out a hepatitis A shot — nothing spoils a vacation like vomiting, diarrhea and turning yellow.
- MMR: Mumps, Measles, and Rubella prevention. Generally two doses are required. Very important in households where pregnancy or pregnant guests might be. Women should not get pregnancy for four weeks following receiving the vaccine
- Other Vaccines: Other vaccines such as Pneumonia and Shingles are recommended as well but not offered by Pediatric Junction. Consult your personal physician for more information. Be sure an advise your doctor of any vaccinations received at our practice.
