Serving the community with the gift of immunity

Immunizations are not just for children. One may also be at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases according to age, job, lifestyle, travel, and health conditions. Apart from the Hepatitis - A & B and COVID-19 vaccines, there are various vaccines that are recommended by various authorities. 

Young adults: 19 to 26 years old**

1. Seasonal Flu vaccine: The annual dose of seasonal flu (influenza) vaccine is essential for people with chronic health conditions, pregnant women, & older adults.

2. Tdap vaccine: A Tdap vaccine is essential every 10 years to protect against pertussis (whooping cough) & then Td (tetanus, diphtheria). It is recommended for pregnant women during the 27-36th week of pregnancy. In addition, women should get the Tdap vaccine each time they are pregnant.

3. HPV vaccine: It protects against the types of human papillomaviruses (HPV) that cause most cervical, anal, and other cancers, as well as genital warts. This vaccine should be given between 8-26 years of age.

Vaccines for our seniors - 50 years and above

Our immune systems tend to weaken over time, risking proneness to certain diseases as our age increases. Therefore, in addition to the seasonal flu (influenza) vaccine and Td or Tdap vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria, & pertussis), one should also get

Shingles Vaccine: Shingle (herpes zoster) is an infection by a varicella-zoster virus causing painful blisters and rashes that are itchy. It can cause long-term pain even after the infection is over. It is a two-dose vaccination, and one can get these two shots spaced a few months apart.

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) & conjugate vaccine (PCV13): Protects against severe pneumococcal disease, including meningitis & bloodstream infections. It is recommended for all adults 65 years or older & adults younger than 65 years with comorbidities. It is also a two-dose vaccine that is given a year apart.^#

Please consult with your physician to know more about these vaccines before administering them.

Are the vaccine shots different for a woman? Let us find it out in our next series.

References:

**https://bit.ly/3qNCz0t

#https://mayocl.in/3IuA9tC​