LC Meridian

Issue date: 9/1/06 Section: Health

SEPTEMBER IS...

NATIONAL ADULT IMMUNIZATION MONTH

Just when you thought you had heard enough about immunizations for registration, now we're harping on adult vaccinations! Truth be told, as many as 50,000 adults in the US die annually from vaccine-preventable diseases or their complications. By preventing illness, immunizations save healthcare dollars by keeping people healthy and avoiding expensive testing, treatment and hospitalizations. Vaccinations help reduce lost time at school and work as well as decrease the spread of illness in the home, workplace and community.

THE FACTS

*Adults still require immunizations as they age. Common illnesses such as influenza (flu), pneumonia, and hepatitis A and B as well as the less common illnesses such as tetanus (lockjaw), diphtheria and varicella (chickenpox) are needed for adults.

*Tetanus and diphtheria (Td) shots should be renewed every 10 years. A new tetanus vaccine called Adacel (Tdap) now contains pertussis (whooping cough) as well. Pertussis has seen an upsurge in adults for the last few years. Although adults contract a milder form of whooping cough than children, pertussis has resulted in increased absenteeism from work in the fall and winter.

*Flu vaccine is recommended for all adults over 50, women who are pregnant during flu season, residents of long-term care facilities, health care workers as well as for all children 6-23 months of age, and persons older than 23 months of age who have certain chronic illnesses.

*There are more deaths from pneumonia each year than any other vaccine-preventable illness! It is a one-time shot which prevents most strains of pneumonia.

*Pneumonia and flu together are the fifth leading cause of death in older adults!

*Hepatitis B is recommended for adults in certain high-risk groups such as health care workers, those in household or sexual contact with persons with chronic Hepatitis B infection, persons with multiple sexual partners, persons with recently acquired STDs, men who have sex with men, and IV drug users. All children 18 and younger have already been vaccinated! (Hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than HIV!)

*Hepatitis A is recommended for adults in certain risk groups, including travelers to countries where hepatitis A is common, people with chronic liver disease, people with clotting-factor disorders such as hemophilia, men who have sex with men, and IV and non-injection illegal drug users.

*Teachers of young children and day care workers, residents and staff in institutional settings, military personnel, non-pregnant women of childbearing age, international travelers, health care workers and family members of immuno-compromised persons, who have not had chickenpox and have not been previously immunized against chickenpox should receive Varicella vaccine.

*A new vaccine, Zostavax, has been recently approved for adults 60 and older to reduce the incidence and severity of shingles, caused by the chickenpox virus.

Why Immunize?
Once contracted, some of the above illnesses have no cure and all may cause great health problems or even death! Vaccines are among the safest medical products available, are very effective and can prevent the suffering and costs associated with these preventable diseases. Consult with your doctor about your immunization status as well as current vaccine recommendations. The Student Health Center offers many of these vaccines at no or low cost to students.

---

Brought to you by the Lehman College Student Health Center,
T-3 Building, Room 118, (718) 960-8900

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools