This op-ed by Suzanne Killian appeared in Iron Mountain Daily News. Read the full story here.
I can remember as a kid and member of the baby-boom generation that when it came time to get vaccinated, we took home parental approval forms from school. With parental permission attained, we lined up in the gymnasium or auditorium grade by grade and, with arms extended, got whatever shots we needed, free of charge.
Back then, it was primarily the polio vaccine that was distributed in this manner. I remember willing myself not to shed a tear because crying over a shot in front of all of my classmates was more painful than the shot itself. It was the easiest, and most comprehensive, way for children to get those very necessary immunizations.
Times have definitely changed. Parents are now responsible for getting their children to the doctor’s office for immunizations, and many are choosing to forego them completely. Obviously, this puts all of us at greater risk. And, as we age, we become more susceptible to illnesses that, thanks to medical research and development, can now be effectively prevented. Now that autumn is definitely here, it is a good time to get up-to-date on any immunizations that can keep us healthier as we make our way through the upcoming months of harsher weather. Thanks to September’s AARP Bulletin for this list of vaccines we need as seniors as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
An annual flu vaccine is needed by everyone every year because the strains of this disease change annually, and we do not maintain our immunity from one year to the next. This is not the stomach flu, but a respiratory flu that can prove deadly for seniors. The vaccine does not give you the flu. If you experience mild symptoms of fever, sore muscles, or a headache after receiving your immunization, the CDC explains it is simply a sign your immune system is working. The vaccine is now readily available at your physician’s office, at senior living facilities, or any of several pharmacies in the area.
Anyone 50 years old or older should be vaccinated against shingles, a nasty cousin to the chicken pox. One of the most effective medical commercials on television was for this vaccine. After seeing those awful, blistering rashes on people obviously suffering, I made sure to ask my family physician about it. The former vaccine, Zostavax, loses its effectiveness after five years. Ask your physician about Shingrix, a newer generation of shingles vaccine that is more effective, but does require two doses given two to six months apart. Additionally, the potential side effects of fever, achy muscles and chills can be more pronounced. Finally, the newer vaccine may be difficult to obtain in some areas due to shortages.
Anyone age 65 or older should obtain a pneumonia vaccine. This vaccine is also recommended for younger individuals who suffer certain chronic medical conditions and is received in two doses, one year apart. Given your personal medical history your physician will recommend which of the two types of pneumonia vaccine you should have.
The MMR vaccine is the one that protects us against measles, mumps and rubella. Those of us born before 1957 most likely do not need it because we acquired immunity in childhood by actually contracting these diseases. Also, most people born in 1957 or later who have had one dose of MMR also are protected. It has also been determined that about 1 million people who received an MMR vaccine from 1963 through 1967 received an ineffective version of the vaccine. If you are not sure you are protected, it does not hurt to get another MMR vaccine. Or you can ask your physician for a blood test that will determine your immunity.
Everyone needs a tetanus shot every 10 years. Thanks to childhood immunizations that most of us have received, tetanus is pretty uncommon nowadays. There is still a risk for those of us who forego our 10-year booster shot. The Tdap vaccine has been developed to protect against tetanus, pertussis or whooping cough and diphtheria. In 2006, the CDC updated its recommendations to suggest adults get the Tdap and then a regular Td booster every 10 years. While it may sound strange to vaccinate at this age against the whooping cough, that disease once again is on the rise. Talk to your physician particularly if you are around a lot of young children; the vaccine will protect you and them from getting sick.
There is now a chicken pox vaccine for anyone of any age who has not had this disease. It is only necessary to vaccinate once. If you happen to have never had chicken pox as a child, it is possible to catch this disease from someone who has shingles … and getting chicken pox as an adult is not fun! Talk to your physician if you believe you are at risk. If you are not sure, there is a blood test available to determine your immunity.
Finally, have a discussion with your physician regarding hepatitis. Hepatitis A is a highly contagious viral liver infection that causes abdominal pain and jaundice. More than 20 states have seen outbreaks of this disease since 2016, which is spread through contaminated food, drug use and unsanitary conditions. Hepatitis B is spread through sexual contact. Hepatitis C attacks the liver, and people born between 1945 and 1965 are at a higher risk for it. This form of hepatitis can live in the body for years, going undetected until significant damage has been done.