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Immunizations for Adults
Most people know that children need immunizations to keep them from getting certain
diseases. Adults also need immunizations. Like children, adults need certain immunizations
at certain ages. Many adults need to be immunized because of medical problems they may
have . (table 1)
Adults also may need to be immunized if they work in certain places or have certain living
situations or lifestyles, or if they are planning a trip to a foreign country. (table 2)
Who should be given influenza (flu) vaccine, and when should they get a flu shot?
The influenza vaccine helps prevent influenza, or the "flu." The flu can
cause fever, muscle aches, cough, sore throat and headache. The flu is very contagious (it
passes easily from person to person). It can be fatal, especially if it occurs in a person
who has a heart condition, diabetes or lung disease.
The flu shot should be given to everyone 65 years of age or older. It should also be given
to younger people who have heart problems, lung problems, diabetes, kidney problems or
problems with the immune system. The shot is also recommended for people who live with
someone who may have problems if they get the flu. The shot is also recommended for people
who have jobs in the health care field or others who may have problems if they caught the
flu.
The flu shot is needed every year. The virus that causes the flu may change every year,
and the vaccine only protects a person from the flu for a limited time. The best time to
get a flu shot is in the fall. Most people who get a flu shot have a sore arm for a day or
two. The flu shot cannot give you influenza. If you are allergic to eggs you may have
serious side effects from the flu shot, so talk to your doctor before getting the shot.
Who should be given pneumococcal vaccine?
Pneumococcal vaccine helps prevent pneumonia and blood infections caused by a bacteria
called Pneumococcus. Infection with this bacteria can be fatal, especially if it occurs in
a person who has a heart condition, diabetes or lung disease.
Pneumococcal vaccine should be given to everyone 65 years of age or older. It should also
be given to younger people with heart problems, lung disease, diabetes, cirrhosis, kidney
problems or certain patients with cancer.
The vaccine is given only once, except in persons with certain medical problems. The
vaccine is given as a shot. Many people have a sore arm for a day or two after they get
the pneumococcal vaccine.
Who should be given tetanus and diphtheria toxoids?
Tetanus toxoid, which is given as a shot, prevents lockjaw. This illness causes painful
muscle spasms, and it can be fatal. The tetanus shot is for everyone-and it's especially
important to get a tetanus shot if you have a dirty cut or wound. The tetanus shot should
be given every 10 years, but if you have a dirty cut, it may be given sooner (five years
from the last shot). Some people get a sore arm or a mild fever from the tetanus shot.
Diphtheria toxoid is also given as an injection. Diphtheria is an infection of the throat
that can hurt the heart or the lungs The diphtheria toxoid can be given with the tetanus
toxoid, and it's needed every 10 years. Some people get a sore arm or a fever from the
shot.
Who should be given measles, mumps and rubella vaccines?
Measles is a very contagious illness that can cause pneumonia, infection of the brain
or death. Measles vaccine is usually combined with mumps and rubella vaccine. All children
are given two measles shots. Adults born after 1956 may need a total of two measles shots
if they work in the medical field or go to college.
Serious side effects from the measles vaccine may occur in people with an immune disease,
other than infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (also called HIV, the virus
associated with AIDS). People with a severe allergy to eggs may also have serious side
effects. Because of this, such patients should talk to their doctor before they have a
measles shot. Pregnant women should not have a measles shot. People can get a sore arm and
fever from the shot.
If a pregnant woman gets rubella, her baby may have birth defects. Rubella is very
contagious. Women who might want to have children in the future and have not had either
the shot or rubella infection should be vaccinated. People who are pregnant already or who
have certain immune diseases should not be given rubella vaccine. People can get a sore
arm and a fever from the rubella shot.
Who should be given hepatitis B vaccine?
Hepatitis B is a liver infection that can cause liver failure, liver cancer, or death.
The hepatitis B vaccine should be given to all infants and to adults at high risk for
hepatitis B.
Persons at high risk for exposure to hepatitis B include those who need dialysis, those
who have had a sexually transmitted disease (including AIDS), people with multiple sexual
partners, homosexual males, persons who abuse injectable drugs, health care workers,
police officers, firefighters, and both workers and clients in homes for the
developmentally disabled. All persons who live in a house with a hepatitis B carrier
should be given hepatitis B vaccine.
A series of three shots of hepatitis B vaccine is needed for full protection. Hepatitis B
vaccine is made in baker's yeast, and it cannot cause AIDS. The shot can cause a sore arm.
What other vaccines may be needed?
Other vaccines include the anthrax vaccine, which may be needed for people such as
animal hide workers. Rabies vaccine may be needed for people such as veterinarians, forest
rangers, field workers and animal handlers. Plague vaccine may be needed for these types
of workers who live in the western or southwestern United States. Other vaccines may be
needed for people traveling to certain parts of the world. If you have travel plans or if
you have any questions, talk to your family doctor.
TABLE 1
Medical Problems That May Indicate A Need for Shots
Ask your doctor, nurse or physician assistant for details.
Medical problem Shots
Alcoholism Pneumococcal vaccines Cancer Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines Cirrhosis
Pneumococcal vaccine Diabetes mellitus Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines Dialysis
Hepatitis B vaccine Factor VIII or IX deficiency Hepatitis B vaccine Heart disease
Influenza and pneumococcal vaccine Hemoglobinopathies Influenza vaccine Hodgkin's disease
Influenza, pneumococcal and Hib* vaccines Human immunodeficiency virus Pneumococcal,
influenza, Hib* (HIV) infection and hepatitis B vaccines Kidney disease Influenza vaccine
and pneumococcal vaccine Lung disease, including Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines
asthma and emphysema Sexually transmitted disease Hepatitis B vaccine
Hib = Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine.
*--Hib is routinely given to all preschoolaged children, but certain adults also need
it.
Shots That May be Needed by Adults with Certain Jobs, Living Situations or Lifestyles
Ask your doctor, nurse or physician assistant for details.
Persons for whom Shots immunizations may be recommended
Abusers of injectable drugs Hepatitis B vaccine Animal hide workers Anthrax vaccine
College or technical school Measles vaccine (need two students doses since birth) Clients
and staff of group Hepatitis B and influenza homes, workshops and vaccines schools for the
develop- mentally disabled or mentally handicapped Health care workers Measles (need two
doses unless born before1957), influenza and hepatitis B vaccines Homosexual males
Hepatitis B vaccine Household members or sexual Hepatitis B vaccine partners of hepatitis
B carriers Household members of Influenza vaccine persons at high risk for influenza
Prostitutes and persons with Hepatitis B vaccine multiple sexual partners in the past six
months Public safety workers (such Hepatitis B and influenza vaccines as police officers
and firefighters) Residents of nursing homes Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines and
chronic care facilities Staff of nursing homes and Influenza vaccine chronic care
facilities Veterinarians, forest rangers, Rabies vaccine, plague vaccine field workers and
animal if living and working in western handlers or southwestern United States
This information provides a general overview on immunizations for adults and may not apply
to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and
to get more information on this subject.
This handout is provided to you by your family doctor and the American Academy of Family
Physicians.
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