Health Alert 61
You may not know that you some of your childhood immunizations are no longer effective. You may need a booster to keep you protected.
With the constant threats of bioterrorism, many people have been asking me about immunizations. I agree with the US government’s position here. The smallpox vaccine itself is relatively dangerous. To the public, the risks of the smallpox vaccine outweigh the benefits. But I have been taking the query as an opportunity to review adult immunization records.
The results have been concerning. Many diseases that pose a much larger threat than smallpox are preventable. There are safe and proven vaccines but people are not up-to-date. In most cases, they are not aware that their vaccine coverage has lapsed. And, you are likely not immune to the hepatitis viruses. The vaccines did not exist when we were children.
*Don’t Throw Out the Baby with the Bathwater*
Many in alternative health are against vaccines. I must side with conventional medicine on this one. Vaccines have wiped out many of the ancient scourges of society. Think bubonic plague, smallpox and polio. They have saved millions of lives and have prevented crippling diseases for many more.
When you take a vaccine, you are inducing your immune system to develop antibodies. They protect you against that particular microbe. It is a far more natural than taking antibiotics. And, if the microbe is a virus like polio or hepatitis, even antibiotics won’t help.
The best medicine strives to prevent disease. It uses the most natural effective therapies available. Vaccines offer both of these qualities. For those in alternative medicine to dismiss them as just another pharmaceutical solution is throwing out the baby with the bathwater.
By the age of two, most children today receive vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, and Hepatitis B. Childhood immunization is a matter of social responsibility as well as personal safety.
*Vaccines for You as an Adult*
There are many vaccines available for infectious diseases in adults. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the CDC recommend that you consider the vaccines listed below. Age, lifestyle and occupation will determine the best vaccination schedule for you.
Diphtheria and Tetanus -You need a booster shot every ten years. Don’t wait to step on a rusty nail to get protected.
Influenza – Influenza and pneumonia are the seventh leading cause of death in America. If you are over 65, they move up to fifth. You easily minimize your risk with annual immunization. Get your shot every flu season if you are 50 or older.
Pneumonia –You should receive this vaccine if you have had pneumonia before. You should consider it if you have lung, kidney, liver disease or diabetes or if you are over 65. Your risk of death from pneumonia increases over the age of 65.
Hepatitis B – You can catch Hepatitis B by blood exchange or sexual contact. IV drug use, high-risk sexual behavior and work exposure increase your risk. This vaccine is now required for children entering school. Evaluate your own risk with your doctor.
Hepatitis A – You can catch Hepatitis A by any contact with an infected person. Or by eating or drinking contaminated food or water. The vaccine is easy and effective.
Measles, mumps, and rubella – You should get this vaccine if you didn’t as a child or if your vaccination history is unreliable. These illnesses can be serious for adults.
Al Sears, MD