Alert: Are Your Shots Up to Date Before You Retire?

Safiya Abouzaid, PharmD Candidate 2008
The Ohio State University
Prepared during Consumer Health Information Corporation Clerkship
McLean, VA

According to the Centers for Disease Control, tetanus, diphtheria, influenza, and pneumococcus are especially serious diseases for people older than 65 years of age.

• Only half the people who should be vaccinated against the flu have received the influenza vaccine.
• Only one fourth of the population that should be vaccinated against pneumococcus is protected.
• Sixty percent of adults do not have proper defense against tetanus and diphtheria . 

A large number of contagious diseases can be prevented with a vaccine.  The Centers for Disease Control identify people who are at high risk for a specific illness.  Older adults are at high risk for tetanus, diphtheria, the flu, and pneumococcus.  This is why all persons 65 years and older should be protected against these four diseases.

Vaccines are one of the safest medical products available.  Some diseases have been completely wiped out when everyone was vaccinated against them.  An example is small pox, a disease that was eliminated worldwide thanks to a successful immunization campaign.  Other diseases such as polio may also disappear in the next few years if people continue to be vaccinated.

Tetanus

FACT: Tetanus can occur in people who have been vaccinated, but who have not had a booster shot in 10 years or longer. 

Tetanus is a disease that is commonly called lockjaw.  Tetanus bacteria can be found in the soil and on many surfaces.  It is caused when bacteria enter the body through cuts or deep wounds.

Early symptoms of tetanus include stiffness in the neck and the stomach area, and having a hard time swallowing.  Later symptoms include severe muscle spasms, sweating, and fever.  Death can happen in 10-20% of people who have tetanus.  Everyone needs to be protected against tetanus.

The best way to prevent tetanus is through vaccination.  Most people receive the first shot as a combined DTaP vaccine (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) as children.

• Booster shots are required every 10 years.  These booster shots usually consist of the Td vaccine (tetanus and diphtheria).
• If you have not had a booster shot in 10 years or more, you should receive one.
• If you never had any tetanus vaccines, you should receive a series of three tetanus shots.  You should get the first two shots at least 4 weeks apart.  You can receive the third shot 6 to 12 months after the second shot.

Diphtheria

FACT: About 1 out of every 10 people who get diphtheria will die from it.

Diphtheria is a disease caused by bacteria that can affect the tonsils, throat, nose, and/or skin.  The disease can be transmitted by breathing in bacteria after an infected person has coughed, sneezed, or laughed.  Diphtheria causes a sore throat and a low-grade fever.  It may also cause painful skin lesions.  The disease can later lead to breathing problems, heart failure, coma, and sometimes death.  Diphtheria can be prevented with a safe and effective shot.  The Centers for Disease Control believes that everybody needs the vaccine. 

As with tetanus, most people receive protection against diphtheria when they are given the first dose of the combined DTaP vaccine.  Similarly, booster shots every 10 years are required for you to remain protected against the disease.

The Flu

FACT: Each year, about 36,000 Americans die from flu complications.

Influenza, which most people refer to as “the flu”, is a disease transmitted by a virus.  The flu is very contagious.  The disease can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes.  The most common symptoms of the flu are body aches, fever, runny nose, and sore throat.  The flu can also lead to complications of existing health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and asthma.   The influenza vaccine can help prevent the flu. 

In the adult, persons older than 50 years of age are at higher risk of severe flu.  This is why everyone 50 years or older should receive a flu shot every year.  Other people at high risk, such as people who live in a nursing home and people who have heart or kidney disease, should also get a flu shot.  The vaccine is not perfect for preventing all cases of the flu.  However, it can prevent severe flu and lower the chance that a person will need to go to the hospital.  The best time to get a flu shot is in October or November, but you can get vaccinated even in December or later.  The flu season can range from December to May.

Pneumococcus

FACT: Each year, about 175,000 people in the United States have to stay in the hospital because they have pneumonia caused by pneumococcus.

Pneumococcus is a type of bacteria that lives in many people’s noses and throats.  It is not known why the bacteria suddenly becomes harmful and causes disease.  Pneumococcus is spread mainly by coughing or sneezing.  Symptoms of infection include pneumonia, blood infection, and meningitis.  A vaccine against the bacteria has been available for 20 years.  However, according to the Centers for Disease Control, pneumococcus is still one of the most common causes of death in America from a disease that can be prevented with a shot.

All adults 65 years or older should get the pneumococcal shot.  Adults younger than 65 years old who have other medical conditions may also need to receive the vaccine.  Pneumococcal vaccine is not guaranteed to prevent all symptoms.  However, it is very good at preventing complications and death due to pneumococcus.  If you are vaccinated and still get pneumococcus, you are much less likely to have a severe form of the illness, or go to the hospital.

Are you ready to take the next step?

When adult immunizations are given appropriately and on time, they can reduce or prevent the chance of getting very serious illnesses.  They can also reduce the chance of dying from these illnesses.  If you are planning to travel abroad or have other risks and/or medical conditions, you will likely need more vaccinations than the four mentioned in this article.  If you have questions about vaccines, the following sources may help you find the answers:

Allied Vaccine Group: www.vaccine.org
CDC’s National Immunization Program: www.cdc.gov/nip
Immunization Action Coalition: www.immunize.org, and www.vaccineinformation.org
National Network for Immunization Information: www.immunizationinfo.org

CDC-INFO contact center: 800-CDC-INFO or 800-232-4636 (this service is free)

You can also ask your physician or health care provider for more information.  If you are an adult of any age, and especially if you are over 65 years old, or have pre-existing medical conditions, you are encouraged to review your immunization record with your health care professional.  You can keep your own immunization record such as the one below.  You can also ask your health care provider for an immunization record.  This will help you make sure you are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases, a protection that may one day save your life.

Adult Personal Immunization Record

Name:
Birthdate:

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