By DARLENE PRINCE
prince@crescent-news.com
While there are not nearly as many immunizations that an adult should get compared to a child, there are some adult booster immunizations that should not be overlooked.
Laura Coressel, director of nursing at the Defiance County Health Department, said, "Adults should always get the tetanus immunization. We recommend it every 10 years." She added that if a dirty wound is being treated and it's been five years since a tetanus shot, then another tetanus shot is given.
"Now, there is a new Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis "whooping cough") vaccine that is recommended for adults," she said. "We recommend that vaccine and it is only given once to adults."
The new Tdap vaccine may address some of the concerns about the resurgence of pertussis (whooping cough) across the country. While most adults are not in physical danger from a case of whooping cough if they contract it, they could possibly give it to an infant or young child with resulting serious health effects.
Other immunizations that are given regularly at the health department are the ones for hepatitis A and B.
"We give a lot of hepatitis A and B vaccinations," Coressel said. "They are given to people in jobs in the health field and for travelers."
Young men and women headed for college in the fall should consider getting the Menactra meningitis vaccine. This is available at most health departments and offers protection against meningitis that college students may be exposed to in a crowded dormitory-type situation. While it is not mandated by law to get this vaccination, some colleges are requiring their students to get the vaccine before coming to school. Coressel said the Centers for Disease Control strongly recommend this vaccine.
Another new vaccine that has become available is the one for Herpes zoster (shingles). While it is expensive (hundreds of dollars), it will protect persons who have had chicken pox against getting a case of shingles. According to the Cleveland Clinic website, shingles is a very painful disease with a skin rash and blisters, that can lead to other complications.
The disease is caused by varicella zoster, the virus that causes chicken pox and often hides in the body of a person, who has had chicken pox, until later in life when it causes an outbreak of shingles.
"Another vaccine that we recommend is Gardasil for girls and women from 9 to 26 years old," Coressel said. This vaccine stops four of the most virulent human papillomaviruses, which can cause cancer of the cervix. This vaccine is also expensive, but may be covered by private insurance. It is given in three doses over a period or time.
For older persons, or those with immune problems or a chronic disease, Coressel stressed the importance of getting an annual influenza shot.
"This is such an important annual vaccination to get," she said. The flu shot can prevent complications after getting the flu, such as pneumonia.
"We also recommend the pneumonia vaccine as a one-time vaccination for those 65 and older," she said.
People planning to travel abroad should consult a physician or their health department to see which vaccinations are required.
The Henry County Health Department, in Napoleon, has a Certified Traveler's Health Clinic available every day during its regular nursing hours. Those hours are Monday through Friday from 1:30-4 p.m. Depending upon where they are going, travelers may have to be vaccinated against malaria or yellow fever. Be sure to allow four to six weeks before departure to discuss vaccinations with a doctor.