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Immunizations are available for such common adult illnesses
as the flu, pneumococcal disease, and hepatitis B.
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Keep Up to Date with Your Vaccinations
Each year in the United States, up to 60,000 adults die from vaccine-preventable
diseases or their complications. Getting your immunizations (or
vaccinations) not only protects your health but the health of the
community. In addition, vaccinations help slow down outbreaks of
disease.
Even though you receive most vaccinations in childhood, immunizations
are available for such common adult illnesses as the flu, pneumococcal
disease, and hepatitis B.
And if you’re at risk, your doctor could recommend that you
get vaccinated for the measles, mumps, German measles, hepatitis
A, tetanus, diphtheria, and chicken pox.
If you develop one of those illnesses and you are not vaccinated
against it, it could
cause severe health problems, and maybe even death.
How Do Vaccines Work?
A vaccine contains a weakened or inactivated form of the virus.
After you receive the vaccine, your body makes antibodies –cells
that fight disease. These antibodies stay in your bloodstream to
protect you from different diseases and conditions. After you have
been exposed to the weakened virus, the antibodies stay in your
immune system for the rest of your life and prevent you from getting
sick from the virus.
What’s in a Vaccine?
Besides the weakened form of the virus, a vaccine usually the following
substances to help preserve the virus and ensure it doesn’t
lose its potency. There is only a small amount of chemical additives
to a vaccine; immunizations are safe for most people and rarely
cause allergic reactions.
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Suspending fluid, including
sterile water or fluids |
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Preservatives to ensure the
virus remains stable |
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Enhancers that help the vaccine
improve its work. |
Some chemicals could be added to your vaccine, including
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Aluminum, to help stimulate
antibodies |
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Antibiotics, to prevent germs
to grow inside the vaccine |
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Egg proteins, which is found
in vaccines that were produced from chick
embryos |
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Formaldehyde, which inactivates parts of
weakened viruses that could harm
your body |
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Monosodium glutamate (MSG) and other stabilizers
to make sure the virus is
not affected by extreme light, heat or humidity |
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Thimerosal, which prevents the vaccine
from spoiling. |
To find out what’s in your vaccine, ask your doctor or pharmacist
for a copy of the insert, which will list all the vaccine’s
ingredients.
Vaccines’ Side Effects
Although vaccines are extremely safe, you may experience a sore
arm or a low fever after your shot. Very rarely, people may get
a severe allergic reaction to the vaccination. However, severe reactions
to immunizations are so rare that doctors have a hard time calculating
the risk.
Call your doctor if you or your child have unusual symptoms, including
a serious allergic reaction, high fever, difficulty breathing, a
fast heartbeat, or dizziness. If you go to visit your doctor, tell
him or her what the allergic reaction was and when you or your child
received the vaccination. Your doctor can report the reaction to
the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). (http://www.vaers.org/)
This agency collects information about allergic reactions to vaccines
and passes them on to researchers and scientists.
What Vaccines Do I Need When I Travel?
If you’re traveling to a foreign country, call your doctor
as soon as you can to determine if you need to receive vaccinations
before you leave. Depending on your destination, you may need a
vaccination for hepatitis A, yellow fever, and typhoid fever.
It’s important to receive your vaccinations as far in advance
as possible; the shots will need time to work and you might need
more than one dose. To check and see if you need a vaccine before
your next vacation, visit the CDC Travel Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.
Keeping Track of Your Vaccines
You can get vaccinations from your family doctor, or your local
health department. Some public health departments may open clinics
for these vaccines, and many pharmacies may offer immunizations
as well.
How much you pay for vaccines depends upon your insurance coverage.
Both influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations are fully paid for
by Medicare Part B if your healthcare provider accepts the Medicare-approved
payment amount. Medicare Part B also will pay up to 80% of the costs
of hepatitis B vaccinations for qualifying individuals.
As you and your child receive vaccines, note when you receive your
shots, and bring the record with you to every appointment. This
record will help you and doctor ensure that you are fully protected
against vaccine-preventable diseases. Keeping an accurate record
could prevent you from receiving shots you don’t need during
an emergency or when you switch doctors.
References
1. “Adult
Immunization Questions and Answers,” National Coalition
for Adult
Immunization, July 2002.
2. “How
Do Vaccines Work?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
March
28, 2000.
3. “Facts
About Adult Immunizations,” National Coalition for Adult
Immunization, July 2002.
4. “Additives
in Vaccines,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Dec.
17, 2003.
Writer: Andrea King
Clinical Reviewer: Deborah Malloy, DO
Editors: Andrea King, Joanne Poeggel
Date Written: 2/19/04
Date Last Revised: 2/26/04
Source of Material: Rockhill Communications, 14 Rock Hill Road Bala,
Cynwyd, PA 19004, (610) 667-2040, http://www.rockhillcommunications.com
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