Elder care resources
COURIER L 38 IFE, FEBRUARY 21-27, 2020
Recommended
vaccines for adults
Recommended vaccines for adults
Newborn babies endure quite a
bit in the fi rst few days and months
of their lives. Routine immunizations
help newborns overcome these
obstacles, and as newborns get old
they receive vaccines to prevent measles,
mumps, rubella, hepatitis, and
chicken pox.
A common misconception suggests
that vaccines are only for the
young. However, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention notes
that the protection provided by
some childhood vaccines can wear
off. In addition, some people may be
at risk for certain vaccine-preventable
diseases due to lifestyle, existing
health conditions and age. As a
result, it’s important for adults to
make sure their vaccines are up-todate.
Those who are unsure of their
vaccine status should discuss their
health history with their doctors. In
the meantime, adults should know
that the following vaccines are recommended
for people of various
ages.
• Infl uenza: An annual fl u shot is
highly recommended. Doctors and
health offi cials indicate that getting
the fl u vaccine is the single most effective
way to prevent seasonal fl u or
reduce the duration and severity of
the illness should it be contracted.
• Tdap: This vaccine contains
strains of tetanus, diphtheria and
pertussis (whooping cough). All three
are implicated in serious illnesses
or death, according to WebMD. Just
about every person, young and old,
should receive the Tdap vaccine. The
CDC says that every adult should get
the Tdap vaccine once if they did not
receive it as an adolescent. Then a Td
booster shot every 10 years is suffi -
cient.
• Shingles: People who have been
exposed to varicella (chicken pox) in
their youth are at risk for shingles as
they grow older. The CDC says nearly
one out of three people in the United
States will develop shingles in their
lifetime. A shingles vaccine can protect
against shingles and complications
from the disease. Adults who
are 50 and older should get the vaccine,
which is administered in two
doses.
• Pneumococcal polysaccharide
vaccine (PPSV23): This vaccine protects
against serious pneumococcal
diseases, including meningitis and
bloodstream infections. It is recommended
for all adults age 65 and
older.
• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine
(PCV 13): This protects against serious
pneumococcal disease and pneumonia.
Adults 65 years or older who
have never received a dose of PCV13
should discuss PCV13 with their physicians.
Vaccines protect the very young
from various diseases, but there are
many vaccines that are still vital to
health in adulthood.
Health
People want to grow old gracefully
and maintain their independence as
long as possible. There are many decisions
to make as well as information
to wade through to ensure needs
are met and proper care is received
through one’s golden years. Individuals,
caregivers and families may fi nd
that a few helping hands along the
way can be invaluable.
Numerous elder care resources
are available for those who don’t know
where to look. Start by researching
the National Council on Aging (www.
ncoa.org). This is a national leader
and trusted association that helps
people age 60 and older. The council
works with nonprofi t organizations,
governments and businesses to organize
programs and services at the
community level. This is a good place
to fi nd senior programs that can help
with healthy aging — emotionally,
physically and fi nancially.
AARP (www.aarp.org) is yet another
organization dedicated to helping
seniors. The comprehensive
AARP website offers a host of information
on everything from senior
discounts to products to health and
other information specifi c to seniors.
The AARP also has an affi liated charity
that works to help low-income seniors
procure life’s necessities.
At the local level in the United States,
the federal government has mandated
Area Agency on Aging (www.n4a.org)
facilities in every county/city. These
agencies can provide information on
service programs available to the seniors
in the area, as well as fi nancial
resources. These facilities give seniors
access to volunteers who can take seniors
around by car, and some provide
meals-on-wheels services.
The Administration for Community
Living (www.acl.org) was established
to help older adults and people
of all ages with disabilities live where
they choose. A network of community
based organizations helps millions
of people age in place.
WINNER
/www.acl.org
/www.ncoa.org
/www.aarp.org
/www.n4a.org
/www.ncoa.org
/ncoa.org
/(www.aarp.org)
/(www.n4a.org)
/(www.acl.org)
