by Ruth Scalpone

Created on: July 16, 2009   Last Updated: July 22, 2009

Adults in normal health do need booster shots of immunizations every 10 years, especially those in constant contact with the public. This includes teachers, health care workers, servers in restaurants, sales clerks in retail shops, public safety officers, and employees in other jobs that have a great deal of public contact. Employers often provide lists of what is required for each employee. It is best to keep vaccines current because the vaccines can prevent diseases, some of which do not have cures, and can cause serious health problems, or even death.

People in high-risk groups (see list * below) should be even more vigilant about keeping vaccines up-to-date, especially Hepatitus B and HPV vaccines. Having had the disease earlier in life can give immunity. Blood tests can determine if a person has immunity.

Traveling to other countries requires specific immunizations. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has information about the current diseases in other countries, and the immunizations needed for travelers to those countries at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel. The Public Health Department in cities or counties knows which vaccinations are required for different parts of the world.

Vaccines can be tracked using a Vaccine Administration Record for Adults, which is available at the CDC website (http://wwwn.cdc.gov). It also is available from the Immunization Action Coalition (www.immunize.org). The medical person giving the immunizations would complete the form. People with chronic medical conditions should consult their doctors before getting any immunizations.

Vaccinations recommended for adults:

__________ Vaccine _ Dosage________

Tetanus, diptheria, pertussis 1 dose every 10 years

Human papillomavirus (HPV) * 3 doses for females

through age 26

who are not pregnant

Influenza 1 dose/year

Measles, Mumps, Rubella 1 dose for adults born after 1956

who have no evidence of

immunity

Pneumococcal (pneumonia) 1 or 2 doses

Hepatitus A: 2 doses

Hepatitus B: * 2 doses

Zoster (shingles) 1 dose for adults age 60 and over

Meningoccocal (meningitis) 1 or more doses

Varicella (chicken pox) 2 doses for adults born after

1956 who have no evidence

of immunity

* High-risk groups:

Household and sexual contacts of person with chronic Hepatitus B

Sexually active people who are not in long-term, sexually monogamous relationships

People seeking treatment for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

Men who have sex with men

Injection drug users

Travelers to countries where HBV is common

People with end stage renal disease

HIV infected persons

Correctional Inmates

Sources Used:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.recommended adult immunization schedule-United States, 2009, MMWR 2008:57(53) http://wwwn.cdc.gov

Department of Public Health, Pima County, AZ http://www.pimahealth.org/immunizations/index.html

Immunization Action Coalition (www.immunize.org), February 2008

National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, August 2008 http://www.nfid.org

WebMD.com/guide/adult immunizations by R. Morgan Griffin, reviewed by Louise Chang, M.D., 1-12-09, webmd.com/guide/adult-immunizations

Learn more about this author, Ruth Scalpone.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.