02-21-2024 PTL - Flipbook - Page 6
6 A Special Advertising Section of Baltimore Sun Media Group | Wednesday, February 21, 2024
HEALTH
Keeping up with
your vaccinations
Keeping safe year-round
By Margit B. Weisgal, Contributing Writer
I
t seems like every other day there’s a new vaccination recommended for older
adults. On top of that, we learn about new ones through advertisements, not
exactly the best source in the world. So where do you start? I reached out to
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, better known as the CDC (www.
cdc.gov), and Medicare (www.medicare.gov) to learn what vaccinations we should
definitely get, and which ones are optional.
The CDC (www.cdc.gov/vaccines/
adults) immediately points out that “You
need vaccines throughout your life.”
“Adults need to keep their vaccinations
up to date because immunity from childhood vaccines can wear off over time. You
are also at risk for different diseases as an
adult. Vaccination is one of the most convenient and safest preventive care measures
available.”
As you read through the list of recommended vaccinations, always – Always!
– check with your doctor first. You may be
allergic to the peripheral ingredients used
to make the shot. If you ever had a reaction
to a shot when you were younger, that may
be a contraindication, a reason you should
not have this vaccination. If you are allergic
to eggs, you can still get that vaccination.
According to the CDC, “Any flu vaccine
(egg based or non-egg based) that is otherwise appropriate for the recipient’s age and
health status can be used.”
It goes on to say, “Severe and life-threatening reactions to vaccines are rare, but can
occur with any vaccine and in any vaccine
recipient, regardless of allergy history. All
vaccines should be administered in settings
in which personnel and equipment needed
for rapid recognition and treatment of acute
hypersensitivity reactions are available.”
Here we go.
Everyone should get vaccinations for
COVID-19, Influenza (flu), and Td or Tdap.
It’s the last one that may cause you to shake
your head. Isn’t that for children? It is, but
adults need it, too.
Here’s the translation:
• Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis
(Tadp) vaccines
• Tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccines
Many of us remember getting a tetanus
shot as kids or, if not then, a booster at
some point since we’re always susceptible.
Tetanus, what we referred to as ‘lockjaw,’
could be the result of stepping on a rusty
nail or some other item that cuts us, allowing Clostridium tetani, the tetanus bacte-
ria, to get into our bodies. The infection
causes painful muscle contractions and
could cause your neck and jaw muscles to
lock. Ideally, you should still get this shot
every ten years.
As for diphtheria, the CDC says, “it can
lead to difficulty breathing, heart rhythm
problems, and even death.” Very good reasons to include it.
Aside from these three, the CDC has an
assessment tool you can use to determine
which shots are recommended based on
your age, lifestyle, your medical history,
your travels. The ones that come up regularly, in addition to the three aforementioned,
are pneumonia, shingles and, now, RSV
(Respiratory Syncytial Virus). People who
are 65 and older are at high risk of having
serious health complications from RSV.
About the COVID-19 Vaccine
There is an updated formulation for this
vaccine based on new strains of the virus.
