Adult vaccinations – an untapped resource
There is no doubt that vaccination revolutionized global health. Through vaccination both smallpox and rinderpest have been eradicated. Since the WHO’s Expanded Program of immunization (EPI) was introduced in 1974, polio has almost been eradicated and measles have been successfully controlled. While most parents are diligent with taking their babies for their vaccinations, adult vaccinations are an untapped resource.
Many adults do not realize that there are vaccines they could receive apart from an annual flu shot and or course the Covid vaccine.
Why vaccinate adults?
Historically vaccines were meant for “children only”. This perhaps as small children were most vulnerable to many of the diseases we immunize against. Stories of how measles and diphtheria killed multiple children in one family are still told by grandparents. At the time many adults had these diseases as children and were considered immune.
However, the need for vaccines for adults are far more necessary than one might think. As we age, there is a progressive decline in our immune system’s responsiveness, which increases the risk for infectious diseases. Changes in our microbiomes (the good bacteria in our bodies) as a result of antibiotic use and other drug treatments can increase the risk of disease too. Grown-ups, especially those older than 50 and those with other co-morbidities are at risk of getting more seriously ill from certain diseases.
Furthermore, when one compares vaccination schedules from the 1940’s to what is available in 2022, there has been massive change and development. Not only can we immunize against far more diseases (5 back then and more than 14 now), but vaccines have developed to be safer and more effective. If you last had immunizations as a child, there are probably at least 9 diseases that you did not receive vaccination against. These include meningococcal disease, pneumococcal disease, Hepatits A and chickenpox, to name a few.
The immunity that you built from vaccinations during childhood may also fade over time. The loss of protection is different for each disease and vaccine. But after 20-30 years (or 50-60 for that matter), chances are you need some boosters.
It looks like it may be time for a clinic visit again!
Good reasons to consider getting vaccinated:
- Vaccines prevent disease and the spreading of it – Adults can unknowingly be carriers of a disease like Pertussis (“Whooping Cough) and may infect a small baby who have not yet received their first vaccines. Pertussis can be lethal for these little ones. For this reason, it is recommended that all moms should receive a Pertussis vaccine at around 36 weeks in pregnancy.
- You may no longer be protected – Even if you were vaccinated as a child, protection may not be life-long for diseases like Pertussis (whooping cough) or Tetanus (locked jaw disease)
- Not everyone was fully vaccinated as a child. Unless your mom kept your vaccination card, there is no way to know if you even received all your vaccine doses. This will also impact longer term immunity
- There are newer vaccines on the market– Vaccines against Herpes Zoster (shingles), HPV (Human Papilloma Virus that causes cervical cancer), meningococcal meningitis and Hepatitis A were not available before the 2000’s.
- You may have developed chronic illnesses like asthma, heart disease or diabetes – these diseases usually develop in later life and may compromise the immune system. You should especially consider getting vaccinated against pneumococcal disease. Several studies have shown that hospital admissions for cardiac related disease have dropped to 55% due to the Influenza and Pneumococcal vaccines.
- You are a student or traveler – Living in hostels and communes and moving around in crowded places increase your risk for infectious disease like Meningitis.
- You may be exposed through your job – People like healthcare workers are exposed to all sorts of potential infections. A complete vaccine series will be required.
- You may be planning to fall pregnant – Pregnant women are more at risk for disease, therefore there are vaccines that are recommended in pregnancy like Tetanus, Pertussis and Influenza vaccines.
- Age is catching up -When an older person die due to a disease like pneumonia, it’s often seen as an “unfortunate event”, whilst when a child dies it is a tragedy. The sad truth is that both may have been preventable. All life matter and everyone, old and young can benefit from vaccine preventable disease.
The way forward:
If you are considering updating your vaccination status, you have 2 options:
You can get you antibodies tested at a laboratory to see if you have protection against specific diseases. These tests are expensive though, but it may be helpful if you don’t know your vaccination status at all.
The other option is to visit your nearest health care facility to be assessed and to determine which vaccines you should consider depending on your age, pregnancy status and occupation. You can also contact us for more advice and assistance with working out a schedule, obtaining the necessary prescriptions and claiming through your medical aid.
References:
Vaccinations for Adults — You’re never too old to get vaccinated! (immunize.org)
Annuls of Medicine volume 51, 2019 issue 2 – Adult vaccination as part of a healthy lifestyle