FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
HHS HealthBeat (May 11, 2012)
Seniors vaccinations
Things that wear down as we get older include our vaccinations. But Dr. Andrew Kroger of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says many older people don’t realize this:
"Adult immunizations are an excellent way to prevent many diseases that can be deadly. Vaccines aren’t just for kids. Some of the protection you got from childhood vaccines may have worn off."
Consider the chickenpox vaccination you got as a kid. Chickenpox and shingles are caused by the same virus, but shingles is more common among people over 60. If you’re over 60, you may need a shingles vaccination.
And you might want the vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis – known as Tdap. The parts about diphtheria and pertussis could keep you from infecting the grandkids.
