HHS SAYS GET VACCINATIONS BEFORE GOING TO LONDON OLYMPIC GAMES

FROM:  HHS HealthBeat (June 11, 2012) 
Throngs at the Games
People from everywhere will be at the Olympics in London, which starts July 25th. But some of those people will have brought communicable diseases with them. So to protect yourself, make sure you’re up to date on vaccinations. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Phyllis Kozarsky:

“Even if you had all routine vaccines as a child, ask your doctor if you need a tetanus, pertussis diphtheria booster, commonly known as TDAP.”

Measles protection is worth checking, too. Kozarsky says it was on the rise in Europe last summer.

She also reminds you to bring your own good health habits with you – things like buckling up if you’re in a car, washing hands frequently, and wearing sunscreen. You can get a burn even if it’s cloudy, if you’re outdoors long enough.

HHS ENCOURAGES SENIORS TO GET VACCINATED

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.