Before the kids went back to school, you checked to make sure they were up-to-date on their vaccines. . .but what about yours?  There are now many vaccines to prevent diseases in adults and children that not only  weren’t required when we went to kindergarten, they weren’t yet invented!  The best thing to do is to ask your doctor if you’re up-to-date on the standard shots and if there are other vaccines that would be in your best interests.

 We think of vaccines as being given once for life, but those for pneumonia and the flu must be given annually.  It’s time to get your annual protection if you’re at risk.  Certain vaccines also need boosters every 10 years or so, like the tetanus shot.   Have you had chicken pox?  If not, you may want to consider the chicken pox vaccine.  While this is generally a mild and self-limited illness in children, it can be a serious infection in an adult, especially pregnant women.  Are you at risk for Hepatitis B?  You may be surprised:  childcare workers and all health care workers have been added to the list of those who should receive the 3-part vaccine.  The vaccine for Lyme disease is also relatively new:  if you live in an endemic area, ask your doctor if you should get it. For more information, click here.

Created: 10/1/2001  -  Donnica Moore, M.D.