Vaccinations: Not just kid stuff

You may assume you're done getting immunizations because you haven't been in kindergarten for a couple of decades or more (not that anyone's counting).

Think again. Whether you're 25 or 85, vaccinations can boost your health by fending off such diseases as influenza, pneumonia, tetanus, hepatitis and shingles.

Some adults were never vaccinated as children, but even those who were may need vaccinations that weren't available when they were younger. Also, immunity can diminish over the years -- just when susceptibility to disease may be increasing.

"It's important to speak to your physicians and ask what the appropriate immunizations are for you," said Dr. Donald Teplitz, director of family practice at Mercy Medical Center in Rockville Centre.

RECOMMENDED

OPTIONS INCLUDE:

INFLUENZA

Adults of all ages should consider getting the flu vaccine, which now protects against several strains, including H1N1, commonly called swine flu. Older people in particular should get the vaccination each year, Teplitz said.

SHINGLES

Also known as herpes zoster, shingles may have an innocuous-sounding name, but it's one of the most agonizing common illnesses. "It can be extremely debilitating and cause people to be on really substantial pain medications for a long period of time, and treatment may not always be terribly effective," said Dr. John D. Meyer, director of occupational medicine at Stony Brook University Medical Center.

Physicians now recommend the shingles vaccine known as Zostavax for people 60 and older, not only for those who've had chickenpox, which has been linked to the disease, but also for those who haven't. "Younger adults may want to think about it," Meyer said. "It's not unheard of for people in their 40s and 50s to have an episode of shingles if they're stressed, get debilitated or are on immune-suppressive medications." It's a one-time vaccination.

Teplitz cautioned that the vaccine can be expensive, costing around $200, and insurance may not pay for it.

PNEUMONIA

The Pneumovax vaccine prevents pneumonia-related diseases, and people over 65 are advised to get it (frequency depends on your doctor's recommendation). Anyone immunized against pneumonia before age 65 should wait five years before being revaccinated. It's also recommended for younger adults who smoke or have asthma, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

DIPHTHERIA/

TETANUS/PERTUSSIS

Tetanus is rare, Meyer said, but it can be fatal, and people who are middle-aged and older may need to update their vaccination against it. One kind of tetanus-diphtheria vaccine also prevents pertussis, better known as whooping cough. Initially, immunization usually involves a series of three shots, with a booster recommended every 10 years.

HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS

Officials suggest that women younger than 26 get the HPV vaccine, a three-shot regimen, which protects against a sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer. For males age 9 to 26, the HPV vaccine can protect against genital warts.

HEPATITIS

People who travel internationally may want to consider getting vaccinated against hepatitis A, given in two doses. The hepatitis B vaccine (three doses) is recommended for sexually active people who are not in a long-term, monogamous relationship. Vaccination against both forms of hepatitis is recommended for gay men.

MEASLES AND MUMPS

People who work in health care may want to consider the measles and mumps vaccine, even if they were given the vaccine as a child. Because they're considered at higher-than-normal risk, a two-dose version of the vaccine is recommended.