Over 50? Add These Vaccines To Your To-Do List
Factors that may impact vaccine recommendations?
Adult immunizations are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC (Centers for Disease Control)) based on age, prior vaccinations, health, lifestyle, career, travel locations, and sexual activity.
How do I determine my vaccination status?
Speak with your parents or other carers to learn more about your immunization status. Check with the office of your primary care physician. You can check with past healthcare institutions where you received care if necessary. Alternatively, check with your schools or workplaces to see if vaccines are required. You might also check with your state health department to see if it has an adult immunization register. If you cannot find your records, your doctor may be able to perform blood tests to see whether you are immune to certain diseases that can be protected with immunizations. You may require more vaccinations.
Vaccines and testing:
Shingles
Shingrix, the most recent shingles vaccination, is recommended for all healthy people 50 and older. The shots should be given 2 to 6 months apart. It is far more effective than the previous Zostavax, which was withdrawn from the market in 2020. Even if you have had Zostavax or cannot recall if you have had chickenpox, you should receive Shingrix. The virus has infected the vast majority of humans. (The vaccination is also licensed for anyone over the age of 18 who is or will be immunodeficient or immunosuppressed and is at risk for shingles.)
Flu
Every year, older folks should obtain a flu shot. The elderly make up the vast majority of those who die or are hospitalized because of the flu. If you are above the age of 65, inquire about the Fluzone High-Dose vaccine, which has four times the antigen of standard flu shots. Fluad, another vaccine, may also provide higher protection to the elderly.
Vaccination against pneumococcal disease
You are more prone to develop pneumococcal bacteria pneumonia, blood infections, or meningitis as you get older. PCV13 (Prevnar 13) and PPSV23 (Pneumovax 23) vaccines can protect you against pneumococcal illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that all persons 65 and older get both vaccinations a year apart. They also advise all adult smokers and anyone with specific medical conditions to take PPSV23.
Tdap booster or shot
If you did not have your TDAP (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) booster injection as a teen or adult, get one now. If you did receive it but it has been at least a decade, get tetanus and diphtheria (Td) booster every 10 years.
Prepare a list of questions to ask your doctor about immunizations, such as:
Cancer of the colon
Beginning around the age of 45, most people should be screened for colon cancer.
You can choose between tests that detect cancer and polyps, which can develop into cancer and tests that detect only cancer. The first type is preferable. However, regardless of which path you take, it is critical to get tested. If you are predisposed to colon cancer owing to a family or personal medical history, you may need to begin screening at a younger age. Consult your doctor.
You can be tested in a variety of methods, each with its own set of benefits and cons. Consult your doctor about your best alternatives. A colonoscopy allows your doctor to remove any polyps before they become malignant.
Diabetes
Screening for type 2 diabetes should begin at the age of 45 and continue every three years after that. If your results are abnormal, or if you are overweight, have prediabetes, or have a family history of the condition, you may require more frequent testing. If you are overweight and have additional diabetes risk factors, you should be checked regardless of your age. One of the following tests may be suggested by your doctor:
1. A1c- This calculates your average blood glucose level over the last 2-3 months.
2. Fasting plasma glucose levels- It measures blood sugar levels after at least 8 hours of drinking only water.
3. Test for oral glucose tolerance- This measures your blood glucose levels before and after drinking a specific sweet drink.
4. Bone mineral density.
With aging, your bones can become more brittle. For patients who are at high risk of fracture, your doctor may offer a bone density test called a DXA scan of your hip and spine. They are as follows:
1. Women aged 65 and up
2. Younger women and men who smoke, are underweight, have had previous fractures, habitually took prednisone or other steroids, and consumed more than three alcoholic drinks per day are more prone to develop osteoporosis.
If your results are normal, you will not need to have another scan for several years. However, if you have low bone density or osteoporosis, you will need to be checked much more frequently to see how your treatment is working.
Vision
Get a full eye check-up every 2 to 4 years after the age of 50. After the age of 55, you may require one every year. If you have diabetes and notice any changes in your vision, consult your doctor or an ophthalmologist.
High blood pressure
Hypertension, defined as a blood pressure level of 120 over 80 or greater, is particularly common in older persons. It is preferable to have it checked once a year. If you are fat or overweight, or if your top reading is above 120, your doctor will work with you to develop a treatment plan.
Cholesterol
A blood test is required to determine your total cholesterol as well as your high-density (good) and low-density (bad) lipoprotein cholesterol. Some cholesterol forms plaque, which clogs your arteries and can lead to strokes and heart attacks. If your levels are high, you may need to be tested more frequently.
Mammogram screenings for women
Experts disagree on how frequently most women should be screened for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends annual mammograms beginning at age 45, then every two years until age 55. The US Preventive Services Task Force advises a less aggressive screening schedule since more screening causes harm and costs due to false-positive tests. It recommends that women under the age of 50 consult with their doctor determine whether they require screening. It suggests screening every other year for anyone aged 50 to 75, and no more beyond that.
Cancer of the cervix
Pap tests have long been considered the gold standard in testing. You can undergo a PAP (Positive Airway Pressure) test every three years, an HPV (human papillomavirus) test every five years, or both tests every five years. If you have a history of abnormal cervical cells, you may need to continue screening after the age of 65.
PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) screening for men
It detects prostate cancer. While it is the best screening test for prostate cancer, the PSA blood test may indicate that you have prostate cancer when you do not. A biopsy may be required to detect whether cancer is present. If you have a higher-than-average risk of prostate cancer, your doctor may still recommend this test. Consult your doctor to determine whether PSA testing is necessary for you.
Do you have reservations about vaccines?
Even though vaccines have been demonstrated to be a safe and effective technique for fighting disease, you may be apprehensive to roll up your sleeve. The doctor gives recommendations to help you relax.
If having a vaccine raises anxiety, talk to your healthcare practitioner about what they can do to make you feel safe. To reduce anxiety, bring a trusted companion to your immunization appointment. Research the science behind the vaccine on trustworthy websites.
Millions have been vaccinated, and we are seeing great outcomes. Not only COVID but go back in history — polio, smallpox, measles, tetanus. All these people were murderers in the past, but not now.
What factors might have an impact on my vaccine recommendations?
Adult immunizations are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) based on age, prior vaccinations, health, lifestyle, career, travel locations, and sexual activity.
How do I determine my vaccination status?
Speak with your parents or other carers to learn more about your immunization status. Check with the office of your primary care physician. You can check with past healthcare institutions where you received care if necessary. Alternatively, check with your schools or workplaces to see if vaccines are required. You might also check with your state health department to see if it has an adult immunization register.
