health.mil

Emily Greene  |  health.mil

August 06, 2012

This August, as parents ensure children are ready to return to school and begin to think about safeguarding them from preventable diseases, is a good time for adults to review their own shot records.

Vaccinations aren’t just for kids, people of all ages need protection from dangerous diseases throughout their lives.   According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some reasons adults may require vaccination are:

• Some adults were never vaccinated as children

• Newer vaccines were not available when some adults were children

• Immunity can begin to fade over time

• As people age, they become more susceptible to serious disease caused by common infections (such as flu and pneumococcus)

The specific immunizations adults may need are determined by factors such as age, lifestyle, high-risk conditions, type and locations of travel, and previous immunizations.  Adult-specific vaccinations include shingles, pneumococcal disease and hepatitis B. 

Shingles is caused by same virus that causes chickenpox.  After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays in the body in a dormant (inactive) state.  For reasons that are not fully known, the virus can reactivate years later, causing shingles.  Almost one out of every three people in the United States will develop shingles, also known as zoster or herpes zoster.  About half of all cases occur among men and women 60 years old or older. 

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can be caused by the bacteria called pneumococcus.  This bacteria can cause other types of infections too, such as ear infections, sinus infections, meningitis (infection of the covering around the brain and spinal cord), bacteremia and sepsis (blood stream infection).  Sinus and ear infections are usually mild and are much more common than the more severe forms of pneumococcal disease. However, in some cases pneumococcal disease can be fatal or result in long-term problems, like brain damage, hearing loss and limb loss. Pneumococcal disease spreads when people cough or sneeze.  Many people have the bacteria in their nose or throat at one time or another without being ill.

Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver caused by hepatitis B virus. The virus spreads through exchange of blood or other body fluids, for example, from sharing personal items, such as razors or during sex. Hepatitis B causes a flu-like illness with loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, rashes, joint pain, and jaundice. The virus stays in the liver of some people for the rest of their lives and can result in severe liver diseases, including fatal cancer.

These diseases and others can be prevented through vaccinations provided at no cost to TRICARE beneficiaries.  Vaccinations play an important role in maintaining the health and readiness of the defense community.   Taking charge of immunization health means ensuring shot records are up to date on important vaccinations for one’s own health, the health of the family and the defense community.

Each August, the Military Health System focuses on immunization awareness and encourages beneficiaries to do a check on their immunization needs and those of their families.  Immunizations provide protection against many preventable diseases and work hand-in-hand with good nutrition and tobacco-free living as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Read more about immunizations and vaccinations. 

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