Posted by - J. Rand Baggesen, M.D.

As we start the New Year, it is a good time to take inventory of your own health status. Many of us make New Years resolutions in an effort to be more health conscious. Have you ever thought about including a review of your current immunization status as part of your health goals? I bet you think more about when your car needs its oil changed, than what your body needs to stay out of health trouble. This month’s column will focus one a recurring theme, an ounce of prevention can be worth more than a pound of cure. What immunizations are recommended for me?

We will examine the recommended immunizations for adolescents and adults living here in the USA. One of the first questions you must answer is, what immunizations have I had? Funny, this raises one of the first challenges patients up-dating their immunizations must face, where are my medical records? Unlike your banking, credit card, insurance and other personal records, your medical records are kept not by you, but by your doctor. Why? Over one hundred thousand people die every year due to medical errors, often due to the lack of current accurate medical records. So in other words, we are all very interested in our bank statements to give us accurate accounting of our money, but when it comes to something that can save our lives, we take for granted that our medical records will be available-let alone accurate.

At the Executive Health Evaluation Program at CJW’s Levinson Hearth Hospital one of the important services we provide is to give our patients their consolidated medical records on a VitalKey. The VitalKey is a USB jump drive which can keep your entire updated medical record in a secure technology that you can carry on your keychain.

Let’s begin with your Tetanus vaccine. Today’s tetanus vaccine contains Tetanus, Pertussis and diphtheria protection. Pertussis is a bacteria that can cause whooping cough. Tetanus is a bacteria that you can get from a wound and can cause lockjaw. Diphtheria is a very contagious and potentially life threatening infection that usually affects the nose and throat. The vaccine is given during childhood first, in a series of three immunizations. A booster is recommended at intervals of 10 years. A supplemental vaccination is given to a patient who suffers a dirty cut who hasn’t had a tetanus booster within 5 years.

Influenza vaccine should be given to anyone who does not have a medical contraindication to the vaccine. I often hear people say they got sick from the flu shot. While flu vaccines in the past contained proteins which could cause some mild symptoms, today’s modern trivalent vaccines protect you against the three most likely influenza stains that are isolated by the Centers for Disease Control the previous year. Recent studies have shown the intermuscular flu shot, is somewhat more effective than the nasal mist. The new vaccine is safe, effective and way better than having the Flu. Type A and B influenza cause a variety of symptoms including high fever, shaking chills, headache, body aches and cough. It does not cause vomiting and diarrhea, gastro-enteric viruses are responsible for the “stomach flu”.

Hepatitis is infection of the liver and can be caused by a variety of viruses. There are two types of hepatitis viruses that we currently have effective vaccinations against. Hepatitis B vaccine is given in a series of 3 immunizations. Currently recommended for all children, the vaccine is recommended for individuals who are at occupational risk including healthcare workers. A complete list of recommendations can be found here. Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for all children after their first birthday, and individuals at risk from travel or other exposures. Hepatitis A vaccine is given in a series of two immunizations at least six months apart. A complete list of patient recommendations can be found here.

The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Measles virus causes rash, runny nose, cough, eye irritation and fever. Mumps virus causes fever, headache and swollen glands. Rubella virus causes mild fever, rash, and arthritis. Any adult born after 1956 should get at least one dose of the MMR vaccine, unless they can show that they have had either the vaccines or the above illnesses. A complete list of patient recommendations can be found at here.

Meningitis is a serious infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Meningococcal vaccines protect against 4 types of bacteria that cause meningitis. This vaccine is recommended for all adolescents, and others at risk of meningococcal disease. A complete listing of patient recommendations on who should be vaccinated can be found here .

Varicella vaccine protects against the viral illness, chickenpox. The vaccine is recommended for all children who have not had the chickenpox. It should be given to children between the ages of 12-18 months old in one dose. For individuals beyond 13 years old should be given in two doses, at least 4-8 weeks apart. As this vaccine is a live, attenuated virus, there are some contraindications to its administration. For a full listing of patient recommendations on who should receive the vaccine, please visit here.

Human papilloma virus, HPV, is a virus that can lead to cervical cancer. A vaccine was recently developed, that protects women against several strains of the virus. The vaccine is currently recommended for females from 9-26 years old. More information on this vaccine can be found here.

Pneumococcal disease can cause pneumonia, blood infections and meningitis. Pneumococcal disease kills more people in the United States than all other vaccine- preventable diseases combined. The pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine protects against 23 types of pneumococcal bacteria. The vaccine is recommended for all adults over 65 years of age, and others at risk of pneumococcal disease. A complete list of recommendations can be found at here.

Last May, the FDA approved a vaccine for the prevention of herpes zoster. Zoster is a painful infection caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. The immunization was approved for individuals who have never experienced a herpes zoster infection, who are greater than 60 years old. The immunization is effective in approximately 50-60% of people, who received it. It has shown to reduce the potential for pain caused by postherpetic neuralgia. More information on the zoster vaccine can be found here.

Vaccinations are an effective way to prevent disease. They are a complicated medical topic, of which patients are frequently confused in regard to their current immunization status. A helpful web site is available through the CDC, giving a personal immunization quiz, which can help identify what immunizations you may personally need. The web site is found here. I recommend you visit this site and speak to your doctor about how you can best protect yourself from these preventable illnesses.

We at the Executive Health Evaluation Program believe the promise of early detection holds to key to wellness today. Detection of cancer, vascular disease and other health threats takes time and a holistic approach to your individual needs. Your health is your biggest and most important asset. For those who wish to step out of the medical line and access today’s and tomorrows latest technology, we offer a choice. The right medical studies combined with unprecedented access to your executive physician, medicine to promote wellness.

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