VACCINATIONS OVERLOOKED IN ADULTS

If you thought you were done with immunizations just because you're a grown-up, public health officials have news for you.

You're wrong.

"A lot of people basically think that you're done when you get out of school," said Charlotte Craig, director of the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center.

But adults also need to keep themselves vaccinated against a variety of illnesses, she said.

"It's becoming a priority with public health nationwide to put an emphasis on adult immunizations," Craig said.

The vaccine most commonly needed -- and most often overlooked -- is the tetanus booster, which is needed every 10 years, regardless of an individual's age.

"I discovered I needed it after having an accident several years ago and realizing it had probably been 20 years -- maybe 30 -- since I'd had a tetanus booster," Craig said.

Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is an infection that can result from improperly cleaned "dirty" wounds, such as nail punctures. Without proper treatment, it can be fatal, said Craig, who called it "a hard, very difficult illness."

"If you've had an accident and gone through the emergency room, chances are you've had a tetanus booster, but how many of us does that apply to?" she asked.

Flu vaccinations also are recommended for adults, particularly the elderly and people with chronic illnesses, such as asthma.

The county is offering a series of flu shot clinics starting Wednesday, and immunizations are also available through private physicians. Tetanus boosters will also be available during the flu shot clinics, Craig said.

"A good hard case of flu can wipe a person out," she said, and there is a risk of pneumonia with flu infection.

The pneumonia vaccine -- for a lifetime immunization against pneumococcal infection -- is recommended for the elderly and chronically ill. It is available through private physicians, but not at the county health center.

Hepatitis B vaccinations are recommended for adults.

The series of three injections is now part of the standard round of childhood immunizations, Craig said, and is required for health care workers.

The disease, a viral infection of the liver, is transmitted through blood and body fluids.

Hepatitis B can cause permanent liver damage or death.

Hepatitis A vaccinations, which Craig called "new on the market," are recommended for overseas travelers and food handlers.

"It would be ideal if all food prep people and food servers got the vaccine," she said.

But the high turnover rate of employees in the food industry would make such a requirement "cost prohibitive," she said.

The MMR immunization -- measles/mumps/rubella -- is recommended for adults who haven't had any of the diseases or who weren't immunized as children.

Because measles can cause birth defects, MMR vaccinations are especially recommended for adults of child-bearing age and are required for adults born after 1956 who can't document childhood immunization.

In the state of Missouri, the MMR vaccination is required for everyone entering college, Craig said.

Polio immunizations are recommended for people born after 1957 who were never vaccinated against the disease and for people traveling to developing countries, where the disease has not been eradicated.

The chickenpox vaccine is recommended for young adults who don't have reliable health histories and for people with compromised immune systems and their contacts, Craig said.

"These are all cost-effective vaccinations," she said. "If they can prevent serious illnesses or death, why not?"

ADULT VACCINATIONS

Tetanus

Flu

Pneumonia

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis A