Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Vaccines aren't just for kids

Vaccines aren't just for kids. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that many adults become ill, are disabled, or die each year from diseases that could easily have been prevented by vaccines.

Everyone from young adults to senior citizens can benefit from immunizations. The CDC has a short, online questionnaire that can help you find out if there are vaccines that are recommended for you.

Some of these diseases can be especially serious for adults age 65 and older:

- Influenza (flu)
- Shingles
- Diphtheria
- Pneumococcus (pneumonia)
- Tetanus
- Hepatitis A & B


For more information:

Vaccine-preventable adult diseases [from the CDC]

Visit the MedlinePlus topic pages on immunization and childhood immunization.

Contact the librarian at the UCSF Patient Health Library for a search tailored to your needs.