Jul 23, 2013 4 min read

All individuals require routine vaccinations to maintain their health. There are many immunizations available to protect against contagious diseases. The diseases that are immunized against can lead to both serious and deadly illness. Getting vaccinated not only keeps you from getting sick, but it also protects those around you from contracting these diseases.

Everyone over the age of 6 months should receive a yearly flu shot. Influenza causes fever, muscle aches, sore throat, and cough. Pregnant women, children, elderly, or any individual with a chronic illness has increased risk of significant illness and death from this disease. Healthy individuals die from the flu every year.

Anyone 65 years and older should receive a pneumococcal vaccination. Pneumococcus can cause a lung infection, which may be fatal. Anyone with chronic illness or who smokes may need this vaccination before age 65. Also, all infants receive a pneumococcal vaccination as part of their primary immunizations.

All individuals should receive a vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. The initial immunization is given as part of the primary series during infancy and childhood. As an adult, this vaccination is given every 10 years. All adults also need a booster against pertussis. Pertussis is more commonly known as whooping cough and can lead to serious respiratory illness. Children, especially those in the first year of life, are at increased risk of contracting pertussis. For this reason, anyone who is a primary caregiver to an infant should be immunized.

All children and adults who have not previously been infected or immunized against varicella or chickenpox should receive a vaccination against this disease. Chickenpox is a viral illness causing an itchy, blistering rash and fever. Adults over the age of 60 should consider getting vaccinated against shingles. Shingles is the reactivation of chickenpox that has remained dormant in the body. Shingles can cause a rash, which may be extremely painful.

All children and adults should be immunized against measles, mumps, and rubella. Measles can cause rash, fever, and cough. It can lead to a lung infection, which could be fatal. Mumps cause pain and swelling of the salivary glands. Rubella often presents as fever, rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Rubella can lead to birth defects if a woman is infected during pregnancy.

All women agesd 12 to 26 should receive the HPV vaccination. HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that is known to cause cervical cancer and genital warts. Men aged 12 to 21 should consider receiving this vaccination to protect themselves from genital warts and to decrease transmission of this cancer-causing virus to their sexual partners.

All infants should receive a primary immunization series against Hepatitis B. Some high-risk adults who have not been previously immunized may require vaccination. Hepatitis B is a virus that attacks the liver and can lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer.

All infants also receive immunizations against polio, Haemophilus influenza type B, rotavirus, and hepatitis A. Polio causes muscle injury leading to paralysis and death. Haemophilus influenza can lead to meningitis and respiratory illnesses. Rotavirus causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. Hepatitis A causes a flu-like illness and liver damage.

Meningitis immunization is given at age 11 or 12, with a booster at age 16. Meningitis is a bacterial illness that affects the lining of the brain and spine. This can be rapidly fatal if not quickly identified and treated.

All the vaccinations listed have significantly reduced the incidence of unnecessary illness and death from these diseases. The risk of harm from contracting these diseases far outweighs the risk of potential side effects from the immunization. Talk to your physician about what immunizations you may need.

Dr. Ashley Berkley practices family medicine and is affiliated with Washington Health System. If you or someone you know is in need of a physician, visit our website at whs.org and click on the physician finder.