Here's to Your Health

Adult Immunization Information

Posted by North Shore Health Department on March 4, 2010 | 0 comments

Immunizations, Prevention

The North Shore Health Department has received special grant funding for 2010 that provides certain vaccines at a reduced cost for adults aged 19 or older.  For $15.00 each, the following vaccines are available:  Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis), HPV (human papillomavirus), MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), Varicella (chicken pox), Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B.  These vaccines are available by appointment (call 414-371-2980) or at all three monthly immunization clinics listed on the Health Department website www.browndeerwi.org/brown-deer-services.cfm.

Tdap:

Recent information suggests that only 2.1% of adults have had the Tdap vaccine which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough).  It is recommended that every adult get one Tdap booster especially if they have contact with infants. 

It is very important that all parents, grandparents, and caregivers of newborns be vaccinated with Tdap to protect both themselves and the infant who is too young to be immunized.  Check out this site www.immunizationed.org/AnyPage.aspx  to hear what whooping cough sounds like and decide if you would like your child or grandchild to have the experience.  Protect your loved one now -- it's so easy!

Tdap is a one dose booster vaccine and can be given if your lasts tetanus shot was at least 2 years ago.  Boosters of plain tetanus vaccine are recommended every 10 years for life or after 5 years if you have had an injury.  Now is a good time to get protected before you start yard cleanup after the winter. 

HPV

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has just been approved for boys and young men ages 9-26 and it is available at the North Shore Health Department.  In addition, young women between the ages of 18-26 can now get HPV vaccine through the Health Department.  The vaccine continues to be available to girls aged 9-18 as it was before.

HPV is a sexually transmsitted infection and the vaccine can prevent most cases of cervical cancer and genital warts.  Unfortunately, only 10% of adult women have been immunized against HPV but it is estimated that 50% of sexually active adults will be infected at some point in their lives.

The HPV vaccine is given in a 3 dose series at a cost of $15.00 for each dose.  Visit the CDC at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-hpv.pdf to learn more about HPV.

Others

Immunizations for measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, Hepatitis A and B are also available for $15.00.  The pneumonia vaccine is available for $50.00.  It is recommended that all adults aged 65 and older get the pneumococcal vaccine.  In addition, anyone aged 2-64 who has a long-term health problem (heart or lung disease, diabetes, etc.) or has a reduced immune response should also get the pneumococcal vaccine.  Any adult aged 19-64 who smokes or has asthma should also be protected.

Learn all you can about vaccine preventable diseases.  So much illness could be avoided if everyone kept their immunizations current.  Please call the North Shore Health Department at 414-371-2980 if you have questions.