Vaccinations Archive

The pros and cons of the high-dose vaccine, and tips to protect yourself from infection this season.

Experts recommend that everyone 60 and older get the vaccine for shingles, a painful rash caused by reactivation of the chickenpox virus. The vaccine is safe, but can be costly if not covered by insurance.

If you haven't yet gotten your flu shot this winter, consider this: a study published in the October 23/30, 2013, issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association found that getting an influenza vaccination was associated with a lower risk for developing major heart problems. How much lower? About a third, and that effect lasted for up to a year, warding off conditions such as heart failure, heart attack, stroke, and even death. The biggest protective benefit was for people who had recently experienced heart problems such as a heart attack or unstable angina—a 55% reduction in major cardiac events compared with other patients. Researchers believe a flu shot may stop the virus from causing trouble in your arteries. "The virus might actually stir up inflammation and affect the cholesterol plaques in the artery, which then break open and lead to a heart attack," says study author and cardiologist Dr. Christopher Cannon, a Harvard Medical School professor. The study didn't absolutely prove that flu shots protect against heart attacks, and the research team hopes to do a larger prospective trial.

Peak flu season is looming, so get your vaccination soon.

Not everyone will be protected by the flu shot, but it's still a good idea for men at risk of complications from influenza.

Soon it will be the season of the common cold, bringing stuffy heads, runny noses, fuzzy thinking, and fatigue. The flu, in contrast, is a more serious health issue for men, especially those with heart or lung disease or a condition
that weakens the body's immune defenses. For these individuals, a bad bout with influenza can end in hospitalization or worse.

A flu shot may not be enough; you may be ready for other vaccinations.

With autumn approaching, it's time to review your vaccinations and see if you need any updates. Here are the shots to consider:

Don't let misinformation prevent you from getting the protection you need.

Vaccinations are a ritual of childhood, but they aren't just for kids. Even older adults need to arm themselves against preventable diseases, particularly ones like influenza and pneumonia. However, many adults aren't following the government's recommended vaccination schedule. A CDC report released in January found that vaccination rates are dangerously low among adults ages 65 and over. Only 62% of seniors received the pneumococcal vaccination, just over 50% got their tetanus vaccine, and a mere 15% were vaccinated against shingles.

The Zostavax vaccine is safe for use by healthy adults to prevent shingles, a painful condition caused by previous infection with the chicken pox virus. It also helps prevents persistent shingles pain, known as post-herpetic neuralgia.

Pertussis rates are rising in all age groups. An Australian study found that older adults with pertussis are more likely to need hospitalization, which underscores the need for older adults to get vaccinated.

Q. I heard there is a new pneumonia shot. Is it better than the old one?

A. The older pneumonia shot is the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. It's recommended for all men over age 65 and anyone with certain medical conditions, such as lung disease, diabetes, heart disease, and problems with the immune system. The vaccine protects against 23 kinds of pneumococcus, which is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia. Vaccination might not prevent you from ever getting pneumonia, but it could keep you out of the hospital and prevent the infection from spreading to your brain or bloodstream.