Adult Immunisation - Vaccines That Are Of Great Help!

Vaccines are not just for kids; the human body can be vulnerable to viruses during any time period of life. It is important for an adult to get vaccinated regularly, else there are always chances that some virus or infection may attack you in a severe way.

Let's look at some of the vaccines adults should get for a healthy and ensured life:

Human Papilloma Vaccine: Human Papillomavirus is one such deadly virus that is responsible for Cervical Cancer in women and Skin or Genital Warts in both men and women. There are over 100 types of Human Papillomavirus that can spread between people through skin contact. Around 40 of them pass on through sexual contact. HPV vaccine is available in any reputed hospital.

There are two kinds of HPV vaccines -

• Gardasil: This vaccine protects the human body from HVP type 16, 18, 6 and 11. It prevents you from having genital warts and further spreading of the disease through sexual contact.
• Gardasil 9: This vaccine protects the body from HPV 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58. Gardasil 9 is responsible for the protection of these kinds of HPV viruses that cause Cervical Cancer in women.

When should we get it?

You can get HPV vaccine anytime; one single shot lasts about two years.

Pneumococcal Vaccine -

This vaccine protects the human body from diseases like Pneumonia and Meningitis.

Who should get this vaccine?

• Adults who smoke regularly are vulnerable to Pneumonia and should get this vaccine.
• Elderly people over the age of 60 are also vulnerable to pneumonia and should get this vaccine shot as soon as possible.

How many vaccine shots should I get?

PCV 13 and PPSV23 is prescribed to the elderly over the age of 60. PCV13 is to be taken at first and PPSV23 to be taken one year after the first shot.

Hepatitis Vaccine -

Strains of Hepatitis Viruses like A, B and C attack the Liver and can cause Liver failure in adults. There are vaccines to prevent the human body from Type A and Type B. However, there’s no vaccine for hepatitis C yet.

Who can get it?

• Hepatitis B vaccine can be administered to people of all age groups, be it children or adults.
• Hepatitis A vaccine is mostly prescribed to people working in the healthcare sector or going abroad to a tropical country.

When to get it?

Hepatitis vaccine can be taken during any time of the year.

Vaccine options for Flu:

• Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (IIV)
• Recombinant Influenza Vaccine (RIV)
• Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (LAIV)

Vaccine options for Typhoid:

• Inactivated (killed) vaccine
• Live, Attenuated (Weakened) Vaccine

Vaccine options for Pneumococcal:

• Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13 or Prevnar 13)
• Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine (PPSV23 or Pneumovax23)

Vaccine option for Hepatitis A:

• Inactivated (Killed) Vaccine

Vaccine for Hepatitis B:

• It is made from the parts of Hepatitis B virus but it cannot cause Hepatitis B infection.

Human body is vulnerable throughout its life. Deadly viruses can attack our body anytime, and we must stay prepared and ahead of them. The vaccines mentioned above would help in avoiding some of the common but dangerous diseases.