Seniors: Take Your Best Shot

Getting screened for various diseases at the appropriate time is important to your health. But it's just as important to stay up on immunizations which can prevent a number of serious illnesses. Unfortunately, older adults are often inadequately immunized despite recommendations from public health authorities. The most important immunizations for older adults are those which guard against influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia and tetanus.

Influenza Vaccine
This vaccine is advised once a year, in the fall, for people over the age of 65.

Pneumonia Vaccine
Protection provided by the pneumonia vaccine lasts nine years or more. The American College of Physicians suggests that for anyone over 65 who has never received it, a single immunization should suffice. (Anyone who was given the vaccine before age 65 should be reimmunized upon turning 65, if more than six years have passed since the initial shot.)

Tetanus Vaccine
The standard recommendation for tetanus is to get a combined tetanus-diphtheria vaccine every 10 years. But it's most important for people over age 60 since, although it's a highly uncommon disease , it most often strikes those in that age group.