Do you have a chronic health condition? Then you need these vaccines.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month,
a perfect time for seniors to review which vaccines they have received — and which they still need. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that all seniors receive the following four vaccines:

1. The seasonal flu vaccine (all ages, every year)

2. The pneumococcal vaccine (adults 65 and older,
every year)

3. The shingles vaccine (adults 60 and older, every
five years)

4. A Td booster shot (all ages, every ten years)

These vaccines are especially important for people
who have Asthma, Cardiovascular Disease,
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD),
Heart Disease, Lung Disease, or, for any reason,
a weakened immune system.

Moreover, if you are an older person and have one of the following chronic health conditions, you may need these other vaccines, as well. Be sure to discuss them with your doctor.

Asplenia

Those without a spleen, or with poor spleen function, need the following:

1. The Hib vaccine, to protect againstHaemophilus influenzae (once, if you have never received the vaccine)
2. The Meningococcal vaccine, to protect against meningitis and other diseases of the brain and spinal cord membranes (once, with possible boosters)
3. The MMR vaccine, to protect against measles, mumps and rubella (once, if born after 1956, have never received the vaccine, and do not have immunity)

Diabetes

Diabetics under 60 should receive the Hep B vaccine, since they are at higher risk of hepatitis B than the nondiabetic population (three doses).

Since the effectiveness of the Hep B vaccine decreases in older patients, diabetics over 60 should discuss the advisability of this vaccine with their healthcare provider.

Kidney Disease

Those with kidney failure or kidney disease should receive:

1. The Hep B vaccine, to prevent Hepatitis B (three doses). Although hepatitis is most commonly associated with the liver, it also affects the kidneys.

Liver Disease

Those with chronic liver disease should receive:

1. The Hep A vaccine (two doses) and Hep B vaccine (three doses), since hepatitis affects the liver.
2. The MMR vaccine, to protect against measles, mumps and rubella (once, if born after 1956, have never received the vaccine, and do not have immunity)

Despite these health conditions, there may be contraindications to these vaccines. Every senior citizen, and every person with a chronic health condition, should discuss vaccination with their healthcare provider. One conversation is not enough: new vaccines are always being developed, and new guidelines are always be published.