Even Healthy Young Adults Need Vaccines

Healthy Communities

By Chrystal Johnson

(Wampsville, NY – Feb. 2014) Think kids outgrow the need for vaccines? Not so. Every year, thousands of young adults in the United States suffer serious health problems, are hospitalized or even die from diseases that could have been prevented by vaccinations.

As kids get older, they are more at risk for catching diseases like meningococcal meningitis, so they need the protection that vaccines can provide. To highlight the importance of immunizations throughout life, the Madison County Health Department reminds parents and young adults to make sure they are protected against diseases like flu, whooping cough and HPV (human papilloma virus).

“Immunizations are not just for children,” said Cheryl Geiler, director of Community Health Services. “Even healthy young adults need protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. The truth is you never outgrow the need for immunizations.”

The specific vaccines needed are determined by factors such as age, lifestyle, risk conditions, locations of travel and previous vaccines. All parents and young adults should talk to their health care providers about what vaccines are right for them.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a serious and very contagious respiratory disease that can cause long, violent coughing fits and the characteristic “whooping” sound that follows when a person gasps for air. Whooping cough has been on the rise in preteens and teens. Without booster vaccine, preteens are at risk for lengthy, disruptive illness.

HPV vaccines offer disease protection preteens can grow into, both for girls and boys. One plan that’s easy to make provides a tremendous benefit, even saves a life. Plan to have all preteens vaccinated against HPV, which is the leading cause of cervical cancer in women. Young women and men who have not started or finished the HPV vaccine series may be vaccinated through age 26.

Meningococcal disease, sometimes called bacterial meningitis, is a potentially fatal bacterial infection that may cause death or disability within hours; however, it can be prevented through vaccination. Meningitis is contagious; it can spread from person to person. The germs that cause it can be passed from one person to another through coughing, sneezing and close contact.

College freshmen, even if they are not living in the dormitories but are associating with on-campus students, and teenagers 15-19 have a higher risk for getting meningitis. Meningitis can become very serious very quickly. The vaccine is the best way to protect teens from getting meningitis.

An annual flu vaccination is the best way to prevent the flu and the flu-related complications that could lead to hospitalization and even death. The flu is unpredictable and can affect us when we least expect it. If you or your friends get the flu, the results could be missed classes, missed work or far worse.

Even if you are generally a healthy person, you can still get sick from the flu. Everyone older than 6 months of age is recommended to receive a yearly flu vaccination, and older children are no exception. It’s important to know that flu can be serious, even for healthy young people. So all young adults should get at least one flu shot every year.

To find out which vaccines might be right for you and where you can get vaccinated, visit cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/index.html or healthymadisoncounty.org, or call the Madison County Health Department at 315.366.2848.

Chrystal Johnson, MS, is a public health educator II, a certified health education specialist and certified child safety seat technician with Madison County Health Department.