Immunizations are not just for kids!

"At any age, vaccination provides the longest lasting most effective protection against disease. But childhood immunization does not provide lifelong immunity against some diseases such as tetanus (lockjaw) and diphtheria. Adults require helper, or booster, shots to maintain immunity. As well, adults who were not adequately immunized as children may be at risk of infection from other vaccine-preventable diseases. They can also infect others. For example, adults who contract measles, mumps or pertussis (whooping cough) can infect infants who may not yet be fully immunized." - Immunize.ca

Here is a list of vaccines that many adults are recommended to receive. Please ask your healthcare provider what ones are indicated for you.

OHIP-funded vaccines:

Tetanus & Diptheria - Booster recommended once every 10 years for everyone
Pertussis (whooping cough) - 1 booster recommended after >18 years old. Also recommended for pregnant women and caregivers of newborn babies.
Influenza (flu shot) - Encouraged for everyone to receive once a year. Recommended annually if 65+ years old. Also recommended for patients with certain medical conditions including pregnancy, or if will be in regular contact with children/elderly.
Pneumococcus (bacteria causing pneumonia) - One dose recommended for all adults aged 65+, and for younger adults with certain health risks (ex. smoking, lung disease). Certain patients with high-risk medical conditions may receive more than one kind of pneumococcus vaccine, as well as a booster 5 years later.

Private-pay vaccines - these vaccines are not covered by OHIP, though many health benefit plans may cover the cost, as they are all recommended by Canadian public health organizations.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) - Recommended for men and women aged 26 and under, as well as sexually active men and women over age 26 with ongoing risk of exposure.
Herpes Zoster (shingles) - 1 dose recommended age 60 and older, may be given if 50-59
Hepatitis A - 2 doses recommended when travelling to certain countries, and in other high risk populations. A combination vaccine with hepatitis B (Twinrix) can be given instead, as 3 doses.

Catch-up vaccines - typically received in primary childhood vaccine series. Recommended immunization or boosters if full series not received in childhood, or if shown to be not immune by bloodwork

Varicella zoster (chicken pox) - 2 doses recommended for non-immune patients (no chicken pox or vaccine in childhood)
Hepatitis B - 3 doses recommended if never vaccinated, or 1 booster if had vaccine but found to be nonimmune by bloodwork
Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) - 1 dose recommended if born in 1970 or later and nonimmune
Meningococcus (meningitis) - 1 dose recommended in adults younger than 25 yrs and not vaccinated in childhood

Visit the Immunize Canada website for further information and resources: http://www.immunize.ca/en/specific-groups/adults.aspx