Shots for Seniors: Hepatitis B
- Had sex with more than one partner or with someone infected with hepatitis B
- Had any other sexually transmitted disease (STD) within the last six months
- Injected street drugs
- A job that involves contact with human blood or blood products.
You should also get the
hepatitis B vaccine if you are a man and have had sex with another man or if you travel to areas where hepatitis B is common.
Shots for Seniors: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella
Measles,
mumps, and
rubella were once common diseases in the United States, but they have become rare because of the use of vaccines to prevent them. As with many other diseases, measles, mumps, and rubella generally are more severe in adults than in children. Most adults are immune to all three infections because they had them (or a vaccine) as children.
Everyone born in or after 1957 should have received at least one dose of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine sometime after their first birthday. Some adults, such as healthcare workers and people who travel outside of the United States, may need a second dose. People born before 1957 may be vaccinated if they believe they've never had one of these diseases. There's no harm in receiving the vaccine if you already are immune to the infection.
It's helpful to keep a personal immunization record with the types and dates of shots you've received, as well as any side effects or problems that you had. The medical record in your healthcare provider's office also should be kept up to date.
Widespread use of vaccines can reduce the risk of developing a number of contagious diseases that seriously affect older people. You can protect yourself against these illnesses by including vaccinations as part of your regular healthcare.
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