National Immunization Awareness Month is celebrated annually in August to focus the attention of the public on the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. Immunizations have significantly reduced the incidence of many serious infectious diseases; however, vaccination rates for some diseases are not meeting national public health goals. One of the goals of the Health Department is to educate the public about the importance of being vaccinated in order to be protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.

During the month of August the Health Department wants to highlight the need for vaccines across all age groups. Each week we will be focusing on a different age group and the vaccines required or recommended for that group.

During the week of August 1-7 the Health Department wants to focus on the vaccine needs of adults. Every year, thousands of adults in the United States suffer serious health problems, are hospitalized or die from diseases that could have been prevented by vaccination.

All adults should get vaccines to protect their health. Even healthy adults can become seriously ill and can pass certain illnesses to others. Immunization is especially important for older adults and for adults with chronic conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes or heart disease. Immunization is also important for anyone who is in close contact with the very young, the aged population, people with weakened immune systems and those who cannot be vaccinated.

All adults should get the influenza vaccine each year to protect against seasonal flu. Each adult should also get the Tdap vaccine once to protect against pertussis (whooping cough), and then a Td (tetanus, diphtheria) booster shot every 10 years. In addition, women are also recommended to get the Tdap vaccine each time they are pregnant, preferably at 27-36 weeks of pregnancy.

Adults may need other vaccines-such as shingles, pneumococcal, hepatitis and HPV (human papillomavirus)-depending on one’s age, occupation, travel, health status, vaccination history and other risk factors.

For questions about adult vaccinations please call the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department at 325-646-0554, or visit the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.