What Vaccinations Are You Missing?
Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) is another typical childhood immunization but only adults born after 1957 need to obtain further vaccination. Measles is a highly infectious disease spread by coughing and sneezing and can causes severe life threatening complications. Mumps causes swelling of the salivary glands along with headache, fever, muscle aches and loss of appetite. Rubella is a viral disease that is spread by coughing and sneezing and is harmful to the unborn fetus of a pregnant woman.
MMR immunizations in adulthood are required for students attending postsecondary school, people or health workers who are exposed to a mumps outbreak, women of childbearing age and those who plan to travel overseas.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the newer immunizations recommended for females under the age of 26. HPV virus has found to be present in over 70% of women diagnosed with cervical cancer, the second leading cause of death in women and is found in other genital cancers. A HPV immunization is currently in progress for young men to receive as well since the virus is transmitted via sexual intercourse.
Varicella or chicken pox vaccine is recommended for adults were born after 1980. Those in close contact with persons at high risk of developing chicken pox, health providers or oversea travelers should be immunized as well. Chicken pox is a highly contagious virus spread by coughing or sneezing. Those with a documented case of herpes zoster or whose lab work verifies immunity do not need the vaccine since they have unknowingly already been exposed to chickenpox.