Immunizations (cont.)
Edmond Hooker, MD, DrPH
Dr. Eddie Hooker is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Services Administration at Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is also an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Louisville and at Wright State University. His areas of expertise include emergency medicine, epidemiology, health-services management, and public health.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
In this Article
- What is the vaccination schedule for adolescents?
- What is the vaccination schedule for adults?
- If I am pregnant, what vaccines can and should I get?
- I am a healthcare worker, do I need any different vaccines?
- What is the Td/Tdap vaccine, and who should receive it?
- What is the HPV vaccine, and who should get it?
- What is the meningococcal vaccine, and who should receive it?
- What is the MMR vaccine, and who should receive it?
- What is the varicella vaccine, and who should receive it?
- What is the pneumococcal vaccine, and who should receive it?
- What is the influenza vaccine, and who should receive it?
- What is the hepatitis A vaccine, and who should receive it?
- What is the hepatitis B vaccine, and who should receive it?
- What is the polio vaccine, and who should receive it?
- What is the zoster vaccine, and who should receive it?
- What is the typhoid vaccine, and who should receive it?
- What is the yellow fever vaccine, and who should receive it?
- What is the rabies vaccine and who should receive it?
- What is the Japanese encephalitis vaccine, and who should receive it?
- Where can I find additional information on immunizations?
What is the polio vaccine, and who should receive it?
Polio is an acute viral illness that can cause severe paralysis and even death. Prior to the use of vaccine, tens of thousands of children developed paralytic polio (the worst form) in the U.S. every year. Since instituting an aggressive vaccine campaign, polio has been almost completely eradicated in the U.S. Most cases now in the U.S. are seen in people traveling from other countries or unvaccinated people from the U.S. traveling to other countries.
There are two forms of the polio vaccine: an oral form made from a live attenuated virus and an injection form made from an inactivated virus. The oral form of the vaccine (oral polio vaccine or OPV) is no longer used in the U.S. because it has been shown to cause polio in a small number of people. Only the shot form of the vaccine (intramuscular polio vaccine or IPV) is now used in the U.S. All children receive four doses of IPV. Adolescents who did not receive all four doses should be given an additional vaccine. Adults are not recommended to receive the polio vaccine unless they will be traveling to areas where polio still exists. For specific guidance and a list of higher-risk groups, please refer to Table 4 for adolescents.
What is the zoster vaccine, and who should receive it?
Herpes zoster is a reactivation of an old infection with the varicella virus (chickenpox). This rash can occur shortly after the infection with chickenpox or many years later. It causes a severely painful skin rash, and it can lead to chronic pain even after the rash is gone. In order to prevent the severe rash and the chronic pain, a vaccine (Zostavax) was developed and is recommended for all adults over 60 years of age (see Table 4).
http://www.medicinenet.com/immunizations/article.htm
Women's Health
Find out what women really need.
Updated & New
