Which Vaccine Should Be Given to Adults and When?

Immunization with vaccines is considered one of the most effective methods to protect against certain infectious diseases with a certain and serious course. Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Infectious Diseases Specialist, who says that protection from infectious diseases has become much more important in today's conditions where antibiotic resistance is increasing, draws attention to the importance of vaccination in adults as well as children.

The importance of immunization in protecting against diseases that can threaten human life and cause serious consequences is increasing day by day. Yeditepe University Kozyatağı Hospital Infectious Diseases Specialist, therefore, underlines that immunization must start at birth and continue throughout life. At this point, the importance of vaccination, which is defined as active immunization, is revealed in adults as well as in children.

Long-term Protection Through Vaccination

Active immunization, which means that the body's immune system is activated during vaccination, says:  "Vaccination with the vaccine requires a certain time (weeks or months) for the formation of antibodies/antitoxins. In other words, no protective effect (antibody/antitoxin) occurs immediately after the vaccination or after the first dose of the vaccine. In some cases, it may be necessary to administer more than one dose of the same vaccine at certain intervals for these to occur. Sometimes it may be necessary to repeat it at certain intervals in order to ensure the continuity of the effect of the vaccine applied against a certain disease. Some vaccines (live) create lifelong immunity after one or two doses of administration. Active immunization is often applied before exposure to microorganisms, that is, before transmission, in order to create antibodies/antitoxins against infectious diseases that are common in the society and have high infectiousness, with severe consequences."

Protective Effect Varies by Person

 Reminding that no vaccine has a 100 percent protective effect today, our specialist said, "One of the factors that play a role in determining whether protective efficacy occurs after vaccination is the situation of the person who received the vaccine. The response of the body to the vaccine is weak in elderly people, overweight people, those with underlying chronic disease, diabetes, cancer patients, organ transplants, and those with all kinds of diseases that suppress the immune system or those receiving such drugs. Therefore, vaccination protection is lower in such people. On the other hand, it should not be forgotten that people who need to be protected against infectious diseases with vaccines come to the forefront of this group."

The Vaccine is Also Effective in Eliminating Certain Diseases

When immunization is carried out with the vaccine, not only is that person protected against the infectious disease but indirectly, the disease is prevented from being transmitted to other people. Therefore, the higher the number of people vaccinated against the disease in question in society, the lower the likelihood of developing that disease. It is also possible to completely eliminate some diseases. For example, thanks to successful vaccination programs, smallpox, measles, and polio have been completely eliminated or reduced to almost non-existent levels.

Anti-Vaccination Causes Re-Enhancement in the Prevalence of Some Infectious Diseases Around the World

Our specialist stated that some reports that "thiomersal", which has recently been included in vaccines to prevent bacterial and fungal growth and contains mercury, causes various harmful effects, especially autism, and that it increases vaccine opposition all over the world, and stated their views on the subject as follows:

"This led to a significant reduction in vaccination rates, and therefore the incidence of vaccine-preventable infectious diseases began to increase. Mercury (thiomersal), which is usually found in multiple vaccines, is ethyl mercury. This form does not accumulate in the body and is eliminated from the body within 30 days. On the other hand, mercury taken from various foods, especially shellfish, is methylmercury and accumulates in the body. The relationship between vaccination and autism is still a matter of debate today. Although no direct relationship was found between the administration of mercury-containing vaccines and autism, ethyl mercury was removed from the vaccines administered in the UK, America, and Europe, especially in the childhood age group. Considering these examples, it is thought that the administration of non-mercury vaccines, especially in the childhood age group, is important both in terms of reliability and in terms of eliminating the debates about autism."

Vaccination Should Not Be Forgotten Before Traveling Abroad

Although not routinely administered, typhoid vaccine, cholera vaccine, yellow fever vaccine, tick-borne encephalitis vaccine, and leptospirosis vaccines should be given according to the countries to be traveled to during travel.

At What Age Should Adults Be Vaccinated?

• Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis: The vaccine, which is started after birth, is regularly continued in childhood and adults, and re-vaccination is continued with doses every 10 years for life. It can also be used safely in people whose immune system is suppressed.
• Measles-Rubella-Mumps-Chickenpox: if these diseases have not been previously treated or vaccinated against them, one or two doses of vaccine are given in the adult age group. Since these vaccines are live virus vaccines, they cannot be administered during pregnancy and for those with suppressed immune systems.
• A shingles vaccine is given in two doses after the age of 50. Since it is a live virus vaccine, it is not given to pregnant or immunocompromised people.
• Pneumococcal vaccine: Everyone after the age of 65, or people with chronic disease or immunosuppressive disease, regardless of age, is given conjugate and polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccines at any age.
• Influenza vaccine: It should be administered annually at any age to anyone aged 65 years and above, or to persons with chronic disease or immunosuppressive disease.
• Hepatitis B vaccine: If it has not been previously protected by hepatitis b or vaccination against it, it is immunized with 3 doses of vaccine in the adult age group.
• Hepatitis A vaccine: If hepatitis A has not been previously passed or vaccinated against it, immunity is provided with 2 doses of the vaccine in the adult age group.
• Human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV): It is immunized with 3 doses of the vaccine from the age of 9 to 26 in women and 21 in men.
• Meningococcal vaccine: 2 doses of the vaccine are provided to people who have been removed from their spleen and have an advanced immune system, and to people who will travel to countries where the disease is intense.
• Haemophilus influenza B vaccine: It is immunized by administering 3 doses to people who have had their spleen removed or undergone a hematopoietic stem cell transplant.