Vaccines for adults Medical Course

For Educational Use Only - Fair Use - Adults you don t outgrow the need for vaccines. Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall chief medical officer of Pfizer explains that 45000 Americans die each year from vaccine-preventable diseases.

>> We all know how important
it is to vaccinate your kids,

but vaccines are important
for us adults as well.

We don't outgrow the need.

So Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall, the Chief Medical
Officer of Pfizer, is back to help explain why.

Welcome back.

>> Thank you.

Always great to be back and
this is such an important issue.

The numbers are startling.

45,000 people each year die from
a vaccine-preventable illness.

And we just want to know why
adults won't get vaccinated.

>> Let's take a look at why or at least
what some people said was the reason they

didn't vaccinate.

>> Vaccinations.

I don't think I've gotten many recently
but I'm pretty sure I got them as a kid.

>> I got my daughter vaccinated, but it's
been years since I got my vaccinations.

And now that I'm a mom, I just
don't have time for myself anymore.

>> To be honest, I haven't gotten any
vaccination because I just hate shots.

>> Let me address the first person because
that is not an uncommon way to think.

Childhood, immunizations, done but you should
really check with your doctor to see whether

or not you need a booster or
whether or not some vaccines

that you had in the past have been updated.

There's no guarantee that when you
were protected when you were young

and were vaccinated years ago that
you're still protected as an adult.

Plus, there are many vaccines that weren't
available many years ago that are available now.

>> That's very true.

And that mom we just saw,
parents need to know this.

By not getting vaccinated, you may
be putting not only yourself but,

get this, your kids are then at risk.

For example, let's take pertussis also
known popularly as whooping cough.

It's a disease.

It can be very dangerous,
even deadly for little ones.

So anyone around infants or young children,
you need to talk to your doc about making sure

that you're immunized against pertussis.

You might need a booster.

Well, the CDC also recommends
that everyone older

than six months should get
vaccinated with an annual flu shot.

But get this, only a little over 1/3 of all
people 18 and older got a flu shot last year.

If you're sick, guess what?

You can't take care of your kids, can you?

No, you're bedridden.

So parents, you have to make
time for your health as well.

>> And let me address the last person that
spoke because people who are afraid of shots

or who are uncomfortable getting
shots, they are not alone.

Only about 15% of people over 60 actually
got a vaccination against shingles,

that painful rash that occurs that's caused
by the same virus that causes chickenpox.

So about a half million people are
affected by shingles each year.

Twenty to 30% of them may develop pain
that lasts for months or even a lifetime,

and there's a vaccination that may
prevent some of that suffering.

>> So if you're over 65, you
also want to talk to your doctor

about the pneumococcal vaccination.

That protects against several
types of pneumonia.

>> Unfortunately, adult vaccination
rates are alarmingly low.

It's an important public health problem
but many adults, as you've seen,

are potentially unprotected or not adequately
protected which actually brings me to ask you,

have you had your -- that's right.

Have you had your annual flu shot?

>> I actually did it on the show.

I don't know if --

>> Okay.

>> You all saw but I got the vaccine.

>> Come on.

Man up.

>> Thank you very much.

>> And since you were such a good patient --

>> And I even got a lollipop.

>> You got a lollipop.

>> What about you?

>> Okay. Yes.

Yes. And I've got proof too.

Check it out.

[ Music ]

>> Oh, we even got a thumbs-up.

Adult vaccines that you need, it depends on
everything from your age, your lifestyle,

if you have a high risk medical
condition, maybe your travel plans

or which shots you've had in the past.

>> So for a list of recommended adult
vaccinations, visit HealthierWorld.com.

>> And be sure to talk with your doc about
what vaccines or boosters you may need

and develop -- this is important.

Develop a system to keep track of you
and your family's vaccine history.

Of course, you can also log onto
TheDoctorsTV.com for more information.

Thank you so very much.

>> Always.

Always a pleasure.