twinrix adult vaccine :: Article CreatorWhat You Should Know About The 2024 Adult Vaccine Schedule
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Key Takeaways
Notable changes to the 2024 adult immunization schedule include updated recommendations for the RSV, mpox, meningococcal, and COVID-19 vaccines.
The 2024 adult immunization schedule includes a few updated recommendations for the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), mpox, COVID-19, and meningitis, among others.
When you go to your healthcare provider next year, you might get some new vaccine recommendations based on the updates.
"This is really the best and most up-to-date evidence-based information for vaccinations and public health and disease prevention, so I do follow it," Shengyi Mao, MD, a clinical associate professor of internal medicine at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, told Verywell.
Here are some of the most important changes to the adult vaccine schedule in 2024.
The New Schedule Includes Mpox and Meningococcal Vaccines
The mpox vaccine (Jynneos) was added to the immunization schedule for adults 18 and older with certain sexual risk factors. Two shots are administered 28 days apart. This vaccine protects against mpox (previously called monkeypox), a rare viral infection that can cause severe illness or death in people with weakened immune systems.
Adding the two-dose mpox vaccine to the routine recommendation was one of the biggest changes to the 2024 adult vaccination schedule, according to Laura P. Hurley, MD, MPH, a primary care physician and health services researcher at Denver Health.
The new schedule also reflects the updated guidance on Pfizer's new pentavalent meningococcal vaccine. This vaccine, called Penbraya, is the first one to target five bacterial strains that can cause meningitis and blood poisoning.
Previously, people would have to receive two different vaccines—MenACWY and MenB. Penbraya is now an option for people who would otherwise be eligible to receive MenACWY and MenB during the same visit.
RSV Shot Is Recommended for People Who Are Pregnant or 60 and Older
Updates to the RSV vaccine were also notable, Hurley said. RSV is a common respiratory infection that can be deadly for infants and people older than 60.
The vaccine schedule now also includes routine seasonal RSV vaccination (September-January) for people who are between 32 and 36 weeks pregnant.
"Either a maternal RSV vaccination or an infant immunization is recommended to prevent RSV lower respiratory tract infections in infants," Hurley told Verywell in an email.
People who are older than 60 can discuss with their healthcare providers whether the one-dose RSV shot (Abrysvo or Arexvy) is necessary for them, according to Mao.
"We would decide whether or not the patient should receive the vaccine after discussion of the risks and benefits," Mao said.
Related: 2 New Shots Will Protect Infants from RSV this Fall
Bivalent COVID-19 Shots Are Out. Update COVID Vaccines Are In.
The bivalent mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccine was removed from the 2024 schedule. It's now replaced by the updated COVID-19 vaccine formula that targets Omicron XBB.15.
Similar to the flu, there have been shifts in the version of the COVID-19 virus that is circulating, Mao said.
"The older version of the vaccine doesn't protect people against the current strains, so that one has been updated to be more up-to-date with what is seen in the community," Mao said.
People who have already received a previous version of the COVID-19 vaccine can receive one dose of the updated version eight weeks after their last shot.
What This Means For You
The 2024 adult vaccination schedule now includes new vaccines that protect against RSV, mpox, and meningitis. At your next routine checkup, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you should get some of the vaccines that are recommended.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
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Yes, Adults Need Vaccines Too
Many adults erroneously believe that immunizations are only for kids. However, that is simply not true. There are several vaccines that are recommended in adulthood, some which require more than one.
Many vaccines start in infancy and occur at regular intervals for the first 5 years of life. After childhood, several other immunizations are also recommended. With that being said, vaccine maintenance should be a major component of the yearly physical.
Why
The COVID-19 pandemic should have been an excellent lesson in what can happen when there is widespread infection in our community. It is a known fact that vaccines help prevent disease. Vaccines should be a normal part of any annual wellness exam.
Fall is a great time to review recommended adult vaccines since most providers are discussing the importance of the yearly "flu shot" anyway. Vaccines help to prevent certain illnesses. They work by introducing your body to an "antigen," which pretends to be an illness. Your body's immune system reacts, and this response will help your body fight certain disease-causing pathogens in the future. So, what are the recommended vaccines for adults?
COVID-19: The COVID-19 virus is constantly changing. If you have been up to date with recommendations thus far, you should be on your 5th COVID-19 vaccine. Per the CDC, vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19 related hospitalizations and deaths.
HPV: HPV is the human papillomavirus which causes cervical, throat, and anal cancer. The HPV vaccine is recommended as a 2-dose series from ages 9-14 and a 3-dose series from ages 15-45 if you were previously unvaccinated. Unfortunately, only 24.7% of Black people are vaccinated against HPV.
Influenza: The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends annual influenza vaccines for everyone 6 months and older. It is estimated that from 2019-2020, there were approximately 25,000 deaths and 390,000 hospitalizations related to influenza illnesses.
Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox): Mpox is caused by a virus that is like the virus that causes smallpox. The CDC recommends vaccination against Mpox for certain populations only. For more information, go to CDC.Gov.
Pneumococcal: Pneumococcal infections are caused by streptococcus bacteria and can range from ear and sinus infections to serious infections in the blood. The two distinct types of vaccines available protect against many of the pneumococcal bacteria. Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for all children younger than 5 years old, people 5 through 64 years old who are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease, and adults 65 years and older.
RSV: Recently the FDA approved the first of two vaccines for preventing RSV lower respiratory tract disease for adults at least 60 years old. This vaccine is recommended for individuals who are at increased risk. The decision to vaccinate should be discussed with your provider.
Shingrix (Shingles): Adults at least 50 years old should receive 2 doses of Shingrix, separated 2-6 months apart. Adults 19 years old or older with a weakened immune system should also receive 2 doses of Shingrix. Post-herpetic pain (PHN) is a complication of shingles, and the shingles vaccine is the only preventable treatment. Shingrix is more than 90% effective in preventing shingles and PHN.
Tdap: The Tdap vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). Adults should receive the vaccine every 10 years. The vaccine is also important if adults will be around babies.
The COVID-19 pandemic should have been an excellent lesson in what can happen when there is widespread infection in our community. It is a known fact that vaccines help prevent disease. Vaccines should be a normal part of any annual wellness exam. We ALL have a responsibility to maintain the health and wellness of our community. Please do your part and make sure you are up to date on your immunizations!
Denise Hooks-Anderson, MD, FAAFP can be reached at yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.Com.
Only ~14% Of U.S. Adults Have Gotten Latest Covid-19 Vaccine Update
Only 5.4% for children, 14.8% of all adults 18 years and older, and 31.7% of adults 65 years and ... [+] older have gotten the latest set of Covid-19 vaccines, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) numbers as of November 17. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Remember Covid-19? You know that thing that has led to over 1.15 million American dying since early 2020? And that thing that may have left well over 8 million Americans to continue suffering with long Covid? Well, fewer and fewer people in the U.S. These days seem to be viewing the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as a real threat based on the low uptake of the latest updated Covid-19 vaccine and the results from a recently conducted KFF survey.
As you probably know from seeing all those noses out there, many people have completely dropped the use of face masks as if the masks were soiled underwear. Fewer and fewer businesses seem to be maintaining any type of Covid-19 precautions such as running air purifiers or even keeping hand sanitizer dispensers filled. And just 5.4% for children, 14.8% of all adults 18 years and older, and 31.7% of adults 65 years and older have gotten the latest set of Covid-19 vaccines, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) numbers as of November 17.
Why have these updated vaccine numbers been so low? Well, the KFF survey revealed that over half of those adults who had gotten vaccinated against Covid-19 previously but did not get the latest "updated" Covid-19 vaccine pointed to, guess what, not being worried about Covid-19 as being the main reason for not getting the latest shot that became available over past couple months.
No matter how any may try to spin it, the roll-out of the updated vaccine this Fall has been far from a rousing success. The updated vaccine targets the XBB.1.5, Omicron subvariant of the SARS-CoV-2, which sounds like a mouthful and is the subvariant that was the dominant circulating one through early 2023. Thus, this updated vaccine should offer significantly better protection against the alphabet soup of subvariants that have been circulating of recent such as the EG.5 and the BA.2.86. Plus, the protection offered by Covid-19 vaccine begins to wane four to six months after vaccination. Thus, you can view getting the updated vaccine a bit like updating the software in your smartphone. If you last got vaccinated sometime in early 2023 or earlier, it's not clear how well protected against Covid-19 you currently may be.
Nevertheless, interest in getting vaccinated against Covid-19 has certainly dropped like a rock in a hot tub since 2020 and 2021. The percentages of American who have gotten the updated vaccine are way lower than the 69.5% of all Americans and 79.1% of American adults who've been "fully vaccinated," meaning that they received their primary series of the Covid-19 vaccines. Heck the updated vaccine rates are even lower than current influenza vaccination rates with 35.1% of children, 36.3% of all adults, and 59.5% of adults age 65 and older already having gotten their flu shots this season. So, the low uptake of the updated Covid-19 vaccine may be due specifically to a Covid-19 perception thing rather a general vaccine perception thing.
Actor Jennifer Lawrence is seen wearing a face mask on July 1, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by ... [+] Gotham/GC Images)
GC Images
Indeed, this latest KFF Covid-19 survey, which queried a nationally representative sample of 1,301 U.S. Adults via telephone or the Internet from October 31 through November 7, 2023, has given a Covid-in-the-air-but-I-don't-care picture of how many Americans may be thinking. Even though the past three Holiday seasons have experienced Covid-19 surges, only 31% of the survey respondents were worried about spreading Covid-19 to others and only 28% were worried about getting seriously sick from Covid-19. About half of respondents indicated that were not going to take any of the Covid-19 precautions indicated in the survey questions. Only 35% planned on avoiding large gatherings, only 30% planned on wearing face masks in crowded locations, and only 18% planned on taking a Covid-19 tests prior to visiting with friends or family. Think about that when you share some fruitcake with extended family and friends at your next Holiday gathering.
Are all of these low numbers really that surprising given that so many politicians and business leaders have been seemingly trying to sweep SARS-CoV-2 under the rug since 2021? People have politicized the heck out of Covid-19 and Covid-19 precautions, which may have made politicians a bit wary about taking a harder Covid-19 prevention stand. There's been no real clear messaging from the White House and federal government about what specific Covid-19 precautions should be taken this Fall and coming Winter. That lack of clarity can leave a lot of people guessing and relying more on whatever bleep may be spreading on social media, which can be like relying on what's written on bathroom stalls to make career, romantic, and life decisions. Moreover, without a more comprehensive national surveillance system, it's become increasingly difficult to track SARS-CoV-2 activity and know where and when people may be at greater risk for catching the virus. Thus, the U.S. Seems to be flying a bit blind about what to do about Covid-19 going forward.
As the hashtag #Covidisnotover has continued to emphasize on social media, Covid is not over. Sure, it's not the same threat that it was in 2020. But getting Covid-19 now is still no joke. Even if you've been vaccinated, you can still get long Covid and more severe Covid-19, albeit it's a less and less likely possibility the more updated you are on vaccination. All indications are that the SARS-CoV-2 will continue to circulate. Viruses don't respond to that life coaching mumbo jumbo that says "if you believe it, it will happen" or "mind over matter" or "fake it until you make it." This doesn't mean that you should live in fear of the virus and not do what you want to do in life. It does mean that there needs to be more of a clear national plan on how to deal with the SARS-CoV-2 now and into the future.
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