With the start of a new school year it’s easy to remember to update a child’s immunizations but Parkland Health & Hospital System staff reminds adults about the importance of keeping their own immunizations current.
“We can put our communities at risk,” said Jill Strachan-Batson, MD, staff physician, Parkland Youth & Family Centers. “In this country, we tend to take our health for granted and assume we are protected against illness. But there are places where some of these diseases are still quite prevalent.”
Adults don’t need as many shots as children, but there are still preventive measures that can be taken to protect yourself, your family and your community. Women who are pregnant need to be extra vigilant.
The following adult immunization schedule is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
| Age Group (Years) | |||||
| Vaccine | 19-26 | 27-49 | 50-59 | 60-64 | >65 |
| Influenza | One dose annually | ||||
| Tetanus, diptheria, pertussis | Substitute one-time dose of Tdap for Td booster; then boost with Td every 10 years | TD booster every 10 years | |||
| Varicella | Two doses | ||||
| Human Papillomavirus (HPV) | Three doses
(females) |
||||
| Zoster | One dose | ||||
| Measles, mumps, rubella | One or two doses | One dose | |||
| Pneumococcal | 1 or 2 doses | 1 dose | |||
| Meningococcal | One or more doses | ||||
| Hepatitis A | Two doses | ||||
| Hepatitis B | Three doses | ||||
Parkland’s Community Oriented Primary Care health centers provide adult immunizations. For more information about adult immunizations or to schedule a low-cost appointment, contact one of these locations:
Bluitt-Flowers Health Center: 214.266.4200
deHaro-Saldivar Health Center: 214.266.0500
East Dallas Health Center: 214.266.1000
Garland Health Center: 214.266.0700
Irving Health Center: 214.266.3000
Oak West Health Center: 214.266.1450
Pediatric Primary Care Center: 214.266.0100
Southeast Dallas Health Center: 214.266.1600
Vickery Health Center: 214.266.0350
“If people stop taking their immunizations, it will become a larger problem,” said Dr. Strachan-Batson. “People come here from all parts of the world. We are in this together.”
