April 26, 2024

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Seniors: Herpes zoster virus vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine

Seniors: Herpes zoster virus vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine

 

Seniors: Herpes zoster virus vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine. Seniors are recommended to receive herpes zoster virus vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine. Let’s talk about herpes zoster virus vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine.

Seniors: Herpes zoster virus vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine


1. Should seniros vaccinate the herpes zoster virus vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine?

Along with age, the body’s immunity will gradually decline, not to mention a variety of chronic diseases. Although infectious diseases can be partially prevented by wearing masks and washing hands frequently, vaccines are one of the most effective prevention methods. Vaccines can effectively prevent specific infectious diseases by stimulating the body to produce antibodies to produce precise blows to pathogens.

 

2. What vaccines do middle-aged and elderly people need?

In general, the following are recommended:

  • Herpes zoster virus vaccine,
  • Pneumococcal vaccine,
  • Flu vaccine,
  • Hepatitis B vaccine.

Now let me talk about the herpes zoster virus vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine. Do we need to be vaccinated?

 

3.  herpes zoster virus vaccine

Shingles is an infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It usually manifests as a rash that appears on one side of the body with pain and itching, which usually lasts two to four weeks. It is estimated that the incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia in patients over 60 years of age in some countries is 65%, and the incidence of patients over 70 years of age is 75%.

Because the course of herpes zoster disease is very painful, no matter whether you had chickenpox, chickenpox vaccine, or shingles, it is recommended to have herpes zoster virus vaccine, because this vaccine not only prevents herpes zoster, but also prevents post-herpes Neuralgia.

Applicable crowd: people over 50 years old

There are currently two types of herpes zoster virus vaccines on the market: recombinant herpes zoster virus vaccines and live attenuated herpes zoster virus vaccines. Recombinant vaccines can be given from the age of 50 and require two injections; while live attenuated vaccines are given from the age of 60 and only need one injection. In contrast, the recently launched recombinant vaccine (about 3,000 yuan for 2 doses) is more effective than the attenuated live vaccine (about 200 yuan for 1 dose), but the price is slightly higher, and you can choose according to your actual situation.

Vaccination dose and time: Recombinant herpes zoster virus vaccine needs two intramuscular injections (2-6 months apart)

Common adverse reactions: pain, redness, swelling at the injection site, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, fever, and gastrointestinal discomfort.

 

4.  hepatitis B vaccine

Many people feel that the body functions of middle-aged and elderly people are degraded, including liver function (decreased liver blood volume; reduced ability of the liver to absorb nutrients, metabolites, and toxins, etc.). Therefore, they are worried that middle-aged and elderly people are susceptible to hepatitis B virus. When the elderly have hepatitis B patients nearby, they need to go to a regular hospital for five hepatitis B tests. If the antibody level in the body is too low, they must be vaccinated in time to prevent hepatitis B infection.

For people:

① There is an occupational exposure risk: such as medical staff, people who are often exposed to blood, and some orphanage workers, etc.;

② Parents, spouses or other people living together or in close contact with hepatitis B virus or hepatitis B patients;

③ Those who receive organ transplantation, and those who regularly receive blood transfusions or blood products;

④ Those who have multiple sexual partners.

 

Not suitable for people:

① People who are currently receiving meningococcal vaccine, polio vaccine, measles vaccine, etc. cannot receive hepatitis B vaccine at the same time;

② Those with serum sickness, bronchial asthma, allergic urticaria and allergic to penicillin and other drugs;

③ Fever and severe infection.

The hepatitis B vaccine is 95% effective in preventing infection and the development of chronic diseases and liver cancer caused by hepatitis B.

The effective protection period of the vaccine is more than 5 years. The higher the antibody titer, the stronger the immunity and the longer the duration of immune protection. This means that 90%-95% of them can produce protective antibodies. After the whole course of hepatitis B vaccine inoculation, you can go to the hospital to check the five hepatitis B items to check whether the vaccination is successful.

Hepatitis B vaccine is about 30 yuan each, and three doses are needed for the whole course, one month and six months after the first dose.

 

Precautions for vaccination

1. Vaccines that were not given when they were young and need to be replanted in adulthood: rubella vaccine and measles vaccine

2. Vaccines have a “period”: vaccines are not permanent. Many vaccines have their own “shelf life”. For example, antibodies produced by hepatitis B vaccine may disappear within 3-5 years or even 2-3 years; the protection period of herpes zoster vaccine is valid It is also about 5 years; after the vaccine exceeds the protector, it needs to be boosted. Influenza viruses mutate and need to be vaccinated once a year.

3. To vaccinate in good physical condition, do not vaccinate multiple vaccines at the same time.

4. Go to a regular medical institution for injection and consult a doctor to choose the right vaccine, not necessarily the expensive one.

 

What should I do if there is a reaction after vaccination?

1. Due to individual differences, a small number of people will experience local redness, swelling, pain, and induration at the vaccination site, or mild systemic reactions such as fever and poor appetite after vaccination. Just pay attention to rest and drink plenty of water, these reactions will disappear automatically after one to two days.

2. If the reaction is strong and lasts for a long time, you should go to the hospital in time. Severe abnormal reactions are extremely rare, and the recipient does not have to refuse vaccination for fear of adverse reactions.

 

(source:internet, reference only)


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