According to the World Health Organization (WHO) "vaccines are biological products designed to generate immunity against a disease, stimulating the production of antibodies. Vaccines can contain one or more antigens that after being administered generate a specific immune response, similar to what happens after a natural infection, but with a lower risk for the patient ". This immune response protects the individual against future exposures to the microorganism.
For a long time it has been our knowledge that vaccines are necessary to be applied throughout our lives, since they prevent us from many infections and eliminate diseases that are found in the community. Taking into account the rates of vaccine applications, it is very low in adults compared to children and adolescents, leaving them vulnerable to illness, hospitalization, and even death. Adults do not get vaccinated for reasons such as limited information, lack of interest and habit, doubts about the efficacy and safety of immunizations, failures in implementation, lack of requirement and mandatory vaccination in adults, as well as the ignorance and lack of motivation in this regard on the part of medical personnel.
Before giving them the vaccine, the doctor must take into account very important factors to know which vaccine is the right one for each case: age, previous immunizations, the state of health in which they are at the time, the lifestyle they lead, their occupation and geographic displacement such as travel and migration.
There are specific considerations about the vaccines indicated for the adult population, in the vaccine against influenza virus there may be several each year, depending on the seasonality of the virus. The vaccine against the herpes zoster virus increases with age, I feel older in adults over 65, so it is advisable to vaccinate after 60 years.
Vaccines against hepatitis A and B viruses are recommended for hospital employees, health sciences students, travelers to highly endemic areas and adults who wish to reduce their possibility of infection. Helminthic vaccines (PCV13 and PPSV23): are recommended in adult populations under 65 years of age at high risk of pneumococcal infection (chronic pathologies, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, immunodeficiencies, functional or anatomical asplenia, cochlear implant, cerebrospinal fluid fistula).
Other vaccines: the application of certain vaccines routinely recommended during childhood and adolescence may also be indicated in certain adults, and should be considered in the individual assessment of immunization requirements. These vaccines include measles, rubella, chickenpox, and yellow fever.
Myths and realities
"Children with an egg allergy cannot get the influenza and MMR vaccine."
This discussion is due to the fact that the influenza vaccine is prepared with an allantoic fluid in chicken egg embryos and therefore may contain small amounts of egg proteins, mainly ovalbumin, the amount of which may vary depending on the manufacturer and the batch of the vaccine. Despite this, several studies show that even patients with a severe allergy to eggs can be vaccinated, although in some cases mild skin reactions may occur, but this does not mean that the influenza vaccine can be used regardless of the severity of the allergy. to egg and can receive the full dose.
"The yellow fever vaccine is unnecessary and is contraindicated in patients with egg allergy"
In 95% of cases this vaccine provides effective immunity within the first week of its application. Then at 10 years a reimmunization is needed for patients at risk. This vaccine contains live attenuated viruses that grow in an embryonated chicken egg medium, so it may contain ovalbumin, therefore, skin tests are performed allowing this group of patients to have no delays or unjustified restrictions in its application.
"Allergy to latex does not cause serious allergic reactions"
Some vaccines use latex in vial caps or may be present in syringes, this increases the risk of reactions in patients with a latex allergy. For this reason, in patients with severe reactions such as latex anaphylaxis, the risk-benefit for the administration of vaccines with latex-containing caps is evaluated.
