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Immunizations - diabetes

 

Immunizations (vaccines or vaccinations) help protect you from some diseases. When you have diabetes, you're more likely to get infections because your immune system doesn't work as well. Vaccines can prevent illnesses that can be very serious and can put you in the hospital.

Vaccines have an inactive, small, amount of a certain germ. This germ is often a virus or bacteria. After you get a vaccine, your body learns to attack the virus or bacteria if you get it again. This means you have less of a chance of getting sick than if you did not get the vaccine. Or you may just have a milder illness.

Below are some of the vaccines you need to know about. Ask your health care provider which are right for you.

Pneumococcal Vaccine

Pneumococcal vaccine can help protect you from serious infections due to the pneumococcal bacteria. These infections include:

  • In the blood ( bacteremia )
  • Of the covering of the brain ( meningitis )
  • In the lungs ( pneumonia )

You need at least one shot. A second shot may be needed if you had the first shot more than 5 years ago and you are now over age 65.

Most people have no or only minor side effects from the vaccine. You may have some pain and redness at the site where you get the shot.

This vaccine has a very small chance of a serious reaction or even death.

Flu Shot

 

The flu (influenza) vaccine helps protect you from the flu . Each year, the type of flu virus that makes people sick is different. This is why you should get a flu shot every year. The best time to get the shot is in the early fall, so that you'll be protected all flu season, which usually lasts until the following March.

People with diabetes who are 6 months or older should get the flu vaccine each year.

The vaccine is given as a shot (injection) . Flu shots can be given to healthy people 6 months or older. One type of shot is injected into a muscle (often the upper arm muscle). Another type is injected just under the skin. Your provider can tell you which shot is right for you.

In general, you should not get a flu shot if you:

  • Have a severe allergy to chickens or egg protein
  • Have a fever or illness that is more than "just a cold"
  • Had a bad reaction to a previous flu vaccine

This vaccine has a very small chance of a serious reaction or even death.

 

Hepatitis B Vaccine

 

The hepatitis B vaccine helps protect you from getting a liver infection due to the hepatitis B virus . People with diabetes ages 19 through 59 should get the vaccine. Your doctor can tell you if this vaccine is right for you.

 

Other Important Vaccines

 

Other vaccines that you may need are:

  • Hepatitis A
  • Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis)
  • MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
  • Herpes zoster (shingles)
  • Polio

 

 

Open References

References

American Diabetes Association. Standards of medical care in diabetes-2016: summary of revisions. Diabetes Care . 2016;39 Suppl 1:S4-S5. PMID: 26696680 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26696680 .

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Aged 19 Years and Older - United States, 2016. www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/adult/adult-combined-schedule.pdf . Accessed August 25, 2016.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Recommended Immunization Schedule for Persons Aged 0 Through 18 Years - United States, 2016. www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-child-combined-schedule.pdf . Accessed August 25, 2016.

 

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            Review Date: 8/7/2016

            Reviewed By: Brent Wisse, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology & Nutrition, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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