Vaccines and Health Screenings for the 50-plus Set––Texas Health Physicians Group

Vaccines and Health Screenings for the 50-plus Set

By Humera Ahmed, MD, and Melita Williams, MD, Texas Health Physicians Group, Collin County LIVING WELL Magazine

If you want to keep something running in tip-top condition, you have to treat it to an occasional tune-up. The same holds true for your body.

Much like your car or your air conditioner (especially here in Texas), you require regular preventive maintenance to keep you running and feeling your best. And unlike a costly repair bill, prevention-based screenings and immunizations for your body are relatively inexpensive––or even free––for many seniors.

“As an adult medicine specialist, it’s my aim to prevent, detect and treat conditions before they become serious as a person ages,” says Humera Ahmed, MD, of Plano Adult Medicine Group. “To help ward off illness, I encourage my patients who are 50 or older to visit with me regularly about the proper recommendations for such things as immunizations. Sometimes the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) changes recommendations for seniors, so it’s important to do a review with a physician periodically.”

The Vaccines You Need at Age 50 and Older

Vaccines are not just for kids. Even adults age 50 and older need to get vaccinated against certain diseases. Always discuss any risk factors or concerns you may have with your physician before getting a vaccine. Here are some guidelines we use for vaccinations, as provided by the CDC (www.cdc.gov):

Annual Flu Vaccine. Unless you have had a severe reaction from the flu shot in the past or are allergic to eggs, you should be vaccinated yearly. If you are 50 or older, we don’t recommend the nasal spray vaccine because it hasn’t proven to be especially effective.

Pneumonia Vaccine. Even seniors who are diligent about getting their annual flu shot sometimes forget to get a one-time pneumonia vaccine. Both should be part of the preventive health care plan for adults 65 and older and people 50 and older with certain risk factors.

Tetanus Vaccine. If you have never received a Tdap vaccine for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough), you should be vaccinated once for these illnesses. The Tdap vaccine is especially crucial for people who have close contact with infants younger than 12 months of age––including grandparents.


Shingles Vaccine.
Some experts recommend getting the shingles vaccine only if you’ve had a prior episode of chicken pox, but the CDC recommends that everyone older than 60 get vaccinated for this painful skin rash.

Health Screenings at 50 and older

A variety of health issues can arise during your adult life. That’s why it’s important as you age to get regular screenings, along with the proper immunizations.

“If you are someone who only visits the doctor when you have an ache or are sneezing, you may sell yourself short on realizing your healthy potential over time,” says Melita Williams, MD, of Inova Family Physicians. “Your best line of defense against major health issues should include ongoing screenings appropriate for your gender and age, as discussed with your physician.”

The screenings recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (www.USPreventiveServicesTaskForce.org)––an independent panel of preventive medicine and primary care experts––are good ones to follow. They include:

Cholesterol Screening. This important screening can help detect conditions that may lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Breast Cancer Screening. Aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, according to the CDC. Screening mammograms are recommended once every 12 months for women 50 and older.

Osteoporosis Screening. Although most common in postmenopausal women, this brittle-bone disease can also affect men. The condition can be diagnosed through bone mass measurement, recommended every two years for adults over age 50.

Colorectal Screening. Of cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Recommendations for this screening vary by age and risk factors, but should be considered beginning at age 50.

Other screenings you may want to discuss with your physician, depending on your sex, age and medical history, include diabetes screening, glaucoma testing and prostate cancer screening.

It’s never too late to start taking a few preventive measures aimed at keeping you in tip-top shape. Vaccines and screenings are a great way to boost your health in your golden years.

Dr. Humera Ahmed, of Plano Adult Medicine Group, and Dr. Melita Williams, of Inova Family Physicians, are both part of Texas Health Physicians Group. Dr. Ahmed may be reached at 972-981-7135 or www.Plano-AdultMedicineGroup.com. Dr. Williams may be reached at 972-769-8443 or www.InovaFamilyMedicine.com.