DEAR DOCTOR K: What is tetanus? And why do I need a tetanus booster shot?
DEAR READER: When I graduated from medical school, I assumed I would never see a patient suffering from tetanus. It had become unusual since tetanus immunization became available. But it didn’t take long for me to see my first case.
Readers have sent me many follow-up questions after my recent shingles vaccine column. It’s great to see your interest, and I wanted to answer the most common follow-up questions I received.
To recap, shingles is caused by the reactivation of the virus that also causes chickenpox, varicella-zoster. Most people are infected with this virus in childhood and remain infected for the rest of their lives.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I know it’s recommended that young girls get vaccinated against HPV, since this virus can cause cervical cancer. What about boys? At one time I read it was not recommended for them, but recently I heard that this had changed. Has it changed, and why?
DEAR READER: You’re right. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recently recommended that boys also get the HPV vaccine.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I am two months pregnant. I can’t decide what to do about getting the flu shot. What are your thoughts?
DEAR READER: I understand your concern, but I think the risks associated with getting the flu when you are pregnant far outweigh any possible dangers associated with the vaccine.
DEAR DOCTOR K: I’m a healthy, 65-year-old woman. I recently read that I should get the shingles vaccine. What is shingles? And should I get the vaccine?
DEAR READER: Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. After a case of chickenpox, the virus can lie dormant inside your nerves. Some people get infected with the virus without knowing it — that is, without getting chickenpox. It gets into their body, infects some nerves and remains inactive. People catch the virus from other people, usually during childhood.
Dr. Anthony Komaroff is a practicing physician, Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Editor in Chief of Harvard Health Publications. Learn more »
Harvard Health Publications is the publishing division of Harvard Medical School, providing the general public with authoritative, trustworthy, and accessible health information. Learn more »
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