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SINGAPORE - Lucy Ho goes for her annual flu shots regularly. And on her family doctor’s advice, she added another shot against pneumococcal disease to her vaccination schedule last year.
“They’re for prevention. I don’t want to go through the suffering of falling ill,” said the 69-year-old homemaker.
But apparently, those like Mdm Ho, who are committed to taking preventive measures, are a rare breed here. According to doctors Today spoke to, most adults tend to be lax when it comes to preventive vaccination shots.
Associate Professor Helen Oh, a senior consultant at Changi General Hospital’s (CGH) Medical Centre for International Travellers reckoned that this is because “people tend to associate immunisations with childhood”. She said: “They’re less aware that adults, too, require some types of vaccinations.”
The main problem, said general practitioner Dr Leslie Tay of Karri Family Clinic, is that there is no compulsory immunisation schedule for adults at the moment.
In countries such as the United States and Australia, adults are given a recommended vaccination schedule.
“For children, compulsory immunisations have been put in place by the government. But many adults don’t see a need to get their vaccinations done because there is no legal requirement to do so.
"Most will get certain vaccinations done only if it is required by their employers or when they are travelling overseas,” said Dr Tay, who estimated that he administers just one adult vaccination for every five childhood vaccinations at his clinic.
“In fact, most adults don’t bother about their vaccinations until something is reported in the news or happens to their friends or family members,” he added.
Sales executive Lee Ching Hui, 29, is one such example. At 23, she had a nasty outbreak of chickenpox after contracting it from her cousin.
Said Ms Lee: “I regretted not finding out about (the chickenpox vaccine) earlier.
“If I had known about the vaccination, I wouldn’t have thought twice about spending a few hundred dollars to spare myself from the torture and hassle.”
Dr Tay, who sees several adult chickenpox cases each month, recommended adults to get a chickenpox shot if they haven’t been immunised against it during their childhood.
“Unlike other diseases, like measles and rubella, adult chickenpox is still very common. Adult cases also tend to be more severe compared to childhood chickenpox,” he said.
Most people are also not aware that by the time they reach adulthood, immunity from childhood vaccinations would have weakened.
Booster shots against diseases such as tetanus should be given once every10 years, in particular to those whose jobs require exposure to soil, and are at risk of cuts and injuries.
The doctors also advised elderly people above 65 years to go for regular flu and pneumococcal vaccinations.
Last year, CGH’s Medical Centre for International Travellers administered 91 doses of pneumococcal vaccine — a number which Assoc Prof Oh hopes to double this year. The vaccine immunises against infections such as pneumonia and meningitis, which can be particularly dangerous in children and the elderly.
“The elderly with chronic heart and lung diseases need the most protection because an infection like pneumonia can worsen their condition. Even a bout of flu can cause severe complications,” said Assoc Prof Oh.
But cost can be a major issue for some adults.
Mdm Ho said that despite repeated advice, her siblings are not keen to go for their vaccinations because they find it expensive.
Dr Tay agreed that “certain vaccines are not as well taken up as they should be” because of their heftier price tag.
However he rationalised: “It’s always good if we can prevent certain illnesses from occurring. Instead of looking at the costs, why not take it as an insurance against the disease?”
What shot should I get?
Unsure of what shots to get? Here’s a list to get you started. Prices (inclusive of GST) are from CGH and may vary at other hospitals and clinics.
Pneumococcal vaccine ($61.52) – one dose for those aged 65 and above.
Influenza vaccine ($20) – one dose annually for travellers, those with chronic cardiac and respiratory disease, and those above the age of 50.
Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine ($43.76) - two doses for adults with no previous infection or vaccination.
DTP (Diptheria, tetanus and pertussis) ($35.31) – one booster dose every ten years.
Cervical cancer vaccine ($211.86) – three doses for women up to 26 years.
MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) ($27.50) – one dose for adults with no previous infection or vaccination.
Geriatric Vaccine Special
To help lighten vaccination costs for the elderly, Changi General Hospital will be offering a Geriatric Vaccine Special only for patients above 65 seen at the hospital’s department of geriatric medicine, department of cardiology and department of medicine (respiratory division).
This package, which includes a single dose of pneumococcal and influenza vaccine, costs $65 (usual price: $81.52). The Geriatric Vaccine Special will be available from next month (Sept 1) to Dec 31. - TODAY/ar
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