In addition to the vaccines provided for the National Vaccination Program (PNV), vaccination in adulthood depends on age, previous vaccines, health status, lifestyle, occupation, travel destinations and sexual activity. What vaccines are included in the PNV for adulthood? For adults, the national vaccination program includes: Tetanus and diphtheria (Td) vaccine Throughout life, booster vaccines against tetanus and diphtheria (Td) should be done periodically at 25, 45, 65 years of age and, thereafter, every 10 years. Adults who are not vaccinated against tetanus should start this vaccine at any age. Pertussis Vaccine (Tdpa) Pregnant women, at each pregnancy, are vaccinated with a single dose against pertussis with the Tdpa vaccine. This vaccine should be administered between 20 and 36 weeks of gestation, ideally after morphological ultrasound (recommended between 20 and 22 weeks) and before 32 weeks. O What is PNV? The National Vaccination Program (PNV) is a universal and free of charge program of the National Health Service that the establishes vaccines and the vaccination schedule for the entire population from birth. The PNV is regularly reviewed. The first PNV was published in 1965. The current one dates from 2017, and 2020 we will have new vaccines in the PNV starting in October. Are there other vaccines recommended in adulthood? There are several vaccines that are not part of the PNV and that may be indicated for adults. Not including vaccines related to traveler medicine, which depend on the travel destination, those recommended in Portugal are as follows. Flu vaccine (influenza virus) The seasonal flu vaccination season starts in October and extends through the fall, to protect people vaccinated during the peak flu incidence between December and February). Two weeks after taking the vaccine, antibodies are produced, responsible for protection against the flu. Vaccination against influenza is done annually. Who should be vaccinated against the flu? People aged 65 or over; Adults with chronic debilitating diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, immunodeficiencies and chronic renal failure; Pregnant women in the 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy; People in contact with high-risk patients, for example health professionals, care technicians in nursing homes. Pneumonia vaccine ( Streptococcus pneumoniae ) The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is indicated for all age groups and, in addition to pneumonia (the most common form in adulthood). It prevents serious diseases such as meningitis or septicemia. In addition to the vaccination of children in the context of the PNV, adults with chronic diseases and considered to be at high risk, including those with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and certain oncological diseases, receive the vaccine free of charge. However, it is recommended for all adults over 65 years of age, regardless of clinical condition. HPV vaccine (human papilloma virus) HPV infection affects women and men, being responsible for both benign lesions such as anogenital warts (condylomas) and several cancers (cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, and oropharynx). Currently, it is possible to prevent HPV infection through vaccination, which is already included in the PNV for all girls at the age of 10. As of October 1, 2020, the PNV will include the HPV vaccine for all boys aged 10 and over. However, vaccination is recommended for women or men up to the age of 26 who have not previously done it. It can also be recommended between 26 and 45 years of age, in individual cases, in women. Is vaccination important? A vaccine is a preparation of antigens (particles foreign to the body), which when administered to a person induce the development of specific immunity (protection or defense) against the infectious agents included in the vaccine. Many serious diseases have been controlled and eliminated through sustained, large-scale vaccination. The recommended vaccines have a high degree of safety, efficacy, and quality, proven by several years of experience and millions of vaccines administered worldwide. The benefits of vaccination are undeniable. Ask your physician about the vaccines recommended for you and the vaccination schedule to follow. Through vaccination, you protect yourself, your family, and all the population! Author: Daniel Beirão Meet the General and Family Medicine team of Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
