[Adult immunization]

Abstract

Adults receive several vaccinations related to occupational health. Travellers or immunocompromised people who are exposed to infections need some other vaccinations, too. People older than 65 receive influenza vaccine every year. Tetanus and poliomyelitis immunity should be maintained with a decennial injection following adult immunisation schedule but the application of this vaccine remains rather erratic. Diphtheria valence included in a recently licensed combined vaccine could be done together. Maintenance of immunity against "childhood infectious diseases" preventable with vaccinations is a new challenge; measles, rubella and pertussis occur now quite often in adults: the risk of complications is higher in these ages. Adults may even become the source of the contamination of youngers: many infants affected with whooping cough have contracted the disease from their own parents. The immunisation against these diseases should be prosecuted in adults. Related with the development of more efficacious new vaccines, the indications of pneumococcus, meningococcus or varicella vaccines should be defined in some populations of adults. Immunization policy of adults should be revised in order to continue the vaccination program of childhood. Some infections that may affect adults should be prevented by improving vaccine application. A real adult immunisation schedule and recommendations for populations at risk of preventable infections should be set up and their application reinforced.