Adult vaccines can prevent future health costs

Looking to hold down your health care costs? Vaccines are a cost-effective way to reduce health risks, but they are often overlooked by adults. Many family doctors don’t routinely check adults’ immunization history and urge them to get recommended shots, said Dr. William Schaffner, head of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and a spokesman for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. The cost can also be a deterrent. Unlike vaccines for infants and children, most adult vaccines generally aren’t stocked by primary care doctors. The exceptions are influenza and pneumonia shots, which usually are covered under preventive care. For other shots, patients often must pay out of pocket until they meet a health plan’s deductible, or pay upfront and seek reimbursement, Schaffner said. Medical experts recommend an annual flu shot and a tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years for everyone over...