7 Doctor recommended vaccines for seniors

Whooping cough is a contagious respiratory tract infection. Once infected, it takes about seven to 10 days for the first signs and symptoms to appear. The symptoms may appear cold-like at first with symptoms that include:

• Runny nose
• Nasal Congestion
• Red, watery eyes
• Fever
• Cough

These symptoms worsen after about two weeks. Mucus accumulates inside the airways, causing an uncomfortable, "whoop"-sounding cough. Although many people do not develop the "whoop" characteristic, the coughing fits can be uncontrollable and painful.

Whooping cough is very common in children, and so it is a great idea for seniors to get vaccinated if they have a grandchild that they wouldn't want to get sick. Additionally, seniors are still susceptible to whooping cough, especially if the vaccination has worn off Even after recovery the cough can last for weeks! Some complications seniors may experience or develop include sleep apnea, insomnia, weight loss, pneumonia and eye infections.

Luckily, the whooping cough vaccination is safe and protects from other infections as well. As mentioned before, the Tdap vaccine is a one-time booster that protects you from tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough. Adults should then get the booster vaccine every 10 years to stay up-to-date on vaccines and healthy.