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Adults skipping many necessary vaccines

By Paula Wolfson

WASHINGTON — Adults are generally good about making sure their children get the shots they need for school. But grown-ups need certain vaccinations as well, and many are skipping them.

The trend has the American Lung Association so concerned that it declared Aug. 24-30 Not Just For Kids Week, as part of National Immunization Awareness Month.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says all adults from their 20s on need a dose of the tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis vaccine (TDAP) every 10 years, renewing the protection they got as kids.

“I think people are very surprised when they find out they should get regular immunizations,” says Dr. Linda Yau, with Foxhall Internists in D.C.

The TDAP protects against the risk of getting lockjaw from a dirty wound, and guards against two diseases that can affect the respiratory tract. Diphtheria is a serious respiratory infection, while pertussis — or whooping cough — can be deadly if passed on to an infant.

Other immunizations for adults start later in life, and are just as important. Yau says they include “a once-in-a-lifetime shot to prevent shingles, which is a reactivation of the chicken pox virus.”

Once recommended only for those over age 60, the shingles vaccine was approved last year for adults beginning at age 50.

There has also been a change in recommendations for pneumonia shots: They used to be given only to people older than 65, but a newer, more effective vaccine is now available for those older than 50 as well.

These vaccines, along with an annual flu shot, are not only important for all adults, but also are crucial for those who already have lung conditions.

“Patients that have asthma or other chronic lung diseases should actually get the pneumonia shot on a regular basis every five to seven years,” says Yau. Otherwise-healthy adults need only one dose of the new pneumonia vaccine.

Yau says doctors hear all kinds of excuses about shots from patients.

“People tell us they are not going to get sick because they haven’t been sick before,” says Yau.

But the bottom line is, these vaccines are necessary to protect against chronic diseases that can, in the extreme, be life-threatening. And doctors such as Yau insist that adults, like children, need to stay up to date on their shots to help prevent them from becoming deathly ill.

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Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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