[By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times]

During the winter months there are fewer Jewish holidays. This week is Rosh Chodesh, but the holiday of Chanukah is at the end of the month. Yet there are Mitzvos that we can be performing this season. In fact, they are probably D’oraisah Mitzvos.

The Mitzvos are predicated upon the verse, “venishmartem me’od bnafshosaichem – And you shall be very careful regarding yourselves (Dvarim 4:9).”
Briefly, vaccines are not just for our children – they are for adults too. Many people are completely unaware that the medical experts have a schedule of reccomendations for adults too. It is a Mitzvah, according to the Gedolei HaPoskim in Eretz Yisroel, to get vaccinated.

TWO MORE MITZVOS

The Mitzvah of getting vaccinated is not just limited to “veNishmartem” (Dvarim 4:9). The verse later on (Dvarim 4:15), “Rak hishamer lecha” is understood by most Poskim to actually comprise a second Mitzvah (See Rav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita Shaar HaTeshuvos #25). There is also a third Mitzvah, “V’Chai Bahem – And you shall live by them” (VaYikra 18:5).

The Ben Ish Chai writes that a person should make every effort to ensure the general safety of both himself and those around him (Parshas Pinchas year cycle #2). The Turei Zahav in his commentary to Choshain Mishpat (427:10) cites a Midrash on Shir HaShirim that when one does this and protects himself from dangers and damage not only is he protected, but he receives extraordinary credit for the Mitzvah too.
According to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, vaccines are recommended for all adults to help prevent getting and spreading diseases. Vaccines are especially important for those with chronic conditions, who are more likely to develop complications from certain vaccine-preventable diseases.

Vaccines are an important step in protecting adults against serious, sometimes deadly, diseases. Even if you were vaccinated at a younger age, the protection from some vaccines can wear off or the viruses or bacteria that the vaccines protect against change so your resistance is not as strong. As you get older, you may also be at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases due to your age, job, hobbies, travel, or health conditions.
The CDC recommends that all adults get the following vaccines:

Influenza vaccine every year to protect against seasonal flu

Td vaccine every 10 years to protect against tetanus

Tdap vaccine once instead of Td vaccine to protect against tetanus and diphtheria plus pertussis (whooping cough) and during each pregnancy for women

Other vaccines you need as an adult are determined by factors such as age, lifestyle, job, health condition and vaccines you have had in the past. Vaccines you need may include those that protect against: shingles, human papillomavirus (which can cause certain cancers), pneumococcal disease, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A and B, chickenpox (varicella), measles, mumps, and rubella
Adults with chronic conditions are more likely to develop complications, including long-term illness, hospitalization, and even death, from certain vaccine-preventable diseases.Talk to your doctor to make sure you are up to date on the vaccines that are recommended for you.

Heart Disease

People with heart disease, or those who have had a stroke, have a higher risk of serious medical complications from the flu, including worsening of their heart disease. People with heart disease are at almost three times higher risk of being hospitalized with flu than those without heart disease.

The CDC recommends people with heart disease get a yearly influenza (flu) vaccine. They should also get pneumococcal vaccines, once as an adult before 65 years of age and then two more doses at 65 years or older. Visit CDC’s heart disease and vaccination page to learn more.

Lung Disease

People with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other conditions that affect the lungs have a higher risk of complication from influenza (the flu) even if the condition is mild and symptoms are controlled. Since people with asthma and COPD have sensitive airways, inflammation from the flu can cause asthma attacks or make asthma and COPD symptoms worse. Those with asthma, COPD, or other conditions that affect the lungs are more likely to develop pneumonia and other respiratory diseases after getting sick with the flu than those without these conditions.

The CDC recommends people with asthma, COPD, or other conditions that affect the lungs get a yearly flu vaccine. If you have a lung condition, you should also get pneumococcal vaccines—once as an adult before 65 years of age, and then two more doses at 65 years or older. Your doctor may recommend additional vaccines based on your lifestyle, travel habits, and other factors. To learn more, visit CDC’s page on lung disease and adult vaccination.

Diabetes

People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of hepatitis B virus infection. Hepatitis B can be spread through sharing of blood glucose meters, finger stick devices, or other diabetes care equipment such as insulin pens. Diabetes, either type 1 or type 2, can also weaken the immune system’s ability to fight the flu. People with diabetes, even if well managed, are more likely than those without diabetes to have complications from the flu such as pneumonia, which can lead to hospitalization.

CDC recommends people with diabetes get pneumococcal vaccines, once as an adult before 65 years of age and then two more doses at 65 years or older, a yearly influenza (flu) vaccine, and a hepatitis B vaccine series if they’re between the ages of 19 and 59. If you are 60 years or older, talk to your doctor to see if you should get hepatitis B vaccine.
And doing all this we are fulfilling three Torah Mitzvos.

The author can be reached at [email protected]