Talking to My Doctor About Vaccinations

From Project Inform

May 2004

A note from TheBody.com: Since this article was written, the HIV pandemic has changed, as has our understanding of HIV/AIDS and its treatment. As a result, parts of this article may be outdated. Please keep this in mind, and be sure to visit other parts of our site for more recent information!

People living with HIV see their doctor multiple times a year for HIV specific monitoring and care issues. In addition to HIV-specific medical care, keeping up to date with vaccinations is important for maintaining overall health and well-being. The checklist below can help you identify specific questions or issues about vaccinations that you would like to discuss with your doctor.

I would like to talk about ...

The influenza vaccination ("flu shot") because:
I have questions about the flu vaccination, specifically:

1 _________________________________________________________

2 _________________________________________________________

I would like to talk about your thoughts, recommendations or concerns about the flu shot.
It is the time of the year for a flu shot (fall/winter).

The pneumococcal vaccination because:
I have questions about the pneumococcal vaccination, specifically:

1 _________________________________________________________

2 _________________________________________________________

I do not remember if I have had a pneumococcal vaccination.
It has been at least 5 years since my pneumococcal vaccination.

Hepatitis B vaccination because:
I have questions about the HBV vaccination, specifically:

1 _________________________________________________________

2 _________________________________________________________

I’m not sure if I have ever been infected with HBV.
I’m not sure if I have been vaccinated against HBV.
I’m pregnant or planning on getting pregnant.

Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) vaccination because:
I have questions about the HAV vaccination, specifically:

1 _________________________________________________________

2 _________________________________________________________

I’m not sure if I have ever been infected with HAV.
I’m not sure if I have been vaccinated against HAV.

Tetanus-Diptheria (Td) because:
I have questions about the Td vaccination, specifically:

1 _________________________________________________________

2 _________________________________________________________

I do not remember if I have received at least 3 Td shots in my lifetime.
I do not remember when my last Td shot was, but it may have been more than 10 years ago.
I know that my last Td shot was 10 or more years ago.

Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination because:
I have questions about the MMR vaccination, specifically:

1 _________________________________________________________

2 _________________________________________________________

I’m thinking about becoming pregnant and do not know if I’m immune to rubella, so I need to be tested and we need to talk about whether the rubella vaccine/booster would be right for me.
Given my health, I would like to understand what the potential risks and benefits of the MMR vaccine might be for me?

Varicella virus vaccination (the virus that causes chicken pox and shingles) because: I have questions about the Varicella vaccination, specifically:

1 _________________________________________________________

2 _________________________________________________________

I’m not sure if I have been vaccinated for Varicella virus.
My child or children that I work with have been or are being vaccinated for the Varicella virus.
I have been or am around children, and would like to better understand what can I do to minimize risk of exposure to Varicella?

Adapted from the Immunization Action Coalition (www.immunize.org).

Other Vaccine Resources

International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI): www.iavi.org
AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC): www.avac.org

Back to the Project Inform WISE Words May 2004 contents page.

Vaccine Recommendations for Adults Living With HIV Disease in the United States

General Health Maintenance Strategies

This article was provided by Project Inform. It is a part of the publication WISE Words. Visit Project Inform's website to find out more about their activities, publications and services.

More on Preventing Other Infections When You Have HIV/AIDS

Newly Diagnosed? Words of Encouragement from HIV-Positive Women

HIV Management Today: Mental Health & HIV, the Uncharted Territory

Curing HIV Removes the Scars of the Past

Meth Makes an Ominous Comeback Among Gay Men

Can HIV-Positive People Have Babies? 7 Myths About Pregnancy and HIV/AIDS

More >>

TheBody.com App for iPhones

My Health Tracker

Medication and Health Reminders

Assess Your Risk for HIV

U.S. ASO Finder

The Body is a service of Remedy Health Media, LLC, 250 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10107. The Body and its logos are trademarks of Remedy Health Media, LLC, and its subsidiaries, which owns the copyright of The Body's homepage, topic pages, page designs and HTML code. General Disclaimer: The Body is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional services. The information provided through The Body should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, consult your health care provider.