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 _________________________________________________________ Advertisement 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