All Adults Need Immunization

Immunizations are not just for children. Protection from childhood vaccines can wear off over time. And as you get older, you may also be at risk for new and different diseases. Regardless of age, all adults need immunizations to help them stay healthy.

The specific vaccines you need as an adult are determined by factors such as your age, lifestyle, high-risk conditions, locations of travel, and previous vaccinations. Throughout your adult life, you need immunizations to get and maintain protection against:

• Seasonal flu (influenza)
  All adults need a flu vaccine every year. Flu vaccine is especially important for people with chronic health conditions, pregnant women, and older adults.
• Whooping cough (Pertussis)
  All adults need a one-time dose of Tdap vaccine. Adults can get Tdap no matter when they got their last tetanus vaccine (Td). Pregnant women should get Tdap to protect themselves and their newborn babies from whooping cough.
• Shingles
  Adults 60 years of age and older need one dose of shingles (zoster) vaccine unless they have a weakened immune system.
• Pneumococcal disease
  Adults over 65 years old need one dose of pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Adults younger than 65 years who have certain chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, lung disease, or who smoke should also get pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Adults with weakened immune system, HIV, or asplenia should get both types of pneumococcal vaccine.
• Hepatitis B
  Adults who are at risk for hepatitis B infection and adults who have chronic health conditions like diabetes, renal disease, chronic liver disease, or HIV infection should get three doses of HepB vaccine.

Other vaccinations you may need include those that protect against human papillomavirus (which can cause certain cancers), Tetanus (lockjaw) meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, chickenpox (varicella), and measles, mumps and rubella.

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