Adults Need Vaccines, Too!

Vaccinations aren’t just for kids, and the need to be protected from disease does not go away with age, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

As an adult, you are busy with life and have many responsibilities — but don’t forget to take care of yourself, said the CDC in February 2019.   

Every year in the USA, thousands of adults become seriously ill and are hospitalized because of vaccine-preventable diseases. These diseases can be deadly for many adults. 

In fact, there are specific ages in your adult life when vaccinations are recommended. 

Also, protection from vaccines you received as a child can wear off over time, such as the mumps vaccine.  

And, there are more vaccines available now. 

Recently, on February 4, 2019, the CDC updated the immunization schedules for adults. These schedules are revised annually to reflect current recommendations for the use of vaccines licensed by the US Food and Drug Administration. 

As an adult, vaccines are recommended for protection against: 

• Seasonal influenza (flu) – Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every year as the best way to reduce the risk of flu and its potentially serious complications.
• Pertussis (whooping cough) – The Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccine is recommended for women during each pregnancy and once for all adults who have not previously received it.
• Tetanus and diphtheria – The Td vaccine is recommended every 10 years.
• Shingles – The herpes zoster vaccine is recommended for adults 50 years and older.
• Pneumococcal disease – Two pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for adults 65 years and older. One or both vaccines may be recommended for adults younger than 65 who have specific health conditions or who smoke cigarettes.

Additionally, the CDC says to speak with a doctor, nurse or pharmacists about other vaccines, such as: 

• human papillomavirus (which can cause certain cancers)
• meningococcal disease
• hepatitis A
• hepatitis B
• chickenpox
• measles, mumps, and rubella

And, it’s also important to protect yourself when traveling for work or pleasure. Depending on where you travel to, vaccines can protect you from diseases that are rare in the United States, like yellow fever and typhoid. 

Adults can easily get vaccines at your healthcare professional’s office, pharmacies, community health clinics, health departments, and maybe even your workplace.

To find a vaccine provider near you visit Vax-Before-Travel. 

Most health insurance plans cover the cost of recommended vaccines. And, the CDC publishes a Vaccine Price List, which provides private-sector vaccine prices for general information. 

And, vaccine discounts can be found at this webpage.

Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects, says the CDC. Vaccine side effects are usually mild (like soreness at the injection site) and go away on their own. 

Severe side effects are very rare. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of vaccines to the FDA or CDC.