Adult Immunizations
You never outgrow the need for vaccines. The specific immunizations you need as an adult are determined by factors such as your age, lifestyle, high-risk conditions, type and locations of travel, and previous immunizations. Throughout your adult life, you need immunizations to obtain and maintain protection against: flu, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, shingles, pneumococcal, HPV, etc.
FLU
Anyone 6 months or older
HPV
Females 26 years and younger; males 24 years and younger
SHINGLES
Adults 50 years and older
PNEUMONOCOCAL DISEASE
Adults 65 years and older and adults with specific health conditions
TDAP
One booster dose for adults through age 64 years and for adults who will have close contact with infants and have not received the Tdap vaccine.
OTHER
Those that protect against Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Chickenpox (varicella), and measles, mumps and rubella.
Advocate for your family
Your need for immunizations does not end when you reach adulthood. In fact, the need for immunization remains just as strong as when you were a vulnerable child. As adults, we must continue to maintain our own health because we are also affecting the health of our families by teaching them how to care for themselves.
Encourage other adults in your family to check with their doctors for immunizations they may need to help protect against vaccine-preventable diseases. Childhood vaccinations will not protect you for the rest of your life.
Be the example! Remind your family, friends, co-workers, and those in the community to get vaccinated each year against seasonal influenza. If they are up-to-date on all of their vaccinations, they protect themselves and those around them, especially babies too young to be vaccinated.
