With time, immunity from childhood vaccines can fade and you may be at risk for new and different diseases. With adulthood comes responsibility, including the need to protect ourselves and our loved ones.
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 get and maintain protection against:
•Seasonal influenza (flu) (for all adults)
•Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) (for all adults who have not previously received the Tdap vaccine)
•Shingles (for adults 60 years and older)
•Pneumococcal disease (for adults 65 years and older and adults with specific health conditions)
•Hepatitis B infection (for adults who have diabetes or are at risk for hepatitis B)
Other vaccinations you may need include those that protect against human papillomavirus (which can cause certain cancers), hepatitis A, chickenpox (varicella), and measles, mumps and rubella.
Vaccination facts and schedules are provided through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov/vaccines