CDC Issues Reminder That Adults Need Vaccines, Too

Your need for immunization doesn't end when you become an adult; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reminds people to get vaccinated to protect yourself and your loved ones from serious diseases.

The specific vaccines you need as an adult are determined by factors such as your age, job, lifestyle, health conditions, locations of travel, and vaccines you’ve received in the past. Throughout your adult life, vaccines are recommended to get and maintain protection against:

• Seasonal influenza (flu) (for all adults)
• Pertussis (whooping cough) (for all adults who have not previously received the Tdap vaccine and for women during each pregnancy)
• Tetanus and diphtheria (every 10 years following Tdap vaccine)
• Shingles (for adults 60 years and older)
• Pneumococcal disease (for adults 65 years and older and adults younger than 65 who have specific health conditions)

Other vaccinations you may need include those that protect against human papillomavirus (which can cause certain cancers), against meningococcal disease, hepatitis B, hepatitis A, chickenpox (varicella), and measles, mumps, and rubella. Recent measles outbreaks are a reminder to check your vaccination status and get vaccinated.

You can take this simple quiz to determine which vaccines may be recommended for you and create a customized printout to take with you to your next healthcare visit.

Adults can get vaccines at healthcare professional's offices, pharmacies, workplaces, community health clinics, health departments, and other locations. To find a place near you to get a vaccine, visit the HealthMap Vaccine Finder.

Most health insurance plans cover recommended vaccines. Check with your insurance provider for details and for a list of vaccine providers covered by your plan. If you do not have health insurance, visit www.healthcare.gov to learn more about health insurance options.

Source: CDC