Immunizations aren't just for kids. All adults need immunizations to help protect them against serious diseases. In fact, some diseases are more dangerous for adults than for children and are more likely to cause brain damage, sterility and other complications. The monetary and emotional costs to those individuals and their families can be staggering. Each year in the United States, more than 30,000 adults die from vaccine-preventable diseases or their complications. Additionally, even unimmunized adults who do not become seriously ill may spread disease to others, often without knowing they're infected. Many adults mistakenly believe that immunizations are only needed to keep children healthy, but vaccinations are a readily available, safe and cost-effective way to prevent serious illnesses and death in adolescents and adults as well. Don't overlook your own need to be immunized. Immunizations are still the best protection against vaccine-preventable disease and immunizing adults is key to a healthy future for everyone.

Should all adults be immunized? Yes.
Some adults incorrectly assume that the vaccines they received as children will protect them for the rest of their lives. Generally this is true, except that:

Some adults were never vaccinated as children;
Newer vaccines were not available when some adults were children;
Immunity can begin to fade over time;
As we age, we become more susceptible to serious disease caused by common infections (e.g., flu, pneumococcus).

Hepatitis A vaccine is recommended for all susceptible travelers to, or for persons working in, countries with intermediate or high rates of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection.

Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for adults in certain high-risk groups, such as healthcare workers and persons with multiple sex partners. Hepatitis B vaccine is also recommended for all adolescents who may not have received it during infancy or childhood.

Human Papillomavirus vaccine is available for females nine through 26 years of age to protect against cervical cancer.

Influenza vaccination is recommended for adults 50 years of age or older, pregnant women and residents of long-term care facilities, as well as for persons older than six months of age who have serious medical conditions.

Adults born after 1956 need to be immunized against measles, mumps and rubella.

Meningococcal vaccine is recommended for adults who may at increased risk for meningococcal disease and/or bacterial meningitis, an infection of the fluid around the brain and spinal cord.

All adults aged 65 or older, as well as persons aged two to 64 years who have diabetes or chronic heart, lung, liver or kidney disorders need protection against pneumococcal disease, and should consult their healthcare providers regarding their need for this vaccine.

Shingles vaccine is recommended for adults 60 years of age and older to prevent shingles, also known as herpes zoster.

The Td (tetanus and diphtheria) vaccine is recommended for adults every ten years. The Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine may be given in place of the Td booster to provide protection against pertussis.

Many adults, including teachers of young children and day care workers, residents and staff in institutional settings, military personnel, nonpregnant women of childbearing age, international travelers, healthcare workers and family memebers of immunocompromised persons, who have not had chickenpox and have not been immunized previously against chickenpox should receive varicella vaccine.

Check your immunization status against the current vaccine recommendations for adults.

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