Adult Immunization

Adult Immunization

Immunizations arenโ€™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 theyโ€™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. Donโ€™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.

Immunization is recommended for all adults. 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, pneumococcal inection, whooping cough).

Check your immunization status against the current vaccine recommendations for adults