{"id":2463,"date":"2022-12-05T15:14:38","date_gmt":"2022-12-05T15:14:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/famurgentcare.com\/fam-back-up\/?p=2463"},"modified":"2023-06-12T16:46:22","modified_gmt":"2023-06-12T16:46:22","slug":"vaccines-and-boosters-every-adult-should-have","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/famurgentcare.com\/fam-back-up\/blog\/vaccines-and-boosters-every-adult-should-have\/","title":{"rendered":"Vaccines and Boosters Every Adult Should Have"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As a kid, you probably had a lot of vaccines to help prevent serious illnesses like mumps and measles. But now that you\u2019re an adult, you don\u2019t need to worry about getting vaccines anymore \u2014 right? Wrong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vaccines help our natural immune system make antibodies to fight off diseases. While some vaccines provide lifelong immunity for specific diseases, other immunizations need \u201cboosters\u201d to renew their efficacy. And some vaccines are specifically for adults, which means you didn\u2019t have them as a child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and that means it\u2019s a perfect time to make sure your own vaccines are up to date. At Family Urgent Care<\/a> in Chicago, Illinois, and Schererville, Indiana, we offer vaccines for adults as well as kids, providing our patients with the essential protection they need to help prevent serious illness and enjoy better health. Here\u2019s what the CDC recommends<\/a> for adults of all ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adult vaccination recommendations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some of the vaccines recommended by the CDC are given as a single dose or a single series. These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shingles vaccine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Shingles is a painful disease that affects your nerves. If you\u2019ve had chickenpox, you can develop shingles as an adult. There are two types of shingles vaccines, one recommended for people 50 or older and one recommended for anyone 60 and up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chickenpox vaccine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of chickenpox (or varicella zoster virus), if you\u2019ve never had this once-common childhood illness and you weren\u2019t vaccinated as a kid, the CDC recommends you get vaccinated as an adult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HPV vaccine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This vaccine isn\u2019t just for adults \u2014 ideally, you\u2019ll have your first HPV vaccine when you\u2019re 11 or 12<\/a>. Even if you haven\u2019t had the vaccine as a preteen or teen, the CDC still recommends the vaccine for adults up through age 26. From age 27 until age 45, you might still benefit from the vaccine, but you should talk over the risks and benefits with your doctor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yes, you probably had this vaccine as a kid, but if you were born after 1957, you might need to have it again to ensure you remain immune. One vaccine covers all three diseases in most cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hepatitis A and B vaccines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hepatitis is a disease that affects the liver. Vaccines for hepatitis A and hepatitis B are given in either two doses or three doses for adults of all ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pneumococcal vaccine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anyone 65 years old or older should have this vaccine to provide protection from pneumonia. If you had this vaccine before age 65, you\u2019ll probably need another dose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meningococcal ACWY and Meningococcal B<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This vaccine is recommended for young adults living in dorms or military bases, as well as people with certain health conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the shots in the previous list are one-time shots or series, the CDC recommends these shots be given on a regular basis:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flu shot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Every year, a new flu vaccine<\/a> is developed to battle the most prevalent strain of flu for the current or upcoming flu season. Having a flu shot each year gives your immune system the tools it needs to fight off that strain of flu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tdap or Td<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Tdap vaccine<\/a> protects older kids and adults from tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (also called whooping cough). It\u2019s similar to the Dtap vaccine given to babies and kids. The CDC recommends Tdap booster vaccines every 10 years for adults, beginning at age 19. The Td vaccine is similar, but it doesn\u2019t provide protection against whooping cough. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember, these are the general recommendations from the CDC. You may need to follow a different vaccination schedule if you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n