The Vaccines You Need As an Adult
You may be missing out on some immune superpowers that belong to you if you ask your local pharmacy. Beyond protection – who needs chickenpox and tetanus? – Getting vaccinated on time helps keep dangerous germs from circulating and from others.
Some of the shots you may need, even in a healthy adult, protect against:
- Tetanus is an infection that can be obtained from infected wounds. You may have had a tetanus shot before, but your immunity goes away over time. Get booster (as part of the vaccination TD or of Tdap ) every ten years, or if you have received a deep wound and not sure what your last booster still good. [Thanks to lambchop for the fix.]
- Whooping cough or whooping cough. Most healthy adults with whooping cough simply experience a severe cough that will go away over time. But you can pass it on to children or other vulnerable people where it can be life-threatening. Better to get the Tdap vaccine (which includes tetanus and diphtheria) so that the germ can’t plant you.
- As part of the new recommendation, pregnant women should get the Tdap vaccine in the third trimester , even if they have done so before. This gives the baby an extra dose of pertussis antibodies to maintain until he can safely receive the vaccine himself at 2 months of age.
- Chickenpox , which can be more serious in adults than in children. If you did not receive any disease or vaccine as a child, do so now. (If you are over 60 years old, you will need the shingles vaccine , whether you have had chickenpox or not.)
These vaccines are available at most pharmacies offering flu shots such as CVS, Walgreens, and Target. Insurance usually covers them.
Even if you don’t know if you have received these vaccines in the past, it is usually safe to receive another dose; ask your pharmacist if you have any concerns. Read information on other vaccines that may not be available at the link below.
Immunity Boosting Vaccines | Consumer reports
Photo by Dylan .
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