You never have to think about it again, right?
Unfortunately thats not how immunity works.
Important reminder: Getting vaccinated doesnt just protectyoufrom illnesses.
Heather Hazzan. Wardrobe styling by Ronald Burton. Prop styling by Campbell Pearson. Hair by Hide Suzuki. Makeup by Deanna Melluso at See Management. Shot on location at One Medical.
Staying up-to-date on your vaccines throughout your life is key for both you and those around you.
What if youre pretty sure youve already been vaccinated against something?
Then there are some vaccines that are really specifically adult vaccines, Dr. Moss says.
Below, youll find thevaccinesdoctors recommend pretty much everyone gets at various points in adulthood.
We hope this list makes adulting a little bit easier for you.
But the flu can actually be really dangerous.
you’re able to read more about those exceptionshere.)
The Td vaccine protects against two possiblylife-threatening illnesses: tetanus and diphtheria.
For some people, this causes death.
Diphtheria is an infection caused byCorynebacterium diphtheriaebacteria, according to theCDC.
The varicella vaccine protects you against the scourge that ischicken pox.
Chicken pox can cause arashthat transforms into wildly itchy blisters that eventually scab over, theCDCsays.
Other symptoms can include fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, and headache.
These complications include skin infections, pneumonia, brain inflammation, and bleeding too easily, according to theCDC.
In some cases, chicken pox can even kill people.
The zoster vaccine protects againstshingles, which is brought on by the varicella-zoster virus, according to theCDC.
That might sound familiar because its also the one that causes chicken pox.
Its basically the virus making a pretty unwelcome comeback.
Its the most common shingles complication, according to theCDC.
The risk of getting shinglesincreases with age, so the vaccination recommendations focus on people 50 and up.
The RZV vaccine provides longer protection than the ZVL one does.
The great thing is that anHPV vaccineis available for peopleup to the age of 45.
Teenagers who get the first dose on or after their 15th birthdays should get two additional doses.
If you never got an HPV vaccine as an adolescent, its still an option for you.
Gardasil 9 protects against nine different types of HPV.
you’re free to talk to your doctor about it to see if it’s right for you.
But again, you could always talk to your doctor about getting the new vaccine if youre curious.
It can cause all sorts of infections, with symptoms depending on the exact location affected.
According to theCDC, most pneumococcal infections are mild.
There are, however, several infections that can cause serious complications.
Another serious pneumococcal infection is meningitis, which impacts the tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Symptoms include stiff neck, fever, headache, sensitivity to light, and confusion, theCDCsays.
Aroundone out of every 15 childrenyounger than five who gets pneumococcal meningitis will die from it.
So what’s the college connection here?
Meningococcal disease outbreaks often happenon college campusesand other areas where many people are packed pretty tightly together.
The disease is transmitted through close contact, specifically respiratory and throat secretions, theCDCexplains.
TheCDCrecommends making sure thatallof your vaccinations are up-to-date before you travel.
Its not uncommon fortravelers to pick up illnessesand accidentally bring them back to the United States.
Check the CDC vaccination recommendationsby regionto confirm that you schedule your vaccines appropriately.
TheCDCrecommends getting vaccinated against the viral liver infections hepatitis A and B. TheCDCalso suggests health care workers get a dose of a meningococcal vaccine forNeisseria meningitidis.
Rubella can be dangerous for you and potentially cause amiscarriageor birth defects, according to theCDC.
And just to clear up any confusion, its absolutely safeand actuallyrecommendedthat pregnant people get the influenza vaccine.
Keep in mind that this isnt a complete list.
Check with your doctor to see if you need other vaccines before you get pregnant or during pregnancy.
The bottom line is that staying up-to-date on your vaccines helps you and everyone around you.
Also if you have approximately zero idea what youve been vaccinated against, dont worry.
Weve got a whole story about how to handle thatright over here.
This story is part of a larger package called Vaccines Save Lives.
you’re able to find the rest of the packagehere.
