The safety and efficacy of vaccines have been well documented. Whether you’re 18 or 80, you need a shot to stay the healthiest you can be; the cost of non-vaccination could actually more expensive in the long run than just getting immunized once. It’s also important to note that there are many circumstances where pre-exposure antigens – something in your body that already poses a risk – help strengthen your defenses.
The Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults
A regular immunization routine for adults includes looking into the recommended schedule by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Depending on your age, sex, location, and other factors, you may need to get shots against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), rabies, HPV (human papillomavirus), and influenza.
Here are the 3 schedules recommended by the CDC:
Schedule 1: Recommended for individuals ages 18 through 59 who have not previously been vaccinated against any of the diseases
Schedule 2: Recommended for individuals ages 19 through 59 who have previously been vaccinated against one of the diseases listed in Schedule 1 but have not received updated vaccine doses since those vaccinations
Schedule 3: Recommended for individuals age 60 or older who have never been vaccinated against any of the diseases listed in Schedule 1
Why Might You Need That Next Shot Now?
Your doctor may have recommended that you get a vaccine shot, but are you sure you’re up for it? Picture this: One year has flown by and your next vaccine shot is already scheduled for next month. Do you want to put it off until next year?
We asked Dr. Samira Badr, an OB-GYN at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, why adults might need a vaccine shot now when their children are already covered. “One of the benefits of being vaccinated as an adult is that your immunity level is higher than if you were unvaccinated,” she says. Another reason adults might need a vaccine now is if you missed a previous one. “In fact, as many as half of Americans are not up-to-date on their shots because they have forgotten, or didn’t realize they needed them,” she adds.
Get those shots scheduled and start feeling better about yourself – your loved ones will thank you later.