Why Adults Need a Shot in the Arm

Posted on December 20, 2012

Children aren’t the only ones who may think they’re invincible. Some adults 18 years and older feel the same way and avoid getting important vaccines. They falsely believe the vaccines they got as children last a lifetime. This is wrong. It is critically important for many adults to get vaccines because:

• They may not have been vaccinated as a child.
• They may not have had access to new vaccines now available.
• Vaccine strength fades over time.
• Adults may be more likely to get a serious disease caused by an infection as they get older.
• They could pass an infection on to a baby or an older adult who cannot get vaccinated.

Remember, adults need vaccines as much as kids do!

Talk to your doctor or nurse to see if or when you need to get any of these vaccines:

• Chickenpox
• Flu
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• Meningococcal
• Pneumococcal
• Tetanus and diphtheria
• Human Papillomavirus
• Zoster (Shingles)

Categories: Newsletter, Winter 2012 FF, Winter 2012 SF