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Adult Immunizations: What You Need

For many of us, becoming an adult means leaving behind the trappings our youth, but immunizations are not necessarily one of them. Many of the vaccinations we had as children need be given again as adults to maintain proper immunity. And just as adulthood brings a new set of responsibilities, being an adult can also require a new set of adult immunizations.

Why Do You Need Adult Immunizations?

Many of the vaccines we received as children to create immunities to infectious diseases do last a lifetime, but others do not. For example, tetanus and diphtheria vaccines need to be updated with booster shots every 10 years to maintain immunity. There are other reasons why adult immunizations may be necessary:

Some adults never received immunizations as children.
Vaccine recommendations and vaccines change over the years. Certain vaccines may not have been available when some adults were children.
Immunity can begin to fade over time.
As we age, we become more susceptible to serious disease caused by common infections like the flu.
As an adult we may work in the health care field or other profession that puts us at risk for contact with infectious diseases.

Which Adult Immunizations Do You Need?

There have been several updates in adult vaccine recommendations since the last set of guidelines were released. One of the most notable: the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine be given to all adult females through the age of 26. Other significant changes include:

The ACIP now suggests that adults without evidence of prior immunity to chickenpox receive the varicella vaccine. Special consideration should be given to:
- Those at high risk for infection or transmission, such as health care workers and teachers.
- Those who are in close contact with people at high risk of infection.
- Family and others who come in contact with people with compromised immune systems.
Shingles, the adult form of chickenpox, can be a very painful and debilitating disease, and this is one adult immunization that should not be overlooked by those without evidence of immunity and who are known to be at risk of exposure.
The ACIP now recommends one or more doses of the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (MMR) be administered to adults in certain age groups and with certain risk factors. Adults born before 1957 can be considered immune to measles and mumps.
Hepatitis B vaccine is now a recommended immunization for adults seeking protection from hepatitis B exposure, and the ACIP also suggests the vaccine for any adult in high-risk environments like STD clinics or drug rehab centers. Health care workers, public safety workers, household contacts, and sexual partners of persons with chronic hepatitis B should also receive the hepatitis B vaccine.

The complete and updated 2009 schedule of recommended adult immunizations can be found at the CDC web site.

If you want to keep track of your adult immunizations, find out if they're up-to-date, and learn what infectious diseases you may be at risk for, you can download an adult vaccination screening form.

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