Getting Your Shots as an Adult: Brief Version

What shots do adults need?

You need shots to protect you from tetanus and whooping cough (pertussis). You may need other vaccines as well, such as the flu vaccine each fall.

It is important to keep up to date with your shots. That way you can stay as healthy as possible. It helps reduce your risk of serious health problems.

Flu is an infection that causes:

• Fever.
• Headaches.
• Body aches and pains.
• Sore throat and cough.

It is easy to get the flu and pass it to someone else. The flu can turn into pneumonia. Every year, many older adults die this way.

Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by bacteria. It can cause pneumonia and other serious infections.

Tetanus (also called lockjaw) happens when bacteria get into your body through a cut, scrape, or hole in the skin. Whooping cough is spread from one person to another through coughing and sneezing. It can be a dangerous infection for babies, who can catch it from adults. One shot can protect you against both tetanus and whooping cough.

Shingles is a painful rash caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Sometimes the pain lasts for a long time.

When should you get your shots?

Here's what you should do:

Tetanus/pertussis. Get the 3-shot series if you didn't get the shots when you were a child.

• Start with the first shot now.
• Have the second shot 4 to 8 weeks later.
• Get the third shot 6 to 12 months after that.
• Get a booster shot every 10 years.
• Get a booster shot if you get a puncture wound or bite more than 5 years after your last shot.

Influenza (flu). Get the flu shot every October if you are 50 or older. You may need a flu shot if you are younger than 50 and have diabetes, kidney disease, a lung disease (like asthma), or heart disease.

• Get a flu shot every year in October.
• If you think you are allergic to eggs, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you should have the shot.

Some healthy people under the age of 50 can use a special nasal spray for protection against the flu instead of a shot. You cannot use the spray if you are pregnant or over 50. Ask your healthcare provider about this.

Pneumococcal pneumonia. Get this shot if you:

• Are 65 or older (you should get it sooner than this if you have a serious medical problem, such as lung or heart disease).
• Have diabetes.
• Have heart, kidney, or lung problems.
• No longer have a spleen.
• Are going to have chemotherapy.
• Are HIV positive.
• Have had an organ transplant.
• Have sickle cell disease.
• Have a condition or are taking medicines that keep your immune system from working well.

Shingles. Adults 60 years of age and older should get this shot. It can help prevent shingles. It can also reduce the pain caused by shingles.

What about other shots?

You may want to think about getting shots for:

Hepatitis B. Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver by a virus. Ask your healthcare provider if this shot would be a good idea for you. If your provider thinks you should have the shot:

• Get a second shot 1 to 2 months after the first shot.
• Get a third shot 4 to 6 months after the first shot.

Measles/mumps/rubella (MMR). Rubella (German measles) can cause severe birth defects. Women need 1 MMR shot before they get pregnant if they:

• Have never had rubella.
• Have never had the MMR shot.

Chickenpox. If you have not had chickenpox, ask your healthcare provider about this shot.

Human papilloma virus, also called HPV. This shot is for girls and young women who are 9 to 26 years old. It stops infection with a virus that can cause cervical cancer.

Shots for travel. You may need shots for other diseases if you travel to other countries. Ask your healthcare provider or public health department what shots you may need.

Where can you get the shots?

You can get your shots at:

• Your healthcare provider's office.
• A clinic.
• Your local health department.

If you'd like to find out more about it:

You can call your local health department.

Or you can contact:

Immunization Action Coalition
Phone: (651) 647-9009
Web site: http://www.vaccineinformation.org/adults.asp.