8 Reasons You Need Adult Vaccines

Nobody likes getting vaccines. But the conditions they protect against can be really nasty. Consider pertussis (also known as whooping cough). Although most people think of whooping cough as a disease affecting young children and infants, it can affect adults, causing pneumonia and hospitalization. Plus, adults who have pertussis can pass on the infection to children, which is why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends adults get booster shots for pertussis (along with tetanus and diphtheria) every 10 years. Protection for all three fades over time.  

Need more convincing? Read on for this list of reasons you should make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date:

• You may not have been fully vaccinated as a child or missed boosters.
• You missed getting one of the more recently developed vaccines that can help protect you.
• You suffer from a chronic condition such as diabetes, asthma, lung or heart disease.
• You’re sexually active and have more than one partner. 
• You travel outside the States and may need destination-specific immunizations.
• You're pregnant. Vaccines used to help protect the children in your family – such as the whooping cough vaccine -- are highly recommended by the CDC for pregnant women.
• You work in healthcare and are exposed to blood, bodily fluids and potential infection.
• You can pass illnesses to others, contributing to overall population disease control.

Be sure to talk to your MDVIP-affiliated doctor about which adult vaccines you need and when you should get them.