Vaccines for adults are recommended based on a number of factors, including age, prior vaccination history, health, lifestyle, occupation and travel patterns.
“Nearly all adults can benefit from vaccinations that help prevent a number of diseases, including influenza, shingles, pneumonia, and whooping cough,” says Joseph Turner, M.D., a family medicine physician with SageWest Health Care.
Talk with your primary care provider about which vaccines you need, and bring up any health-related issues you may be experiencing. Certain health conditions, lifestyles or risk factors – like pregnancy, breastfeeding, chronic illness, immune disorders, severe allergies and cancer treatments – can play into the benefit and timing of vaccinations.
By staying current on the appropriate immunizations, you’re not only helping to protect yourself, but others in your family and community as well, especially those at risk for serious complications from vaccine-preventable diseases.
If you or your child needs a primary care provider, SageWest Health Care can help you identify one by calling 1-800-424-DOCS or visit Find a Doc tab at sagewesthealthcare.com.
For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines. For easy-to-read immunization schedules for children and adults, visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/easy-to-read/index.html.