Vaccines for Adults

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What are vaccines? " пїЅ Vaccines are treatments that can prevent certain serious or deadly infections. They work by teaching the body how to fight the germs that cause the infections. Vaccines usually come in shots, but some come in nose sprays or medicines that people swallow. Vaccines are also called "vaccinations " пїЅ or "immunizations. " пїЅ пїЅ пїЅ

Why should I get vaccinated? " пїЅ Getting vaccinated can help keep you from getting sick with certain infections. Plus, being vaccinated helps protect the people around you from getting sick. пїЅ пїЅ

Which vaccines should adults get? " пїЅ Your doctor or nurse will tell you which vaccines you should get. пїЅ пїЅ

There are some vaccines that all adults should get, even if they got their childhood vaccines. These vaccines protect against the following infections: пїЅ пїЅ

Influenza (flu) " пїЅ The flu can cause fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, or sore throat.
Diphtheria and tetanus " пїЅ Vaccines against these 2 diseases are usually together in 1 shot. Diphtheria can cause a thick covering in the back of the throat that can lead to breathing problems. Tetanus causes the muscles to work abnormally.
Pertussis " пїЅ This infection is also known as "whooping cough " пїЅ and can cause a severe breathing illness in babies. Vaccinating adults helps prevent young children around them from getting the infection. The pertussis vaccine comes in the same shot as the diphtheria and tetanus vaccines.

Some adults will need other vaccines, depending on their age, medical conditions, jobs, travel plans, and other factors. These can include vaccines to protect against: пїЅ пїЅ

Pneumococcus " пїЅ Pneumococcus is a germ that can cause an infection of the lungs, ears, blood, or tissues around the brain.
Meningococcus " пїЅ Meningococcus is a germ that can cause an infection of the blood or tissues around the brain.
Herpes zoster, also called "shingles " пїЅ " пїЅ Shingles can cause a painful skin rash and blisters.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) " пїЅ HPV infection can lead to cancer of the cervix (in women). It can also cause genital warts in men and women. Young adult women should get this vaccine. Young adult men can choose to have the vaccine or not.
Other infections such as measles, chickenpox, hepatitis B, and hepatitis A

How many vaccine doses do I need? " пїЅ Each vaccine is different. Some vaccines work after just 1 dose. Others need 2 or more doses to prevent an infection. пїЅ пїЅ

Some vaccines prevent an infection for the rest of your life. Others do not. A "booster " пїЅ is a vaccine dose given after a certain number of years. It reminds the body how to prevent an infection. People who got childhood vaccines sometimes need booster doses in adulthood. People who travel to other countries also sometimes need booster doses of certain vaccines. пїЅ пїЅ

When should I be vaccinated? " пїЅ Different vaccines are given at different ages. Your doctor or nurse will recommend a vaccine schedule that is right for you. Most vaccines take a few weeks to work. пїЅ пїЅ

What side effects can vaccines cause? " пїЅ Often, vaccines cause no side effects. When they do cause side effects, they can cause: пїЅ пїЅ

Redness, mild swelling, or soreness where the shot was given
A mild fever
A mild rash
Headache or body aches

Vaccines also sometimes cause more serious side effects, such as severe allergic reactions. But serious side effects are rare. пїЅ пїЅ

Ask your doctor or nurse what side effects to expect each time you get a vaccine. If you have a reaction or a problem after a vaccine, let him or her know. пїЅ пїЅ

What if I have an egg allergy? " пїЅ If you have an egg allergy, let your doctor or nurse know. Some vaccines have egg in them. Your doctor or nurse will tell you which vaccines are safe to get. пїЅ пїЅ

What if I am pregnant or want to get pregnant? " пїЅ If you are pregnant or want to get pregnant, let your doctor or nurse know. Certain vaccines should not be given to women who are pregnant or who will be pregnant soon. Other vaccines are important to give during pregnancy to help protect the baby. пїЅ пїЅ

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 15745 Version 5.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.206 пїЅ пїЅ

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Vaccines for Adults

The Basics

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

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