10 Reasons To Get Vaccinated

Did you know that adults need vaccines too? If you didn't, you are not alone.

Many adults in the U.S. are not aware of vaccines recommended for them – and that means they are not taking advantage of the best protection available against a number of serious diseases. According to the 2013 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS):

Only about 1 out of 5 (21%) adults 19-64 years old with certain high-risk medical conditions had received a pneumococcal vaccination.
Only about 1 out of 4 (24%) adults 60 years and older, had received a shingles vaccination.
Only about 1 out of 6 (17%) adults 19 years and older, had received a Tdap vaccine in the last 8 years to provide protection from tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough).

What vaccines do you need?

All adults should get:

Annual flu vaccine to protect against seasonal flu
Td/Tdap vaccine to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis

Some additional vaccines you may need (depending on your age, health conditions and other factors) include:

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Meningococcal
Pneumococcal
Shingles

Learn more about adult vaccines and find out which vaccines are recommended for you.

Traveling overseas? There may be additional vaccines you need depending on the location. Find out now.

Are you one of the millions of adults not receiving the vaccines you need?

There are many reasons to get vaccinated, here are just ten.

You may be at risk for serious diseases that could be prevented by vaccines. Many of these diseases (like influenza, pertussis, and shingles) are common in the US, and many can be spread easily.
You may be at increased risk for complications from certain diseases if you have a chronic health condition or weakened immune system. Adults with chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease and those with weakened immune systems are more likely to develop complications from certain vaccine-preventable diseases. These complications can include long-term illness, hospitalization, and even death.
You can reduce the chance that you'll pass on a serious disease to your loved ones. Most vaccine-preventable disease can be contagious, like influenza, meningitis, and whooping cough. Receiving your recommended vaccines can reduce the risk that you get sick and spread disease on to others.
You can help protect those who can't get vaccinated. People with certain medical conditions (like pregnant women or people undergoing cancer treatment) may not be able to get certain vaccines, but are very vulnerable to illness. Vaccines can help prevent the spread of contagious diseases to them. For example, newborns who are too young to get vaccinated for whooping cough are also most at risk of severe illness from the disease. In cases where the source is known, 4 out of 5 babies caught the disease from someone in the home - a parent, sister or brother, grandparent, or babysitter.
You don't have time to get sick. You have too much responsibility to risk getting sick, including people counting on you at work and at home. Vaccines can help you stay healthy so don't waste time being sick.
You don't want to miss what's important to you. Spending time with family and friends or taking time out for your hobbies may not be possible if you get sick. Vaccines can help you stay healthy and enjoy the things you like to do.
You don't want to pay the price of getting sick. Adults who get a vaccine-preventable disease face the financial costs of medical visits and treatment, in addition to other costs like taking time off work, hiring babysitters, and traveling to and from healthcare professionals.
You like to travel - or have to travel for work. Travel can present exciting opportunities, but it can also put you at risk for certain diseases. Make sure you only bring back great memories, not illness! If you are going to travel internationally, you might need additional vaccines. See the vaccinations and travel checklist.
You want the peace of mind that comes with protecting your health. People sometimes wait to get vaccines until they hear of outbreaks of disease like pertussis or influenza in their community. The time to be vaccinated is before disease arrives. It's important to stay up-to-date on your immunizations because no one can predict when disease will appear.
You don't want to feel crummy if you can prevent it! No one wants to feel sick. There are more than a dozen diseases that you can protect against simply by getting vaccinated! Adult vaccines are available at doctor's offices, health departments, pharmacies, and even workplaces.

Take the next steps to protect your health and get vaccinated:

Take our vaccination quiz to find out which vaccines are recommended for you and discuss your results with your healthcare professional during your next appointment.
Find a vaccine provider near you .
Share your reason for getting vaccinated!