Off to the Future – Young Adults
Vaccines are not just for children. Immunizations are needed throughout your adult life to help you stay healthy. That’s because immunity from childhood diseases may wear off over time, and you may also be at risk for other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Getting ready for college or your future career means making sure you are up to date on all doses of the recommended vaccines–both to protect yourself and others around you. Because some diseases can spread quickly in settings like college dorms and classrooms, many colleges and universities have vaccination requirements for school entry.
Everyone age 6 months and older should have a flu shot every year. And every adult should get the Tdap vaccine once if they did not receive it as an adolescent, to protect against pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, and diphtheria, and then a Td (tetanus, diphtheria) booster every 10 years. The HPV vaccine is recommended for boys and girls ages 11-12. Young women and men who have not started or finished the HPV vaccine series may be vaccinated through age 26. Meningococcal vaccine is recommended for young adults, especially first-year students who will be living in residence halls.
Your need for other vaccines depends on factors such as your childhood vaccination history, travel plans, personal health status and risks.
Information provided by the National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC).
