Reducing Your Health Risks with Vaccines

Vaccines are one of the best ways to reduce your risk of certain major illnesses called infectious diseases. Avoiding certain infectious diseases or their complications will help to keep you healthier so you can continue be active in life, work, and family time. A lot of research has gone into making vaccines that help prevent infectious diseases in the easiest way possible. Vaccines are quick and will fit into even a busy schedule.

Who needs vaccines?

All adults can benefit from vaccines to prevent certain infectious diseases. The types of vaccine you need may depend on your age, health history, or where you work or travel.

How can vaccines help me?

Vaccines can help you:

Stay healthy and active
Prevent serious complications and even death from certain infections
Be less likely to pass on infections to your close contacts
Worry less about your risk for infections
Not miss work or school because of sick time
Save money on medical costs from illness
Take care of your family
Reduce your risk of getting sick when traveling
Spend more time just enjoying the good things in life

How do vaccines work?

Vaccines trigger your own immune system to fight off and prevent certain kinds of disease in the future. A vaccine uses a tiny amount of substance that lets your body build up antibodies and other defenses to a virus or bacteria. This helps to prevent or lessen the severity of many types of diseases caused by infection.

A vaccine is most often done with an injection by a small needle into your arm. Some vaccines work in 1 shot. Others need to be done in 2 or more shots over a period of time. This lets your immune system build up the right amount of defenses.

Combination vaccines can help prevent more diseases with fewer shots. These vaccines have more than 1 type of prevention in a single dose.

What vaccines do I need?

There are various vaccines that help protect adults from serious disease. What you need may depend on your age and health history. These include vaccines to prevent shingles, HPV, meningitis, and pneumonia. Other vaccines are important for all adults. These include vaccines for COVID-19, tetanus, and the flu. You may need other vaccines if you’re planning to travel or if you work in certain settings. Your healthcare provider will talk with you about your health history and tell you which ones you need to get up-to-date.

Do I need the yearly flu vaccine?

Yes most adults benefit from the yearly flu vaccine. This vaccine reduces your risk of getting the flu and complications from the flu. It’s best to get it before the end of October each year. It is not advised for certain groups of people based on health conditions and possible allergies. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if you are a good candidate for the flu shot.

Where can I get vaccines?

There are many places you can get vaccines. You can often choose where is easiest for you. In some cases, you may need to schedule in advance to make sure there is a vaccine ready for you. You can get vaccines at places like:

Your healthcare provider’s office
Your local pharmacy
Onsite at your workplace
Local vaccine clinics or hospitals
Your senior living community or assisted living

It's never too late

If you’re worried that you have missed some vaccines, it’s not too late. Your healthcare provider can make sure you easily get up to date on your vaccines.

Healthy people still need vaccines

Vaccines are the easiest way to reduce risk of serious illness, even in very healthy people.

If you have questions

The best person to talk to is your healthcare provider. They can tell you why and how vaccines can help keep you healthy and recommend which ones you need.