If you have young kids, it may seem like they get a vaccine at every checkup. While you don’t need vaccines as often as an adult, they’re still important for your health.
Think of your immune system as the body’s defense system. When you come in contact with bacteria, viruses, and germs, your immune system fights them off.
How does the immune system know what to do? In many cases, it knows how to react to these “invaders” because a vaccine taught it! Staying up to date with recommended vaccines — even as an adult — can help keep your immune system at its best.
How Vaccines Work
The immune system has two main ways of playing defense: innate immunity and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity is the set of processes your body puts into play automatically when it comes into contact with any unfamiliar substance.
When the body’s innate immunity is overwhelmed or stressed and can’t fully fight off an invader, adaptive immunity steps in. This type of immunity targets a specific substance.
That’s where vaccines come into play. Vaccines teach the immune system how to identify and fend off a particular bacteria or virus. They train the immune system so it knows how to react.
The Vaccines Adults Need & When
The American Academy of Pediatrics and other health organizations developed the Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule to help get kids the vaccines they need. It recommends specific timing for those vaccines based on years of research into when and how children are first exposed to specific viruses and bacteria.
That same information guides the Adult Immunization Schedule, determining when and how often vaccines are recommended. There are four types of vaccines given to adults:
Vaccines Recommended Regularly
These vaccines, such as the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, are reformulated yearly or at other intervals to match the current strains of those viruses. Getting an updated shot helps protect you from the virus that’s circulating.
Vaccines Recommended Every So Often
These vaccines, such as the Tdap vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough, are needed occasionally because the vaccine’s effectiveness weakens over time. Getting a booster shot of these vaccines helps you stay protected.
Vaccines Recommended at Different Times in Adulthood
Certain vaccines are recommended at the age when a person is at the highest risk. This includes vaccines to protect against shingles, pneumonia, and RSV in older adults. Getting a dose of these vaccines helps protect you as you get older.
Vaccines That May Be Recommended
In addition to vaccines that are recommended across the board, other vaccines may be recommended based on your specific risk factors and whether you’ve previously been vaccinated. This can include the mpox and hepatitis A vaccines, as well as vaccines for HPV and chickenpox, if they weren’t given earlier in life.
How to Find Out What Vaccines You Need
Unsure whether you’re due for a vaccine? A primary care provider at Cempa Community Care can talk with you about the vaccines you’ve received and which ones you need now. This is based largely on your age and sex, but other factors are also considered for some vaccines.
Be open and honest with your provider when asked about your lifestyle and habits, including your sexual health. Knowing that information can help your provider recommend vaccines that will help protect you.
If you’re due for vaccines, the Cempa team can help you get up to date. You can visit with a primary care provider and receive the vaccines you need at our clinic. These services, like others at Cempa, are offered on a sliding scale with costs varying based on your income, making them accessible when they otherwise might not be.
At Cempa, you can access comprehensive care for all your health needs, including primary care, behavioral health care, dental services, and testing and treatment for infectious diseases, along with a full-service pharmacy on site. Call 423-265-2273 to learn more.
