You're not a kid anymore, so you don't have to worry about shots, right? Wrong. Find out how to stay on top of your vaccines. Immunizations are just not for children. Vaccines that you have gotten when you are younger can wear off over time. People 18 years old and above are more at risk of vaccine-preventable diseases because of the environment and the lifestyle you are exposed to.
Vaccines for adults are recommended based on your age, prior vaccinations, health, lifestyle, occupation and travel destinations. The schedule is updated every year, and changes range from the addition of a new vaccine to tweaks of current recommendations. To determine exactly which vaccines you need now and which vaccines are coming up, check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website.
Your doctor might also recommend certain vaccines based on your sexual activity. Vaccinations can protect you from hepatitis A and hepatitis B, serious liver infections that can spread through sexual contact. The HPV vaccine is recommended for men up to age 21 and women up to age 26.
The need for vaccines does not go away with age. In fact, there are specific ages in your adult life when vaccinations are recommended. Also, protection from vaccines you received as a child can wear off over time, and there are more vaccines available now.