
Missing Routine Vaccinations Makes You More Vulnerable to Disease
Vaccines aren’t just for kids. Adults can also benefit from certain vaccines and boosters. For starters, you should get a flu shot every year. The shot decreases the chance of getting sick and having serious complications. Even a mild flu infection can temporarily increase your risk of heart disease. A flu shot is particularly important if you’re in a high-risk group, which includes people with diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and a BMI over 40 and those who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.
You should also check that you’re up-to-date on routine childhood vaccines. A tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine booster is recommended 10 years after your last dose, particularly for people who have or work with infants. In addition, a polio vaccine booster may be recommended to travel to countries where the disease is still circulating, including the U.K., Israel, Canada, and the U.S. Other vaccines you may need if you’re a world traveler are hepatitis A and B and meningitis.