Veterans: Learn which vaccines you need to stay healthy

There are two main vaccines recommended for all adults. Getting these vaccines can prevent illness, missed work, increased medical bills and not being able to take care of family. The following vaccines are recommended:

• Seasonal flu vaccine
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, also known as whooping cough) followed by a Td (tetanus and diphtheria) booster every 10 years

Adults 19-26 years old

The HPV vaccine can protect against the human papillomavirus, a virus that causes cervical

cancers, anal cancer and genital warts. This vaccine is recommended for the following groups:

• Women up to age 26
• Men up to age 21
• Men ages 22-26 who have sex with men

Adults 60 years and older

Our immune system gets weaker as we get older. This may put us at higher risk for certain diseases including shingles and pneumonia. To protect against these diseases, the following vaccines are recommended:

• Pneumococcal vaccine (65 years and older) to protect against pneumonia
• Zoster vaccine (60 years and older) to protect against shingles

Adults with Health Conditions

Adults with certain health conditions may be at a higher risk for certain illnesses or diseases. These health conditions include the following:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease, stroke or other cardiovascular disease
• HIV infection
• Liver disease
• Lung disease (including asthma)
• Renal disease
• Weakened immune system

If you have any of the above conditions, talk with your doctor to find out which vaccines are recommended for you.

Take a quiz here to find out which vaccines you may benefit from: https://www2.cdc.gov/nip/adultimmsched/

What Vaccines are Recommended for You from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/adult.html

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About the author: Anna Krattli, PharmD, BCACP is a Clinical Pharmacist at the Harry S Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital