Important Vaccines for Adults

Are you up-to-date on your vaccines? If not, or if you’re not sure, head to STAT MED Urgent Care to receive the expert guidance and preventive care you need. Located in San Francisco’s East Bay, our clinics serve Concord, Livermore, Walnut Creek, Dublin, and nearby communities, providing easily accessible walk-in vaccines and routine medical services every day.

Vaccines aren’t just for kids who are going to summer camp – they play an important role for adults who are looking to stay healthy, too. Receiving appropriate vaccines and boosters will strengthen your immune system against certain diseases and help ensure you remain in good health.

What adult vaccines do I need?

It’s important to note that every adult is different and has unique health needs. Occupation, travel, overall health, and other factors may influence which vaccines are right for you. Generally speaking, though, many adults need to stay up-to-date on the following vaccines:

COVID-19 Vaccine for Adults

With continued COVID pandemic concerns, it is important that everyone 16+ get a COVID vaccine as soon as available to them. 

Tetanus (Td/Tdap)

Tetanus is a serious bacterial infection caused by the Clostridium tetani toxin. When this toxin, which is made up of bacteria spores, enters a wound, it can trigger neurological side effects like painful muscle contractions, stiffness, and lockjaw. The large majority of tetanus cases occur in people who have never received their initial tetanus vaccine and adults who fail to keep up with their tetanus boosters.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends babies and young children receive multiple doses of the Tdap vaccine, which builds up immunity against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough. Adults who received the appropriate dosage of Tdap when they were children should receive the Td (tetanus and diphtheria) vaccine, also referred to as a tetanus booster, once every ten years. If you never received a Tdap vaccine as a child, it can be given to you in place of the Td vaccine.

Measles

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that primarily affects children. It starts with a skin rash and flu-like symptoms and can sometimes lead to pneumonia, croup, laryngitis, encephalitis, and even death.

Measles can be prevented with the measles vaccine, also known as the MMR vaccine. This shot protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. The CDC recommends that children receive two doses of the MMR vaccine – one at 12 to 15 months of age and the second at 4 to 6 years old. If you are an adult who did not receive two doses of the measles vaccine as a child, it is still important for you to be vaccinated. This is particularly true if you plan on traveling outside of the country or have a weakened immune system.

Hepatitis A/B

Hepatitis is a potentially deadly liver infection that stems from multiple viruses, primarily the hepatitis A virus and the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis A is easily spread through contact and infected food or water, while Hepatitis B can be contracted through saliva, blood, vaginal discharge, or semen.

The best way to prevent this disease is by receiving the hepatitis A and hepatitis B combination vaccine series, which is recommended for individuals over the age of 18. It is particularly important to be vaccinated against hepatitis if you are an international traveler or work in a healthcare, correctional, or childcare facility.

Influenza (flu)

The flu shot is the single best way to defend yourself against the seasonal influenza virus, which affects up to 20 percent of the American population every year according to the CDC. All adults, with rare exception, need a flu shot once every year. It is especially important to receive an annual flu shot if you are pregnant, have recently given birth, work in a healthcare setting or school, or have a medical condition that weakens your immune system.

Do you have questions about adult vaccines? No worries – just visit STAT MED Urgent Care at your convenience. Our experienced medical providers can review your medical history, discuss your upcoming travel plans, and assess other factors to determine what vaccines are appropriate and administer them when it’s convenient for your schedule. Contact us today to learn more – we proudly serve families in Concord, Livermore, Walnut Creek, Dublin, and nearby communities.