Every year, thousands of adults in the United States suffer serious health problems and are hospitalized or even die from diseases that could have been prevented by vaccination.

To recognize the importance of immunizations throughout life, and to help remind adults that they need vaccines too, the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department wants to focus on adults during the last week of National Immunization Awareness Month. This is the perfect time to remind adults that they should be protected against diseases like influenza, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, shingles and pneumococcal disease.

All adults should get vaccines to protect their health. Even healthy adults can become seriously ill, and can pass certain illnesses onto others. Immunization is especially important for older adults and for adults with chronic conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes or heart disease. Immunizations are also important for anyone who is in close contact with the very young, the very old, people with weakened immune systems, and those who cannot be vaccinated.

All adults should get the influenza vaccine each year to protect against seasonal flu. Every adult should also get the Tdap vaccine once to protect against pertussis (whooping cough), and then a Td (tetanus, diphtheria) booster shot every 10 years. In addition, women are also recommended to get the Tdap vaccine each time they are pregnant, preferably at 27-36 weeks of pregnancy.

Adults may need other vaccines -such as shingles, pneumococcal, hepatitis, HPV-depending on one’s age, occupation, travel, health status, vaccination history and other risk factors.

For questions about adult vaccinations please call the Brownwood/Brown County Health Department at 325-646-0554, or visit the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.