Recommended Vaccines By Age: Your 20s, 30s, 40s, and Beyond

glamour.com:

are recommended at different stages in life because your immune system naturally weakens as you age, making you more susceptible to ,” says , MD, medical director of infection Prevention at the University of Washington Medical Center. “In your younger years, vaccines are designed to protect against diseases you’re commonly exposed to during school, travel, or new social environments—such as the HPV vaccine in your 20s.

As you reach your 40s and 50s, age-related declines in the immune system make you more vulnerable to illnesses like shingles and pneumonia, which can be more severe—even life-threatening—in older adults.

Ultimately, it’s about giving your immune system the right tools at the right time to defend your health.”While there’s a general provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), keep in mind that which vaccines you receive—and when—still depends on your personal health profile; there are health conditions, from pregnancy to chronic disease, that may put you at higher risk and lead your healthcare provider to recommend certain vaccines. “It’s important to consider specific risk factors and co-morbidities that may require adults to get additional vaccinations,” Dr.

Cohen says. “For example, individuals with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, chronic liver disease, or a weakened immune system may require additional vaccines.”Also worth noting: When it comes to recommended annual vaccines against seasonal viruses, like the Covid-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine, the urgency to stay on schedule increases with age. “When you reach middle and older age, the flu can become a more serious and life-threatening condition,” explains , MD, PhD, an internal medicine physician, scientist, and.