Quiz Yourself: Adult Immunizations
Find out what you know about getting immunized by taking this quiz.
You should get a tetanus and diphtheria booster every 15 years.
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You should get this booster every 10 years. Tetanus and diphtheria are serious diseases caused by bacteria, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The tetanus bacteria enter the body through a cut or wound. Diphtheria can be passed from person to person.
Polio vaccines should be kept up-to-date throughout your lifetime.
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If you have had the primary series of the poliovirus vaccine, you are considered to be fully immunized. Check with your health care provider, however, if you are traveling to an area of the world where polio is endemic.
The pneumococcal vaccine protects against pneumococcal pneumonia.
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Pneumonia is a serious lung infection. You should get this vaccine if you are older than 65. The CDC and other experts now recommend that other people also get this vaccine. These include children under age 2; children under age 5 with certain chronic illnesses; children ages 2 to 5 who are African American or American Indian, in group child care, have social or economic disadvantages, or have frequent ear infections; adults with chronic health conditions, including heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes; adults with a weakened immune system or an autoimmune disease; adults with kidney disease or kidney transplant; adults with spleen problems; adults who are alcoholics; and adults living in long-term care facilities. Talk to your health care provider if you think you should get this vaccine.
An annual flu shot should be given to anyone age 50 or older.
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Other people who should get a flu shot are those with diabetes, or chronic heart, kidney, blood or lung problems, such as asthma and emphysema; and health care providers.
The best time to get a flu shot is December or January, when flu season starts.
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The best time to get this shot is October or November of each year, before flu season starts.
If you live, work, or travel outside the United States, you should get the hepatitis A vaccine.
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Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by a virus. Other people who should get this vaccine are military personnel; food-service workers; homosexuals; intravenous drug users; people who work in day-care centers; and people who work or live in institutions or group homes.
If you are planning to become pregnant, you may need the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
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Children routinely get this vaccine. A booster is given to women of childbearing age when their immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella is low. A simple blood test can determine your immunity. If your immunity is low, you will need a booster shot at least three months before you become pregnant.
You're more likely to be exposed to infectious diseases if you travel to rural destinations in developing countries.
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You should get a smallpox vaccine if you travel to a country where an outbreak has been reported.
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There have been no outbreaks of smallpox in any country. No one needs the smallpox vaccine because the disease was eliminated in 1980.
Only children need to have the chickenpox vaccine.
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Chickenpox can be fatal in adults. Any adult who didn't have chickenpox as a child should talk to a doctor about getting the vaccine.
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