You might think that because you’re not a kid anymore you don’t need vaccines. But this isn’t the case. Staying up-to-date on your vaccinations as an adult is just as important for your health now as when you were a child.
Board-certified family medicine physician Ranjit S. Grewal, MD offers vaccinations for adults. We want you to understand how vaccines work and why they’re so important, even after childhood.
Vaccines are biological substances injected into your body to stimulate a response from your immune system to protect you against germs that could be harmful. Vaccines carry either dead or weakened forms of these harmful germs, and they trigger your body to create immunity to whatever bacteria or virus is being put into your system.
When your immune system encounters these germs for the first time, it creates a “memory” of them so your body knows to fight back the next time they invade. You aren’t infected when these weak germs are injected into your body via a vaccine, but it’s enough to tell your body to fight it off should it come again.
These are the vaccines we offer at our clinic that you’ll want to keep up-to-date on:
You should receive all these vaccines by age six; however, you’ll need to get booster shots regularly to maintain your immunity.
How often you need a booster depends on the type of vaccine and your body’s immunity. For instance, a flu shot is needed every year, while others like the Tdap shot require a booster every 10 years. You may need them more often if you have a weakened immune system.
It’s imperative to your health and the health of others that you stay up-to-date on your vaccines and subsequent booster shots. This is what keeps you safe from serious infections while also protecting others from catching these same diseases.
If you’re not up-to-date on your vaccines, come see our team to catch up for the sake of your health and well-being. To schedule an appointment, call our office or book online today.
