Off to College? Even Healthy Young Adults Need Vaccines

Think you outgrew the need for vaccines when you graduated from high school and moved out of your parents’ house? Not so. Every year, thousands of adults in the United States suffer serious health problems, are hospitalized, or even die from diseases that could have been prevented by vaccinations.

To celebrate the importance of immunizations throughout life — and to help remind young adults that they need vaccines, too — the Kane County Health Department will be participating in National Immunization Awareness Month. This is the perfect opportunity to make sure young adults are protected against diseases like flu, whooping cough, tetanus and HPV.

The month-long promotion is structured to highlight the importance of immunizations for a different population each week of the month.

• Week One: Off to College (young adults age 19-26)
• Week Two: Back to School (children, pre-teens and teens to age18)
• Week Three: Not Just for Kids: (adults age 26+)
• Week Four: A Healthy Start: (babies from birth to age 2 and pregnant women)

 The specific vaccines adults need are determined by factors such as age, lifestyle, risk conditions, locations of travel, and previous vaccines. All adults should talk to their health care providers about what vaccines are right for them.

Immunizations are not just for children. Even healthy young adults need protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. Throughout the month of August, the Health Department will be highlighting the importance of immunizations for children, students and adults. You can follow the Health Department on Twitter @KaneCoHealth and on Facebook for all the latest information.

To find out which vaccines might be right for you and where you can get vaccinated, call the Health Department’s BeeWize Immunization Line at 1-866-BEEWIZE 866-233-9493 or visit http://www.kanehealth.com/immunizations.htm.

SOURCE: Kane County Health Department