Are you and your family up to date on your routine vaccines? They're an important part of staying safe and healthy.
Who Needs Vaccines?
Vaccines aren’t just for babies or young children. You need vaccines throughout your life to protect against serious diseases.
Different vaccines are recommended for children, teens and adults. The vaccines you need depend on factors like age, health conditions, your job and travel.
Children and young adults should get the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects against some cancers.
Healthy adults 50 and older need the shingles vaccine. It also protects against complications from the disease.
The pneumonia vaccine is recommended for older adults and all adults who have a health issue that makes their immune system weak.
Adults and children older than six months should get a yearly flu shot.
The Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine is recommended for older adults and infants younger than eight months whose mother was not vaccinated during third trimester.
Immunizations are important to protect people at risk, such as the very young, the very old and people with weak immune systems or serious illnesses. Some at-risk people can’t get immunizations. When people who can get vaccinated do, everyone is better protected.
Germs Are World Travelers
Vaccine-preventable diseases are still around, even the ones that aren’t common in the U.S. now. They can spread to people who aren’t vaccinated. Measles is one example. It’s still common in other countries. So, a traveler who hasn’t had the vaccine can get it and bring it back to the U.S. with them, where it may spread to others who are unvaccinated or cannot get vaccinated.
Are Vaccines Safe?
Before a vaccine is approved for use in the U.S., it goes through testing to make sure it’s safe and works well. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration evaluates the results of clinical studies. Safety is closely watched during use. Like other medicines, vaccines can cause side effects. They’re mostly mild.
What Vaccines Do Adults Need?
Adults with chronic health problems like asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), heart disease and diabetes are more likely to have complications from certain diseases. Ask your provider what vaccinations you need, especially if you have chronic health issues. Your TRS health plan covers many vaccinations at no cost to you.
Don’t Let Children Fall Behind
Following a vaccine schedule will keep your baby healthy. It’s designed to protect against serious diseases, like polio, whooping cough, measles and mumps that can cause a hospital stay, or even death.
It’s important to make sure your child is fully vaccinated against these preventable diseases. That means finishing the whole series of recommended vaccines at the right time. Studies have shown vaccines are safe, but veering from the vaccine schedule is not.
Don’t put off vaccinations for yourself or your child. Talk to your provider if you have concerns.
Don't Let the Flu Sneak Up on You
You can get the flu any time of the year. Cases of flu usually start rising in October or earlier, and it takes a couple of weeks for the vaccine to be effective. Talk to your provider about when you should get your flu shot to stay protected.
Resources for TRS-Care and TRS-Active Care
Your TRS health plan covers immunizations at no cost to you.
Finding a Provider
You can use Provider Finder® to find the right place to get your vaccinations.