As an adult, you can’t afford to get sick and miss work, school or any part of your busy life. While you can’t avoid every illness, there are some ways to protect yourself from certain diseases. Thousands of adults become seriously ill and are hospitalized every year because of diseases that can be prevented by vaccines. Vaccines work by using your body’s natural defenses to help you safely develop immunity to disease. The best way to protect yourself from certain diseases, which can be deadly in some cases, is by getting vaccinated.

Specific vaccines are recommended in various age groups, particularly in older adults since the body’s ability to fight infections can decrease over time. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) immunization schedule for adults can help you determine which vaccine is right for your age, lifestyle or medical condition, taking into consideration which vaccines you may have already received. You can always consult your health care provider or pharmacist for more information.

Keep in mind that these aren’t the only vaccines that may be right for you. If you plan to travel, work in a health care setting or are diagnosed with a new medical condition, you can ask your health care provider or pharmacist if they recommend other vaccines.

As an aging immune system tends to weaken over time, so does the risk for certain diseases. With vaccines, you can decrease your risk for potentially serious diseases that are preventable and, at the same time, protect your own health as well as the health of those around you.