Vaccination for adults: The Ministry of Health explains which shots to get
Kyiv • UNN
Adults need to receive booster shots against diphtheria and tetanus every 10 years. The Ministry of Health also recommends vaccinations against influenza, COVID-19, hepatitis, and HPV.
Protection against infectious diseases is necessary at any age, and adults should regularly update their vaccinations according to the immunization schedule and individual doctor's recommendations. This was reported by the Ministry of Health, according to UNN.
Despite the common misconception that vaccination is exclusively for children, protection against infectious diseases is necessary for a person throughout their entire life,
It is noted that over time, the immunity formed through childhood vaccination against certain dangerous diseases gradually fades. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly update vaccinations in adulthood.
Also, if an adult was not vaccinated or did not encounter the pathogen of an infectious disease in childhood (for example, did not have chickenpox or hepatitis A), they should get vaccinated.
According to the Calendar of Preventive Vaccinations, revaccination against diphtheria and tetanus is provided for adults every ten years, starting from the age of 16. You can get vaccinated at your family doctor; this vaccination is free of charge.
It is recommended to update the flu vaccination every year, preferably before the start of the epidemic season, and against COVID-19 (for people in risk groups).
Adults should also consider vaccination against hepatitis A if they have not had the disease before (if IgG antibodies to the hepatitis A virus are present, immunity already exists). It is especially worth getting vaccinated for adults if they live in or visit regions with an increased risk of infection spread, travel frequently, or work in the fields of public catering, education, or caregiving. Hepatitis A is transmitted through contaminated water, food products, and household contacts, and vaccination is a reliable way to prevent the disease.
It is also recommended for adults who were not vaccinated in childhood to undergo a course of vaccination against hepatitis B. The pathogen is transmitted through blood and other biological fluids and can cause severe liver damage.
Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) infection remains relevant for adults as a prevention of oncological diseases — cervical cancer, as well as cancer of the vagina, vulva, oropharynx, and penis. In adulthood, vaccination makes sense as long as a person is sexually active, as vaccination can protect against subsequent infections and other types of HPV.
Future parents are recommended to consider the possibility of vaccination against pertussis (whooping cough), as this allows protecting the newborn baby from pertussis until the moment of their own immunization. This is called the "cocoon strategy."
Contact your family doctor and consult regarding vaccination in adulthood. Caring for your own health is relevant at any age,
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