Shots aren’t just for childhood checkups. Many of us in our 20s are due for certain booster shots, Wanda Filer, M.D., president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, told The New York Times. You need a tetanus and diphtheria booster every 10 years, so if you last got one as a teen, you probably need another.
Adults should also get a pertussis (a.k.a. whopping cough) booster—and be vaccinated against meningitis and HPV if they weren’t previously. The HPV vaccination (you may know it as the Gardasil shot) is an important one, as it protects against cervical, head and neck, and anal cancers.
These recommendations are general, so you should talk to your doctor about specific shots related to certain health conditions or travel plans. The CDC also has an easy, personalized quiz to get you started.
(h/t The New York Times)
