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Staying Healthy
Fall vaccination roundup
- By Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
Even if you’re exhausted from pandemic-related vaccinations, it’s still important to stay up to date on all of your shots.
As the COVID-19 pandemic drags on, with vaccination requiring boosters, it can be easy to forget about vaccines that guard against other illnesses. But vaccines are more important than ever as the years pass, because your immune system weakens with age. "You can’t fight off infections as well as you used to," says Dr. Suzanne Salamon, associate chief of gerontology at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "If you have medical conditions, they can make you even more vulnerable. So any vaccinations are helpful."
Talk to your doctor about whether you’re up to date on vaccinations and boosters for COVID-19; tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough), which are given together; hepatitis A; and the following illnesses.
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About the Author
Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
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As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
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