College Students and Young Adults

Health Coverage for Older Children

Under the Affordable Care Act, if your plan covers children, you can now add or keep your children on your health insurance policy until they turn 26 years old. By allowing children to stay on their parent's plan, the Affordable Care Act makes it easier and more affordable for young adults to get health insurance coverage. Visit healthcare.gov for more information. Read more about the Vaccines for Children program.

The transition to adulthood is an exciting time in a young person’s life. Starting a career, getting an apartment, entering college, or joining the armed forces all offer unique rewards and challenges.

Yet young adults may not know that some vaccines can make this transitional time a healthier one.

Vaccines recommended for young adults ages 19–24 include:

• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine, which helps prevent meningococcal disease
• Tdap vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (also known as whooping cough)
• HPV vaccine, which protects against the viruses that cause most cervical cancers, anal cancer, and genital warts
• Seasonal flu vaccine

There may be other vaccines recommended for young adults because their health, job, or lifestyle may put them at higher risk for certain diseases.  Young adults should talk to a doctor or nurse to find out if there are other vaccines that they may need.

Vaccines, Vaccinations, Records, etc.

• Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule [243 KB - 7 pages]
• Adolescent and Adult Vaccine Quiz
  To help you understand what vaccines you might need, you can complete the Adolescent and Adult Vaccine Quiz online.
• Where can I get immunization records?
• Record - Vaccine administration for adults
  Blank vaccine records for recording vaccinations
• Who is eligible for free vaccines?
  Vaccines for Children program
• Vaccination programs protecting Military Service Members and their dependents
• State mandates on immunization and vaccine–preventable diseases
  Immunization Action Coalition website lists state requirements for colleges and universities

International Travel

Studying abroad or vacationing in another part of the world? Depending on where you’re traveling, you may need certain vaccinations. Learn about countries where certain vaccine-preventable diseases are more common and if you might need a vaccine before you travel.

• Vaccinations and travel: a checklist
• Travelers' Health: Destinations

Diseases and the Vaccines that Prevent Them

• Meningitis/Meningococcal Disease
  • College Freshmen and Meningitis
  • Meningococcal Vaccine
  • "Meningitis on Campus: Don't Wait. Vaccinate" tri-fold brochure [1.78 MB- 2 pages] produced by the National Meningitis Association (NMA)
    
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
  • What is HPV?
  • HPV Vaccines
  • HPV Vaccine – Questions & Answers
• Tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine
  • Td or Tdap Vaccine "What You Need To Know" [250 KB- 2 pages]
    This one-page CDC vaccine information statement explains who should get Td or Tdap vaccine and when.

  • Tetanus

  • Diphtheria

  • Pertussis

• Influenza
  • CDC's Seasonal Flu web site
  • Key facts about seasonal flu vaccine

Multimedia

• Get Your Big Boy Shots
  In this podcast, Dr. Carolyn Bridges discusses the importance of adults staying up to date with vaccinations. (PODCAST 3:33)
• I Never Get the Flu
  This short video emphasizes “no more excuses; you need a flu vaccine. (VIDEO 0:60)