Conclusion
The adult patient’s vaccination status should be addressed at each health care encounter, and current recommendations should be followed. The duration of efficacy for vaccines is not an exact science. Many vaccines licensed in the US are relatively new, and recommendations for boosters for some of these vaccines will be forthcoming as more data are gathered. For example, the recommendation that a booster dose of Tdap be given to adults resulted from the recent increase in reported pertussis cases.35
Providers armed with the most current information and resources represent the forefront in ensuring that the US adult population is adequately immunized.
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