Immunizations are extremely important for children. But Erin Bailey, MD, said there are some immunizations that adults should make sure to get as well – especially those adults with young children.

One of the most important, according to Dr. Bailey, is DTAP – the Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis vaccine.

“Your baby's primary protection against pertussis, or whooping cough, is for you as a parent to have protection and to keep them with a cocoon of protection against that illness,” Dr. Bailey said.

Pertussis is commonly known as whooping cough. The CDC calls whooping cough “a highly contagious respiratory disease.” It causes a violent, uncontrollable coughing that makes it hard to breathe, the CDC states.

Infants are particularly susceptible to pertussis, Dr. Bailey said.

“While for an adult that's just a nagging cough, for an infant that can put them in the hospital on a ventilator and can be very life threatening,” Dr. Bailey said.

Dr. Bailey also recommends vaccines for pneumonia: “Pneumonia causes very common infections, ear infections, pneumonias, sinus infections, but those are less likely to become invasive infections that put your child in the hospital if they've been immunized.”

Older children, especially teens heading off to college, should be vaccinated for meningitis and the human papillomavirus (HPV).