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Millions of adults are at risk of developing serious diseases. They're diseases that could be prevented easily, but most of us don't realize we need to. Many vaccinations we got as children have worn off. That leaves us vulnerable to diseases including pertussis, tetanus, and even measles or mumps. With four kids, Jennifer Rentmeester makes plenty of trips to the pediatrician's office for checkups. Kids get a lot of shots. Jennifer didn't realize SHE needed a bunch of shots as well. "It does surprise me we might need new vaccinations for everybody," she told us. But we may. According to Dr. G. Richard Olds, an infectious disease specialist at the Medical College of Wisconsin, recent outbreaks further demonstrated the need to take action. In the last five years, we've had outbreaks of pertussis and measles here in Wisconsin. Mumps also hit other parts of the nation. "We've discovered that as the herd immunity in our country is waning because we're not doing that, we're getting outbreaks of diseases that didn't previously occur," Dr. Olds said. Furthermore, as more parents choose not to vaccinate their children, our nationwide immunity has disappeared. "We are not doing as good a job as we ought to with childhood vaccinations," Dr. Olds added. Dr. Bradley Kirschner, a pediatrician, wages that battle daily. He said many parents are reluctant to vaccinate because of concerns over autism. Concerns, he said, which are unfounded. Now, he also talks to parents about the shots THEY need. "Parents haven't heard about it, they haven't been thinking about it," he told us. But they should be, because "The immunity to pertussis goes away as you get older," he explained. And depending on your age, medical history and occupation, you could need five or six shots! Kids get the DTaP. Adults need the new Tdap. It prevents tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. If you didn't get measles as a child or can't prove you've been vaccinated, you may need another MMR. Younger women also need a vaccination against human apillomavirus. There's a vaccination for shingles. And college-bound students need the meningitis vaccine. And don't forget the annual flu shot! "We also should be going over with our physician, what are the usual adult vaccinations that everyone needs to get and what are the benefits to me versus the side effects of the vaccines?" Dr. Olds added. Nurses at the Wauwatosa Health Department wish everyone were vigilant about keeping up with vaccinations. "People might be knowledgeable if they're going on a trip or something but for your general day to day activities?" Sue Javorski, a nurse in Wauwatosa, told us. She said she does a lot of educating adults who don't know exactly what they need.