Adult vaccinations

While most vaccines in a person’s life happen during childhood, adults need vaccinations, too. These vaccines protect against yearly respiratory viruses as well as other types of diseases that some people may be more susceptible to than others. Staying up to date on your vaccinations is one of the most effective things you can do for proactive health.

Why immunizations are important for adults

Adult immunizations are an important part of staying healthy. There are multiple reasons why you follow your family doctor’s vaccine recommendations.

• Some vaccines from childhood stop being effective. Every vaccine is effective for different lengths due to the kind of disease it prevents. Adults need boosters for some vaccines to maintain protection.
• Older adults are susceptible to more diseases. As we age, our immune system becomes weaker. This means that we need vaccines for diseases that we didn’t used to earlier in life.
• Vaccinations protect your community. The more people in a community are vaccinated, the more protection the whole community gains. This is called herd immunity.

Recommended vaccines for adults

Vaccines all adults should get

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that all adults get a set of vaccines at various intervals.

COVID-19 vaccine

• What COVID is: Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat or lungs; may feel like a cold or flu
• What age groups should get the vaccine: Every adult from ages 19-64 should get one dose yearly. Adults aged 65 and older should get two doses yearly.

Influenza (flu) vaccine

• What the flu is: Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat and lungs
• What age groups should get the vaccine: Every adult should get a flu vaccine every year.

Tdap/Td vaccine

• What Tdap is: Stands for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (or “whooping cough”)
  • Tetanus: Infection caused by bacterial spores found in soil and dust everywhere. Spores enter the body through wounds or broken skin.
  • Diphtheria: Contagious bacterial infection of the nose and throat spread through air and direct contact
  • Pertussis: Contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airways
• What age groups should get the vaccine: Every adult should get a Tdap or Td vaccine every 10 years. Pregnant people should get a Tdap or Td vaccine during each pregnancy.

HPV vaccine

• What HPV is: Also called ‘human papillomavirus,’ a contagious viral infection spread by sexual contact; sometimes causes genital warts
• What age groups should get the vaccine: Adults through age 26 should get the HPV vaccine. Adults aged 27 through 45 should talk with their doctor to decide if the vaccine is right for them.

Hepatitis B vaccine

• What Hepatitis B is: Contagious viral infection of the liver spread through contact with infected body fluids such as blood or semen
• What age groups should get the vaccine: Adults aged 19 through 59 should get the Hepatitis B vaccine. Some adults after age 60 should get the vaccine.

Vaccines some adults should get

Not every adult needs every vaccine. These are vaccines that some adults should get under certain circumstances.

MMR vaccine

• What MMR is: Stands for mumps, measles and rubella
  • Mumps: Contagious viral infection that causes fever, tiredness, swollen cheeks and tender, swollen jaw
  • Measles: Contagious viral infection that causes high fever, cough, red eyes, runny nose and rash
  • Rubella: Contagious viral infection that causes low-grade fever, sore throat and rash
• What age groups should get the vaccine: If aged 69 years or younger, adults with no protection should get the MMR vaccine.

Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine

• What chickenpox is: Contagious viral infection that causes fever, headache and an itchy, blistering rash
• What age groups should get the vaccine: If born in the United States, adults under the age of 46 who have not gotten chickenpox should get the chickenpox vaccine. Adults 50 and older should get the vaccine if they have an additional risk factor.

Hepatitis A vaccine

• What Hepatitis A is: Contagious viral infection of the liver spread by contaminated food or drink or close contact with an infected person
• What age groups should get the vaccine: Some adults of all ages should get the Hepatitis A vaccine. Consult your doctor about which risk factors may contribute to a recommendation to get vaccinated.

Meningococcal vaccine

• What Meningococcal is: Contagious bacterial infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord or the bloodstream
• What age groups should get the vaccine: Some adults of all ages should get the Meningococcal vaccine. Consult your doctor about which risk factors may contribute to a recommendation to get vaccinated.

Hib vaccine

• What Hib is: Contagious bacterial infection of the lungs, brain and spinal cord, or bloodstream
• What age groups should get the vaccine: Some adults of all ages should get the Hib vaccine. Consult your doctor about which risk factors may contribute to a recommendation to get vaccinated.

Mpox vaccine

• What Mpox is: Contagious viral infection spread through close skin-to-skin contact, including sexual contact; causes a painful rash, fever, headache, tiredness, cough, runny nose, sore throat
• What age groups should get the vaccine: Some adults of all ages should get the Mpox vaccine. Consult your doctor about which risk factors may contribute to a recommendation to get vaccinated.

Inactivated poliovirus (IPV) vaccine

• What polio is: Contagious viral infection of nerves and brain; spread through the mouth, air and direct contact
• What age groups should get the vaccine: Some adults of all ages should get the IPV vaccine if known or suspected to have no protection against polio.

Vaccines older adults should get

Our immune systems get weaker as we age. Some vaccines are designed to give older adults additional protection against diseases that are more dangerous to seniors.

RSV vaccine

• What RSV is: Also called ‘respiratory syncytial virus,’ a contagious viral infection of the nose, throat and sometimes lungs
• What age groups should get the vaccine: Adults over the age of 75 should get an RSV vaccine every year. Adults aged 50 through 74 may get an RSV vaccine if unvaccinated and at increase risk of severe RSV disease. Pregnant people should get an RSV vaccine if pregnant during respiratory disease season.

Shingles vaccine

• What shingles is: Also called zoster, is caused by the chickenpox virus, which hides in the body and sometimes reactivates later in life
• What age groups should get the vaccine: All adults over the age of 50 should get a shingles vaccine. Some adults under the age of 50 should get a shingles vaccine if you are at high risk to get shingles.

Pneumococcal vaccine

• What pneumococcal is: Any infection caused by pneumococcus bacteria, from ear and sinus infections to infection of the lungs or bloodstream
• What age groups should get the vaccine: Some adults under the age of 50 should get the pneumococcal vaccine. All adults between 50 and 64 years of age should get the pneumococcal vaccine, and adults over the age of 65 years should get the vaccine if recommended by their physician.

What to do if you don’t know what vaccines you’ve had

If you don’t have access to your vaccination records or don’t know if you’ve had a certain vaccine, you’re not alone. It’s a common question.

The good news is that most vaccines can be given more than once, so if you’re uncertain, you likely can be vaccinated for a disease even if you might have been in the past. Talk to your family physician if this is the case. Additionally, your physician may have access to additional medical records for vaccines, such as through a state database.