Adults

Why are Vaccines Important for Adults?

Vaccines can help protect your health at every stage and every age of your life. Every year thousands of adults in the U.S. become seriously ill and are hospitalized because of diseases that vaccines can help prevent, like flu and pneumococcal disease. Many adults even die from these diseases.

By getting vaccinated, you lower your chances of getting certain diseases and help protect yourself from much of this unnecessary suffering. In addition, no one wants to get sick and miss weeks of work or school, or miss spending time with family and friends due to a preventable disease.

You Can Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones from Diseases

Vaccines also lower your chance of spreading disease. By getting vaccinated, not only do you stay healthier, but you can also help avoid spreading a serious infectious disease, such as flu or whooping cough, to others. For example, some people in your family or community may not be able to get certain vaccines due to their age or certain health conditions, and they depend on you to help prevent the spread of disease.

Infants, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems (like those who are undergoing cancer treatment or have chronic health conditions) are especially vulnerable to infectious diseases and their serious complications.

All Adults

Flu Vaccine – All adults need a flu vaccine every year. It is especially important for people with chronic health conditions, pregnant women and older adults since they are at higher risk of flu complications.

– All adults need a flu vaccine every year. It is especially important for people with chronic health conditions, pregnant women and older adults since they are at higher risk of flu complications. Tdap Vaccine – Every adult should get the Tdap vaccine once if they did not receive it when they were younger to protect against whooping cough, and then a Td booster shot (tetanus & diphtheria only) every 10 years. If you are going to be around a newborn, its particularly important to get the Tdap shot to help protect the baby from dangerous diseases like whooping cough before he or she she can be fully vaccinated. Additionally, women should get the Tdap vaccine each time they are pregnant, preferably at 27 through 36 weeks, to protect themselves and their babies from whooping cough. Learn more by visiting our Pregnancy section.

– Every adult should get the Tdap vaccine once if they did not receive it when they were younger to protect against whooping cough, and then a Td booster shot (tetanus & diphtheria only) every 10 years.

Adults Ages 19-49

In addition to flu and Tdap vaccines, adults between 19 and 49 years old may also need:

HPV Vaccine – Protects against six HPV-related cancers and genital warts. The CDC recommends HPV vaccine for men and women up to age 26 if they weren’t vaccinated when they were younger.

– Protects against six HPV-related cancers and genital warts. The CDC recommends HPV vaccine for men and women up to age 26 if they weren’t vaccinated when they were younger. MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) Vaccine – The large number of recent measles cases reported in the U.S are leading many adults to wonder if they are protected from measles or if they need a booster shot. According to the CDC, if you were born after 1957 you need at least 1 dose of MMR vaccine unless a laboratory confirmed that you had past measles infection or are immune to measles. Certain adults may need 2 doses of MMR. Talk to our healthcare provider to find out what you need.

The large number of recent measles cases reported in the U.S are leading many adults to wonder if they are protected from measles or if they need a booster shot. According to the CDC, if you were born after 1957 you need at least 1 dose of MMR vaccine unless a laboratory confirmed that you had past measles infection or are immune to measles. Certain adults may need 2 doses of MMR. Talk to our healthcare provider to find out what you need. Find out more information about MMR vaccination of adults and measles, in general, in the Commonly-Asked Questions section below and on the Vaccines and Diseases page.

In addition to the vaccines mentioned above, other vaccines may be recommended for you based on certain risk factors including chronic health conditions, lifestyle, your workplace and/or travel.

Adults Ages 50+

As we get older, our immune systems tend to weaken over time, putting us at higher risk for certain diseases. So, in addition to flu and Tdap vaccines, adults 50 years and older may also need:

Shingles Vaccine – Protects against shingles and the complications from the disease. The CDC recommends two doses of shingles vaccine (Shingrix) for all healthy adults starting at age 50.

– Protects against shingles and the complications from the disease. The CDC recommends two doses of shingles vaccine (Shingrix) for all healthy adults starting at age 50. Pneumococcal Vaccine – Protect against pneumococcal disease. Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for all adults over 65 years old, and for adults younger than 65 years who have certain chronic health conditions.

– Protect against pneumococcal disease. Pneumococcal vaccination is recommended for all adults over 65 years old, and for adults younger than 65 years who have certain chronic health conditions. MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) Vaccine – If you were born after 1957 you need at least 1 dose of MMR vaccine unless a laboratory confirmed that you had past measles infection or are immune to measles. Certain adults may need 2 doses of MMR . Talk to your healthcare provider to find out what you need. Find out more information about MMR vaccination of adults and measles, in general, in the Commonly-Asked Questions section below and on the Vaccines and Diseases page.

If you were born after 1957 you need at least 1 dose of MMR vaccine unless a laboratory confirmed that you had past measles infection or are immune to measles. Certain adults may need 2 doses of MMR Talk to your healthcare provider to find out what you need.

In addition to the vaccines mentioned above, other vaccines may be recommended for you based on certain risk factors including chronic health conditions, travel, lifestyle and/or your workplace.