Vaccines FAQ
Vaccines for adults: Which Do You Need?
Vaccines offer protection from a variety of serious or potentially fatal diseases. Understand which vaccines adults need and when to get them.
Wonder which vaccines you need? It can be confusing, especially if you thought vaccines were just for kids. Use the list below to find out which vaccines you need now and which vaccines may be coming up – based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- COVID-19. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine might prevent you from getting COVID-19 or from becoming seriously ill or dying due to COVID-19.
- Flu (influenza). To prevent the flu, the CDC recommends annual flu vaccination for everyone ages 6 months or older. Adults age 50 and older should not get the nasal spray flu vaccine. The flu can cause serious complications in older adults.
- Hepatitis B. The CDC recommends all adults ages 19 to 59 receive the hepatitis B vaccine. The vaccine also is recommended for adults 60 and older who have risk factors for hepatitis B. It is not specifically recommended for those age 60 and older without known risk factors. But if you are in that group, you may receive the hepatitis B vaccine if you want it. Hepatitis B is a disease that affects the liver.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV). The CDC recommends the HPV vaccine for girls and boys ages 11 or 12. Teens and young adults who begin the vaccine series later, at ages 15 to 26, should receive three doses of the vaccine. The Food and Drug Administration has approved the HPV vaccine Gardasil 9 for males and females ages 9 to 45. HPV is a common virus that can lead to cancer.
- Pneumococcal vaccine. The CDC recommends the pneumococcal vaccines — there are two — for adults age 65 and older. Younger adults at increased risk of pneumococcal disease also might need a dose of the vaccine. Pneumococcal disease causes infections, such as pneumonia, meningitis and bloodstream infections.
- Shingles. To prevent shingles, the CDC recommends the vaccine Shingrix for healthy adults age 50 and older. It’s given in two doses. While not life-threatening, shingles can be very painful.
- Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap). One dose of Tdap is routinely given at age 11 or 12. If you’ve never had a Tdap vaccine, the CDC recommends getting it as soon as possible. One dose of Tdap vaccine is also recommended during each pregnancy, ideally between weeks 27 and 36. Tdap can protect you from lockjaw (tetanus), whooping cough (pertussis) and diphtheria, which can lead to breathing problems. A booster is recommended every 10 years.
* By Mayo Clinic staff
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