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Vaccine Information

Adults

Ages 19 & Up

Key points

 

Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from preventable diseases.

The vaccines you receive are safe. Vaccines may be required at work, school, for travel or more activities.

 

Reasons It Is Important for Adults to Get Vaccinated

 

1. Vaccines Have Saved Lives for Over 100 Years—But Serious Disease Is Still a Threat

Vaccines have greatly reduced diseases that once routinely harmed or killed babies, children, and adults. People all over the world—including in the United States—still become seriously ill or even die from diseases that vaccines can help prevent. It is important that you stay up to date on recommended vaccines.

The protection some vaccines provide can fade over time, and you might need additional vaccine doses (boosters) to maintain protection. For example, adults should receive a tetanus booster every 10 years to protect against infection from dirty wounds. Talk to your health care provider about vaccination to see whether you might have missed any vaccines or need a booster.

2. Vaccines Are the Best Way to Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones from Preventable Disease

Did you know that vaccines are the best way to protect yourself from certain preventable diseases? Vaccines help your body create protective antibodies—proteins that help it fight off infections.

By getting vaccinated, you can protect yourself and also avoid spreading preventable diseases to other people in your community. Some people cannot get certain vaccines because they are too young or too old or they have a weakened immune system or other serious health condition. Those people are less likely to catch a preventable disease when you and others around them are vaccinated against it. Help protect yourself and the people you love by staying up to date on recommended vaccinations. 

3. Vaccines Can Prevent Serious Illness

Some vaccine-preventable diseases can have serious complications or even lead to later illnesses. For them, vaccination provides protection not only against the disease itself but also against the dangerous complications or consequences that it can bring. Some examples:

  • Seasonal influenza (flu) is a respiratory virus that sickens tens of millions of people every year in the United States. The annual flu vaccine helps you avoid infection and reduces your chances of being hospitalized or dying if you do become infected. Flu vaccine also protects you from flu-related pneumonia and flu-related heart attacks or stroke—complications that can affect anyone but are especially dangerous for persons with diabetes or chronic heart or lung conditions.
  • Hepatitis B is a serious, potentially deadly infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). There is no cure, but vaccination prevents HBV infection as well as the chronic liver damage and cancer that hepatitis B can cause.
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading cause of cervical cancer and can cause other cancers in both women and men. HPV vaccine keeps you from being infected with the virus or passing it to others, protecting you and them from the immediate effects of the virus as well as from the various cancers it can trigger.

4. The Vaccines You Receive Are Safe

Vaccine safety is a high priority. CDC and other experts carefully review safety data before recommending any vaccine, then continually monitor vaccine safety after approval.

Vaccines can have side effects, but most people experience only mild side effects—if any—after vaccination. The most common side effects are fever, tiredness, body aches, or redness, swelling, and tenderness where the shot was given. Mild reactions usually go away on their own within a few days. Serious or long-lasting side effects are extremely rare, and vaccine safety is continually monitored.

5. Vaccines May Be Required

Certain vaccines are required for school, work, travel, and more. Students, military personnel, and residents of rehabilitation or care centers must be vaccinated against diseases that circulate in close quarters. Health care workers and others whose job puts them at risk of catching and spreading preventable diseases need to be vaccinated against them.

And, of course, vaccination is required before travel to many places around the world. Because vaccination protects you and those around you, vaccines can be required for everyday activities as well as for extraordinary situations. It is important that you stay up to date on recommended vaccinations

 

Vaccine effectiveness

 

Generally speaking, vaccines are highly effective. However, no vaccine is 100 percent effective. The effectiveness rate for vaccines differs from one vaccine to the next.

For example, flu vaccines effectively lower the risk of infection by 40-60% in people who get the shot. That may sound low, but keep in mind the flu vaccine is designed to match the strain of the flu scientists expect to be most abundant in the coming flu season.

If they’re wrong, the vaccine may be less effective. If they’re right, the rate of protection may be higher.

The measles vaccine, on the other hand, is 97% effective when used as recommended. Indeed, most childhood vaccines are 85-95% effective if administered properly, according to the WHO.

 

Why people don’t get vaccinated

 

In recent years, vaccine opponents have challenged their safety and effectiveness. However, their arguments have generally been flawed.

For instance, there’s no good evidence that vaccination can cause Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). On the other hand, there is plenty of evidence of vaccine effectiveness. For example, vaccines prevent 3.5-5 million deaths annually, according to the WHO.

There are some other cases in which someone might not get vaccinated:

  • Weakened immune system: In this case, you should not get live vaccines such as the MMR vaccine or the chickenpox (varicella) vaccine. However, other types of vaccines would still be generally safe.
  • Previous allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to a vaccine before or you know you are allergic to an ingredient in the vaccine, you will need to avoid being immunized.
  • Lack of awareness: According to the CDC, only 50.2% of American adults got the annual flu shot during the flu season of 2020 to 2021. A 2017 survey study of adults in the United States found that only 62.3% of respondents knew that there was a recommendation for the flu vaccine.
  • Vaccine inequity: People from historically marginalized groups may have less access to quality healthcare, including to vaccinations, than people who are white.

 

Schedule for Vaccines

 

Vaccination schedule

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sets a recommended vaccine schedule for both children and adults, which is shown in the table below.

If you didn’t receive some of your childhood vaccines, it’s still possible to get them as an adult. However, depending on the vaccine, the dosing schedule may be different. You can ask your doctor what to expect.

 

What diseases do these vaccines protect against?

Vaccine-Preventable Disease

 Disease Complications Number of Doses
COVID-19

Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, or lungs; may feel like a cold or flu

 Pneumonia, blood clots, liver, heart, or kidney damage, long COVID, death

1 or more doses of the current COVID-19 vaccine depending on age or health status.

For more information: www.cdc.gov/covidschedule
Influenza (Flu)

Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs

 Pneumonia, sinus and ear infections, worsening of underlying health conditions like heart and lung disease, death

1 dose each year
RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus)

Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs

 Pneumonia, inflammation of the small airways in the lung; especially dangerous for infants, young children, and older adults

1 dose
Tetanus (Lockjaw)*

Infection caused by bacterial spores found in soil and dust everywhere; spores enter the body through wounds or broken skin

 Sudden, involuntary muscle spasms, jaw cramping, seizures, broken bones, difficulty breathing, death

3 doses if not already vaccinated

1 booster every 10 years

1 dose for dirty wounds
Diphtheria*

Illness caused by a toxin produced by bacteria that infects the nose, throat, and sometimes skin.

 Thick, gray, build up in throat or nose makes breathing and swallowing difficult, heart failure, brain injury, coma, death

3 doses if not already vaccinated

1 booster every 10 years
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)*

Contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airway

 Severe coughing fits, life-threatening pause in breathing, pneumonia, death; especially dangerous for babies

3 doses if not already vaccinated

1 dose every pregnancy
Measles (Rubeola)†

Contagious viral infection that causes high fever, cough, red eyes, runny nose, and rash

 Brain swelling, pneumonia, death

1 or 2 doses
Mumps†

Contagious viral infection that causes fever, tiredness, swollen cheeks, and tender swollen jaw

 Brain swelling, painful and swollen testicles or ovaries, deafness, death

1 or 2 doses
Rubella (German Measles)†

Contagious viral infection that causes low-grade fever, sore throat, and rash

 Very dangerous in pregnant women; can cause miscarriage or stillbirth, premature delivery, severe birth defects

1 or 2 doses
Chickenpox (Varicella)

Contagious viral infection that causes fever, headache, and an itchy, blistering rash

 Infected sores, brain swelling, pneumonia, death

2 doses
Shingles (Zoster)

Caused by the chickenpox virus, which hides in the body and sometimes reactivates later in life

 Severe blistering rash on one side of the face or body; long-term nerve pain, hearing damage, blindness, death

2 doses
HPV (Human papillomavirus)

Contagious viral infection spread by sexual contact; sometimes causes genital warts

 Many types of cancers including cancers of the cervix, vagina, penis, anus, and throat

2 or 3 doses
Pneumococcal

Bacterial infections of ears, sinuses, lungs, or bloodstream

 Depends on the part of the body infected, but can include pneumonia, blood poisoning, infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, death

1 or 2 doses
Hepatitis A

Contagious viral infection of the liver spread by contaminated food or drink or close contact with an infected person

 Liver failure, yellow skin or eyes, stomach pain, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, fatigue, death

2, 3, or 4 doses depending on vaccine used
Hepatitis B

Contagious viral infection of the liver spread through contact with infected body fluids such as blood or semen

 Liver failure, yellow skin or eyes, stomach pain, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, fatigue, death

2, 3, or 4 doses depending on vaccine used
Meningococcal

Bacterial infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord or the bloodstream

 Fever, headache, stiff neck, light sensitivity, confusion, loss of arm or leg, deafness, seizures, death

1 or more doses depending on vaccine used, medical condition, where patient lives or works
Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)

Bacterial infection that can attack the lungs, brain and spinal cord, or bloodstream

 Brain damage, hearing loss, loss of arm or leg, death

1 or 3 doses depending on medical condition
Mpox

Contagious viral infection spread by sexual contact; causes a painful rash, fever, headache, tiredness, cough, runny nose, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes

 Infected sores, brain swelling, pneumonia, eye infection, blindness, death

2 doses

*Tdap
protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis

*Td
protects against tetanus and diphtheria

†MMR
protects against measles, mumps, and rubella

This easy-to-read schedule is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and American College of Physicians (ACP).

 

Life Events, Job, and Travel

 

Pregnancy

Get the whooping cough vaccine during each pregnancy

  • Tdap vaccine — between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy to help protect your baby against whooping cough

Make sure you're up to date on other vaccines, too

  • COVID-19 vaccine
  • Flu vaccine especially if you're pregnant during flu season, which is October through May
  • Hepatitis B vaccine

Talk with your ob-gyn or midwife to find out which vaccines are recommended to help protect you and your baby. Learn more about Pregnancy and Vaccination.

Healthcare workers

Vaccines you needIf you work directly with patients or handle material that could spread infection, you should get appropriate vaccines to reduce the chance that you will get or spread vaccine-preventable diseases. All healthcare workers should make sure they're up to date on these vaccines:

  • COVID-19 vaccine
  • Chickenpox vaccine (varicella)
  • Flu vaccine
  • Hepatitis B vaccine
  • Meningococcal vaccine – especially lab workers who work with Neisseria Meningitidis
  • MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella)
  • Tdap or Td

International travelers

Get vaccinated before you travelThe vaccines recommended or required for an international traveler depend on several factors, including age, health, and itinerary.

Take these steps to make sure you are prepared for your trip:

  • Make sure you are up-to-date with all recommended vaccines. Talk with your healthcare provider and get any vaccines that you may have missed.
  • Learn the recommended and required vaccines for your destination.
  • Get vaccinated at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip. Planning ahead will give you enough time to build up immunity and get best protection.

Find a travel clinic: Many state and local health departments provide travel vaccinations.

Immigrants, refugees and international adoptions

Immigrants Whether you are applying for an immigrant visa overseas or for legal permanent residence within the United States, you need to meet the vaccination criteria for U.S. immigration.

Refugees Refugees are not required to have vaccinations before arrival in the United States, but you can start getting certain vaccinations through the vaccination program for U.S.-bound refugees.

International adoptions

  • Adoptees 10 years of age and under: Immigration law allows for adoptive parents to sign an affidavit stating they will be vaccinated after arrival to the United States.
  • Adoptees over 10 years of age: Immigration law requires proof of vaccination during the overseas medical examination.
  • Parents or close contacts traveling internationally to adopt a child: Make sure you are fully vaccinated according to CDC's ACIP recommendations. Some vaccine-preventable diseases, such as hepatitis A, are more common in other countries than the United States.

 

Health Conditions

 

Asplenia (without a functioning spleen)

Vaccines are especially critical for people with chronic health conditions such as asplenia to protect them from vaccine-preventable diseases. Make sure you're up to date on these vaccines:

  • Hib vaccine (Haemophilus influenzae type b)
  • Meningococcal vaccines – both MenACWY and MenB
  • Pneumococcal vaccine

Diabetes, type 1 and type 2

People with diabetes (both type 1 and type 2) are at higher risk for serious problems, including hospitalization or death, from certain vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccines are one of the safest ways for you to protect your health, even if you are taking prescription medications. Make sure you're up to date on this vaccine:

  • Pneumococcal vaccine

Heart disease, stroke or other cardiovascular diseases

People with heart disease and those who have suffered stroke are at higher risk for serious problems or complications from certain vaccine preventable diseases. Other vaccine-preventable diseases, like the flu, can even increase the risk of another heart attack. Make sure you're up to date on this vaccine:

  • Pneumococcal vaccine

HIV infection

Vaccines are especially critical for people with chronic health conditions such as HIV infection. Vaccine recommendations may differ based on CD4 count. Make sure you're up to date on these vaccines:

  • Hepatitis A vaccine
  • Hepatitis B vaccine
  • Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MenACWY)
  • Pneumococcal vaccine
  • Shingles vaccine

If your CD4 count is 200 or greater: AIn addition to the vaccines listed above, you may need these vaccines:

  • Chickenpox vaccine – recommended for all adults born in 1980 or later
  • MMR vaccine – recommended for all adults born in 1957 or later

Liver disease

Vaccines are especially critical for people with health conditions such as liver disease. Getting vaccinated is one of the safest ways for you to protect your health, even if you are taking prescription medications for liver disease. Make sure you're up to date on these vaccines:

  • Hepatitis A vaccine
  • Hepatitis B vaccine
  • Pneumococcal vaccine

Lung disease (Including Asthma or COPD)

People with lung disease (including asthma or COPD) are at higher risk for serious problems, including hospitalization or death, from certain vaccine-preventable diseases. Getting vaccinated is one of the safest ways for you to protect your health, even if you are taking prescription medications for your condition. Make sure you're up to date on this vaccine:

  • Pneumococcal vaccine

End-stage renal (kidney) disease

Getting vaccinated is one of the safest ways for you to protect your health, even if you are taking prescription medications for end-stage renal (kidney) disease or on hemodialysis. Make sure you're up to date on these vaccines:

  • Hepatitis B vaccine
  • Pneumococcal vaccine

Weakened immune system (excluding HIV infection)

Vaccines you need Vaccines are especially critical for people with a weakened immune system from diseases such as cancer or patients taking immunosuppressive drugs. Having a weakened immune system means that it is more difficult to fight off infections or diseases in the body. Adults with weakened immune systems caused by immunocompromising conditions such as cancer should make sure they're up to date on these vaccines:

  • Hib vaccine – Recommended for adults with complement deficiency, which is a specific type of immune deficiency, and for adults who have received a hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT, or a bone marrow transplant)
  • Pneumococcal vaccines
  • Meningococcal vaccines (MenACWY and MenB) – Recommended for adults with complement deficiency, which is a specific type of immune deficiency
  • Shingles vaccine

 

You may need other vaccines, too

 

You may need other vaccines based on your age or other factors, too. Talk with your doctor to find out which vaccines are recommended for you. These may include:

  • Chickenpox vaccine – recommended for all adults born in 1980 or later
  • Hepatitis B vaccine – recommended for all adults up through 59 years of age, and for some adults 60 years of age and older with known risk factors
  • HPV vaccine – recommended for all adults up through 26 years of age, and for some adults aged 27 through 45 years
  • MMR vaccine – recommended for all adults born in 1957 or later
  • Shingles vaccine – recommended for all adults 50 years of age and older

 

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Most recent revision July 12, 2025 08:38:15 AM

 

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