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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?
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:
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:
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:
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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