Adult Vaccines

Which Vaccines You Need to Protect Your Health

Vaccines work with your immune system to help protect you from infections and disease. As you age, you’re more at risk of certain health conditions because your immune system isn’t as strong as it used to be. And if you do get sick, the symptoms can be more serious.

Four types of vaccines are especially important for older adults, including:

COVID-19 Vaccine—The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Getting the vaccine and boosters will make you much less likely to catch COVID-19, or to get seriously sick if you do catch it. If you get a vaccine that requires two doses, make sure you get the second dose on time—and be sure to get any recommended booster doses.

Influenza Vaccine—The flu vaccine is recommended for all ages every year,  and there are special vaccines for adults over age 65. You need the vaccine every year because the flu virus changes over time.

Zoster or Herpes Zoster Vaccine—The CDC recommends a shingles vaccine called Shingrix for all adults age 50 and older—even if you've already had shingles or received the older vaccine. You'll need two doses, two to six months apart.

Pneumococcal Vaccine—Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccines can prevent serious infections like pneumonia and meningitis. You need either:

• one dose of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 20 (PCV20), or
• one dose of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 15 (PCV15) followed by one dose of pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV23) a year later