Staying up to date with adult vaccines

Getting vaccinated is a lifelong, life-protecting job. Find out which vaccines to stay up to date with, why they’re important and how often to get them. 

By Gisell Vega, MD, Family Medicine, Nuvance Health Medical Practice 

Immunity from childhood vaccines can fade and new diseases continue to emerge. That’s why staying on top of your vaccines is one of the most effective ways to stay healthy as an adult. According to the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are various vaccines we should keep up with as we age. 

Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap and Td) 

The Tdap vaccine prevents against three serious bacterial diseases: tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough). Tetanus enters the body through breaks in skin like wounds, cuts or burns and can lead to serious health complications for people of all ages. Diphtheria and pertussis spread through droplets when someone sneezes or coughs. 

Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, causes painful muscle stiffness and spasms. 

Diphtheria causes fever, sore throat and swollen glands in your neck. It is also common for a thick, gray membrane to form in your throat, which can make breathing and swallowing difficult. 

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is highly contagious and causes cold-like symptoms. It is followed by a severe cough one to two weeks later.  

Who needs tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap and Td) vaccines? 

The Tdap vaccine is often favored over the Td vaccine because it provides protection against all three diseases, while Td only protects against tetanus and diphtheria. 

If you’re an adult and you’ve never had a dose of Tdap, you should get it. For every 10 years after, you should either get the Tdap or Td booster.  

The CDC also recommends pregnant people to receive one dose of Tdap during pregnancy, preferably in the early part of gestational weeks 27-36. 

Pneumococcal infections (PPSV23, PCV15, PCV20, PCV21) 

Pneumococcal vaccines help protect against pneumococcal infections, which are illnesses caused by the Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria. This type of bacteria commonly lives in the throat and nose and can lead to serious infections such as pneumonia, meningitis and sepsis. It spreads through mucus or saliva and can be life-threatening at any age, especially people with chronic illnesses like heart disease, asthma and diabetes. 

Who needs pneumococcal (PPSV23, PCV15, PCV20, PCV21) vaccines? 

The CDC recommends adults 50 years or older and children younger than 5 years old to receive a pneumococcal vaccine.  

There are two types of pneumococcal vaccines:  

Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) 

• PCV15 

• PCV20 

• PCV21 

Children younger than 5 years should receive a four-dose series of either PCV15 or PCV20 at the following ages: 

• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 12 through 15 months 

Adults 50 years or older should receive any of the conjugate vaccines if they’ve never had one or if their vaccination history is unknown. 

Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine 

• PPSV23 

If an adult 50 years or older receives the PCV15 vaccine, they should receive the PPSV23 vaccine one year later. 

Related content: How air quality affects lung health and what you can do 

Shingles (Shingrix) 

Shingles is a viral infection that causes a painful rash that can occur anywhere on your body. It’s caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), which is the same virus that causes chickenpox. If you’ve had chickenpox, the virus can stay dormant in your body and become reactive later in life causing shingles.  

People who have never had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine (varicella) can get chickenpox from someone who has shingles. It’s spread through direct contact with the fluid from shingles rash blisters. You can also get chickenpox by breathing in particles from the blisters.  

Who needs the shingles (Shingrix) vaccine? 

Adults 50 years or older should get the shingles vaccine, even if you’ve already had shingles, received Zostavax or the varicella vaccine. Roughly 1 in 3 people will have shingles in their lifetime and the risk increases with age. If you’ve had shingles in the past, Shingrix can help prevent future occurrences. 

The shingles vaccine is given as a two-dose series. If you’re 50 years or older, the doses are separated by two to six months. If you’re 19 years or older with a weakened immune system, you can receive the second dose one to two months later. 

Find a Nuvance Health primary care provider near me. 

Human papillomavirus (HPV) 

Human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted disease that is spread by skin-to-skin contact. HPV is a common virus that can be prevented with the HPV vaccine.  

Most HPV infections will go away on their own within two years, but there’s a chance they can last longer and cause cancer. You can prevent yourself and your children from an increased risk of cancer with the HPV vaccine. 

Related content: Essential STD screenings: Who should get tested and why 

Who needs the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine? 

The CDC recommends children ages 11-12 receive two doses six to 12 months apart. The HPV vaccine can even be given as early as 9 years old.  

Children 9-14 years old will need a third dose if they receive the two doses of the HPV less than five months apart. 

People ages 15-26 will need three doses of the HPV vaccine and these doses are given over a six-month period. 

People ages 26 or older are not recommended to get the vaccine because the HPV vaccine in this age range provides less benefit. It’s likely people in this age range have already been exposed to the human papillomavirus. 

Related content: 7 important facts to know about the HPV vaccine 

Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) 

Measles, mumps and rubella are viral diseases that can cause serious complications, especially in children and pregnant people.  

Measles causes rash, cough, fever, runny nose and red, watery eyes. Measles can lead to pneumonia, ear infection and life-threatening complications. 

Mumps causes headache, muscle aches, tiredness, fever, swollen salivary glands and loss of appetite. Complications from mumps can lead to deafness, swelling of the testicles or ovaries and even death. 

Rubella causes sore throat, rash, fever, headache and red, itchy eyes. Rubella can lead to serious birth defects in people who are pregnant. 

Related content: Measles: what it is and how to prevent it 

Who should receive the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine? 

Children and adults who don’t have evidence of immunity should get the MMR vaccine.  

There are two types of vaccines that protect against measles, mumps and rubella: 

MMR  

• Combination of measles, mumps and rubella vaccines 

• Children need two doses; first dose when they are 12-15 months and a second dose when they are 4-6 years old 

• Older children, adolescents and adults need one or two doses if they don’t have evidence of immunity 

   

MMRV  

• Combination of measles, mumps, rubella and varicella vaccines
• Only available for children ages 12 months-12 years old 

• Children need two doses; a first dose when they are 12-15 months and a second dose when they are 4-6 years old 

   

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) 

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that causes symptoms like a cold. It mainly affects your nose, throat and lungs and can make breathing difficult. Infants and older adults are more at risk to develop severe RSV symptoms and may need to be hospitalized. In fact, RSV is the leading cause of infant hospitalization. 

Who should receive the RSV vaccine? 

The CDC recommends an RSV vaccine given to people during pregnancy or given to infants and older babies. 

The CDC also recommends anyone who is 75 years or older and ages 60-74 with an increased risk of RSV should get the vaccine. It’s recommended to get the RSV vaccine in late summer/early fall before it starts to spread in the cooler months. 

Related content: Fall health guide: Key steps to ready yourself for autumn illnesses 

Influenza (Flu) 

Influenza (Flu) season hits hard every year, and the flu vaccine can help prevent severe illness, hospitalization and even death.  

Who should get a flu vaccine? 

The CDC recommends everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every year, especially people who are at high risk of serious complications from the flu. 

Related content: Flu, colds, COVID-19 and ticks: What’s going around? 

COVID-19 (Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech, Novavax) 

COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease that causes symptoms that feel like a cold, the flu or pneumonia. The COVID-19 vaccine can help protect you from severe complications, being hospitalized and even death. 

Who should get the COVID-19 vaccine? 

The CDC recommends adults ages 18 and older should get the COVID-19 vaccine, especially those ages 65 and older. If you’re 65 and older and have never received a COVID-19 vaccine, you’re at high risk for severe complications.  

Related content: COVID-19 update: What to know and how to manage illness 

What if I don’t know my vaccination status? 

If you’re unsure about your vaccine history, and if you can’t find any records at your parents/caregiver’s house, there are a few places you can check: 

• Primary care provider’s officer
• High school or college health services
• Previous employers
• Contact your state’s health department 

If you can’t find your immunization records, it’s possible you may need to get some of the vaccines again. Sometimes, your primary care provider can perform blood tests to see if you’re immune to certain vaccine-preventable diseases. 

Find a Nuvance Health primary care provider near me. 

The bottom line: Staying up to date on vaccines as you age can help protect you from serious and, in some cases, deadly diseases. By getting vaccinated, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from preventable diseases. To stay on track with recommended vaccines, check out this adult immunization schedule by age from the CDC.