Remember those childhood trips to the pediatrician? They often involved getting shots. As an adult, you don’t get jabbed nearly as much. (You also don’t get a lollipop at the end of the visit.) So it may have been a while since you’ve done an overhaul on your vaccination status (and we’re not talking about just COVID-19). You’re not alone. Only 1 in 5 adults are up to date on their shots. That’s according to the Immunization Action Coalition (IAC).
“The older we become and the more [chronic] illnesses we have, the riskier common infections can be,” says Andrew Cougill, MD. He’s a family practice doctor for American Health Network in Indianapolis. “We vaccinate younger adults to help protect the population as well as their loved ones. The people most at-risk are the very young and the very old,” says Dr. Cougill.
To help keep everyone healthy, we rounded up 6 of the most important vaccines you need as an adult. (The IAC also has an easy-to-use chart that details the vaccines adults need. Some of them are not listed below.)
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Influenza
An estimated 35 million people had the flu during the 2019-20 flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Of those, 380,000 were hospitalized and 20,000 died. Additionally, there were 16 million flu-related medical visits.
This is why the influenza vaccine, also known as the flu shot, is very important for adults, especially older adults.
“Influenza in a healthy 30-year-old is not that risky. But it could be very risky for a 65-year-old with a heart problem or lung disease,” says Dr. Cougill. “People who are vaccinated against influenza and pneumonia, for example, are less likely to need an ICU stay. And they’re less likely to die.”
“The timing of the flu shot isn’t as vital as we once thought,” says Dr. Cougill. “So any time in the fall months is fine.” (Did you know that you can get many vaccinations at your local pharmacy instead of the doctor’s office? It could save you time and money.)
Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap, Td)
The vaccine is not 3 separate shots, but 1 shot that protects against 3 diseases: tetanus, which causes severe muscle spasms in the jaw and neck; diphtheria, which causes swelling in the nose and throat; and pertussis (whooping cough), which causes violent coughing fits. The coughing makes it difficult to breathe or eat.
A booster is recommended for adults every 10 years. The shot is critical if you plan to be around a newborn.
“Whooping cough is still [common],” says Dr. Cougill. “Infants aren’t vaccinated against pertussis until they’re 2 months old. If you’re going to be around a newborn, it’s important to get this Tdap booster.”
If you haven’t received a dose of the adult whooping cough vaccine (Tdap) during your lifetime, get it now. And women should get a dose during each pregnancy.
Recommended reading: All Your Back-to-School Vaccination Questions Answered.
Zoster (shingles)
If you had chickenpox as a kid, you’re at risk for getting shingles as an adult. Shingles is a viral infection that results in a painful rash. It’s caused by the varicella zoster virus. This is the same virus that causes chickenpox.
“Shingles only occurs in people who had chickenpox previously,” says Dr. Cougill.
According to the CDC, if you’re 50 or older, you should get the 2-dose series of the Shingrix vaccine. It’s more than 90% effective at preventing shingles.
Anyone 19 and older with a weakened immune system should get 2 doses of Shingrix. That’s because they have a higher risk of getting shingles. And they have a higher risk of complications from the illness.
The CDC also notes that even if you’ve had shingles, you should still get Shingrix. If you previously received a shingles vaccine called Zostavax, you should still get Shingrix. (Zostavax is no longer available for use in the U.S. as of November 2020.)
