Immunization recommendations for adults

Introduction

Review the immunizations that you've had, and talk to your doctor about any additional ones that you may need.

Click on the tabs to the left to read about adult immunizations.

Flu (influenza) vaccine

Who should have the flu vaccine?
Get the flu vaccine if you:

• Are 50 or older
• Have a chronic illness, such as diabetes or heart disease or asthma
• Have a weakened immune system
• Work in a health care setting
• Live in a long term care facility
• Are pregnant and past the third month of pregnancy
• Want to reduce your chances of missing work because of a bout of flu

When and how often?
Get the vaccine once a year, ideally between October and November.

Who shouldn't have it?
Talk with your doctor about whether it is safe for you to get the flu shot if you:

• Are allergic to chicken eggs
• Have had an allergic reaction to a previous dose of the flu vaccine
• Have a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome after previous influenza vaccination

Pneumonia (pneumococcal) vaccine

Who should have the pneumonia vaccine?
Get the pneumonia vaccine if you:

• Are 65 or older — the Pneumovax 23 vaccine helps protect against the most common bacteria that can cause pneumonia in children and adults
• Have a chronic illness such as lung or cardiovascular disease, or diabetes
• Have a weakened immune system
• Have had your spleen removed

When and how often?
Get one dose of the vaccine at any time. You may need a second dose if you:

• Are age 65 or older and you received your first dose of the vaccine before age 65
• Have a weakened immune system, an organ or bone marrow transplant, kidney disease or severe lung disease, or have had your spleen removed

Who shouldn't have it?
Don't get the vaccine if you are currently sick.

Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine

Who should have the Tdap vaccine?
In 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended the new, combined tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine for the following:

• Adults 19 to 64 years who received their last tetanus vaccine more than 10 years ago
• Adults, including parents, child care providers and healthcare workers, who will have close contact with infants less than a year old
• Women who have just given birth and who received their last tetanus vaccine less than 10 years ago
• Any woman who might become pregnant
• Adults who have a "dirty" wound — a wound likely to become infected — and whose last Tdap booster was five or more years ago

When and how often?
Adults 19 to 64 who are due for a tetanus-diphtheria (Td) booster shot should receive Tdap instead. Other recommendations include:

• A series of three vaccinations, beginning with a single dose of Tdap, followed at four weeks by a single dose of Td and another dose of Td six to 12 months later for adults who never finished the Td series or don't know if they ever received theTd vaccine.
• Tdap instead of Td for adults needing a tetanus shot for wound management if they have not received Tdap before.
• A single dose of Tdap at least one month before having close contact with an infant. Pregnant women shouldn't receive Tdap until after giving birth, although Td may be given in the second or third trimester.

Who shouldn't have it?
Don't get this shot if you:

• Are pregnant
• Have experienced coma or seizures within seven days of receiving a pertussis vaccine
• Have had Guillain-Barre syndrome six weeks or less after a previous tetanus-containing vaccine
• Are currently ill

Meningitis (meningococcal) vaccine

Who should have the meningitis vaccine?
Get the meningitis vaccine if you:

• Are a college freshman living in a dormitory
• Travel to areas of the world that have a high incidence of meningitis
• Have had your spleen removed

When and how often?
Only one dose of the vaccine is needed, which you can get anytime. Whether a booster shot is needed isn't yet known.

Who shouldn't have it?
The meningitis vaccine is recommended for college freshmen and adults at high risk of infection. Most healthy adults do not require this vaccine on a routine basis, but it may be recommended if there is an outbreak in your community.

Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine

Who should have the varicella vaccine?
Get the varicella vaccine if you:

• Have never had chickenpox, especially if you live with someone who has a weakened immune system
• Aren't sure whether you've had chickenpox
• Are considering becoming pregnant and don't know if you are immune to chickenpox

When and how often?
Adults need two doses, four to eight weeks apart.

Who shouldn't have it?
Don't get it if you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system.

Measles, mumps and ruella (MMR) vaccine

Who should have the MMR vaccine?
If you were born after 1956 and never had an MMR vaccination as a child, you need to get one dose now. The following people need two doses:

• People recently exposed to measles or in an outbreak setting
• Health care workers
• People vaccinated with killed measles vaccine or an unknown type of vaccine from 1963 to 1967
• Travelers
• College students
• People who have had a rubella blood test that shows no immunity

When and how often?
You need one or two doses at any age, for life.

Who shouldn't get it?
Adults born before 1957 are considered immune to measles. Do not get an MMR vaccination if you have a weakened immune system.

Hepatitis A

Who should have the hepatitis A vaccine?
Get the vaccine if you:

• Have a clotting factor disorder
• Have chronic liver disease
• Are a man who has sex with other men
• Inject illegal drugs
• Are a health care worker who might be exposed to the virus in a lab setting
• Travel or work in countries that have a high incidence of hepatitis

When and how often?
The hepatitis A vaccine is given in a two-dose series. The second dose is given between six and 12 months after the first. Hepatitis A vaccine can be combined with the hepatitis B vaccine in a three-dose series.

Who shouldn't have it?
Don't get a vaccination if you are currently sick.

Hepatitis B

Who should have the hepatitis B vaccine?
Get the vaccine if you:

• Have more than one sex partner in six months
• Are a man who has sex with other men
• Have sex with a person infected with hepatitis B
• Inject illegal drugs
• Are a hemodialysis patient
• Are a health care or public safety worker who might be exposed to infected blood or body fluids
• Live in a household with someone who has chronic hepatitis B infection

When and how often?
Get the series of three shots once in your lifetime.

Who shouldn't have it?
Don't get the vaccine if you are allergic to baker's yeast or are currently sick.