10 Recommended Adult Vaccines
Updated: Sep. 28, 2018The Centre for Disease Control recommends ten vaccines for adults. Some we should all get; others are for people with certain conditions or risk factors. Ask your doctor which ones could help protect you.
Zoster (shingles)
Who should get it: People ages 60 and up.
How often: Once
Varicella (chicken pox)
Who should get it: Anyone who has never had the illness or never been vaccinated (but not pregnant women).
How often: 2 doses over 4 to 8 weeks
Hepatitis A
Who should get it: Those who share needles, travel to certain countries, or have chronic liver disease.
How often: 2 doses over 12 to 18 months
Hepatitis B
Who should get it: HIV patients; health care providers; those who travel to certain countries or have multiple sex partners, chronic liver disease, failing kidneys, or renal disease.
How often: 3 doses over 6 months
HPV
Who should get it: Girls and women who haven’t been infected.
How often: 3 doses over 6 months
Influenza
Who should het it: Everyone, especially those ages 50 and up and those with weakened immune systems.
How often: Yearly
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
Who should get it: Those under 50 (except pregnant women); some HIV patients; people with diabetes, failing kidneys, or chronic lung, heart, or liver disease; those who’ve had their spleen removed or work in a health care facility.
How often: 1 or 2 doses, as needed
Meningococcal (meningitis)
Who should get it: Those who live in a college dorm, travel to certain countries, or have had their spleen removed.
How often: 1 or more doses, as needed
Pneumococcal (pneumonia)
Who should get it: Those 65 and older and people with diabetes or chronic heart, liver, or lung disease (but not asthma).
How often: Once; twice if you have certain risk factors
Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (whooping cough)
Who should get it: Everyone needs protection from tetanus and diphtheria; 19- to 64-year-olds also need the pertussis vaccine.
How often: Every 10 years. If you’re pregnant, talk to your doctor.
