Which Vaccines Should Adults Get?

Ask the experts

I have a checkup scheduled next week, but I haven't seen a doctor in over five years. As a result, I'm afraid I'm not up-to-date with my immunizations. Which vaccines should adults get? What are the recommended vaccines for adults?

Doctor's response


Recommended vaccination schedule for adults
VaccineRecommended age of vaccination
Influenza (flu)Yearly
Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap)
tetanus, diphtheria (Td)
Tdap once as an adult
Td every 10 years
Zoster (shingles)One dose after 60 years of age
Pneumococcal diseaseAll people over 65 years of age
People in special high-risk groups and who have certain chronic illnesses should receive both of the two different pneumococcal vaccines as soon as possible

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Reviewed on 10/9/2018
United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Recommended Immunizations for Children from Birth through 6 years Old: By Age United States, 2017." Feb. 6, 2017. <https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/easy-to-read/child-easyread.html>.