9 Vaccines You Didn't Know You Needed (And When to Get Them)

Below are the most common immunizations recommended for older adults and when to get them.

1: Seasonal Flu Vaccine (Influenza)

• When to get it: Every year (annually).
• What it does: Helps protect against most high-risk strains of seasonal flu circulating that year. The flu can lead to serious complications like pneumonia and hospitalization in older adults.

2: COVID-19 Vaccine

• When to get it: Stay up to date based on current CDC recommendations (especially important for adults 65+).
  What it does: Helps lower the risk of severe COVID-19 transmission, illness, hospitalization, and death.

3: Shingles Vaccine

• When to get it: Age 50+ (2 doses, given at separate appointments).
• What it does: Protects against shingles and long-term nerve pain (postherpetic neuralgia), which can be more severe with age.

4: Pneumococcal Vaccine (Pneumonia)

• When to get it: Usually age 65+ (or earlier for certain health conditions, depending on provider guidance).
• What it does: Helps protect against pneumococcal disease, which can cause pneumonia and serious infections in the blood or brain.

5: Tdap/​Td Vaccine (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis)

• When to get it: One Tdap dose before age 12 or at anytime if you've never had it, then a booster every 10 years. If you have a severe wound, you may need an additional dose.
• What it does: Protects against tetanus (often from cuts or wounds), diphtheria, and whooping cough.

6: RSV Vaccine

• When to get it: Recommended for most adults 75+ and some adults 60-74 who are at higher risk.
• What it does: Helps protect against RSV, a respiratory virus that can cause serious lung complications in older adults.

7: Hepatitis B Vaccine

• When to get it: Adults may need 2-4 doses depending on their health status and vaccine type (meaning whether you get a single or a combination vaccine). In general, combination vaccines result in better efficacy and fewer injections; however, ask your provider for the right schedule and which type works best for you.
• What it does: Protects against Hepatitis B infection, which can lead to serious liver disease.

8: MMR + Varicella (Measles, Mumps, Rubella + Chickenpox)

• When to get it: Only if you are not immune or never received these vaccines (your provider can confirm).
• What it does: Protects against serious infections like measles or chickenpox that can cause complications in adults, like pneumonia or swelling of the brain.

9: HPV Vaccine (If Eligible)

• When to get it: Usually recommended up to age 45 (not typically needed for most older adults).
• What it does: Protects against HPV, which can lead to certain cancers, like cervical and cancers of the mouth and throat.