Adult Vaccines

Which Vaccines You Need to Protect Your Health

Four types of vaccines are especially important for older adults, including:

COVID-19 Vaccine—The COVID-19 vaccines and boosters can help protect you from the virus and stop community spread. Talk to your doctor or visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines to find out which vaccines you need, how many doses and when.

Influenza Vaccine—The flu vaccine is recommended for all ages every year,  and there are special vaccines for adults over age 65. You need the vaccine every year because the flu virus changes over time.

Zoster or Herpes Zoster Vaccine—The CDC recommends a shingles vaccine called Shingrix for all adults age 50 and older—even if you've already had shingles or received the older vaccine. You'll need two doses, two to six months apart.

Pneumococcal Vaccines—Pneumococcal vaccines can prevent serious infections like pneumonia and meningitis. You need either:

• one dose of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 20 (PCV20), or 
• one dose of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 15 (PCV15) followed by one dose of pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV23) a year later