Vaccine

How often

Disease prevented

Who needs it

Influenza

Every year

Flu. This can be especially dangerous to older adults or people with immune disorders.

All adults

COVID-19*

1 to 2 doses, depending on vaccine, with boosters as advised

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This is a respiratory illness caused by a new (novel) coronavirus. It can be especially dangerous to some people.

All adults

*Getting a COVID-19 vaccine and boosters as advised are important to protect against COVID-19.

Talk with your healthcare provider about vaccines and boosters.

Tetanus, diphtheria (Td); or Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap)*

One dose of Tdap, then one dose of Td as a booster every 10 years

Tetanus (lockjaw), a disease that causes muscles to spasm

Diphtheria, an infection that causes fever, weakness, and breathing problems

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough. This is a highly contagious disease that can cause serious illness.

All adults

*This vaccine should be given during each pregnancy, no matter how many years since the last vaccine. The vaccine increases protection for your newborn. A newborn is too young to get the vaccine. But newborns have the highest risk for severe illness and death from pertussis.

Varicella (Var)**

One series of 2 injections

Chickenpox. This is a disease that causes itchy skin bumps, fever, and tiredness. It can lead to scarring, pneumonia, or brain inflammation.

Adults who don’t have evidence of immunity

**This vaccine should not be given to pregnant women. Women should avoid pregnancy for 4 weeks after the vaccine.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

2 to 3 doses depending on age at first dose or condition

• Cervical cancer, caused by some types of HPV

• Vaginal and vulvar cancer

• Penile cancer

• Head and neck cancers

• Anal cancer

• Genital warts

All people through age 26.

Some adults ages 27 to 45 years may decide to get the HPV vaccine after talking with their provider, if they were not fully vaccinated when they were younger. Ask your healthcare provider if this applies to you.

Pneumococcal vaccine

2 kinds of vaccines help prevent pneumococcal disease: pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine

Pneumococal disease, which is cause by Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria. This can cause many types of infections in the lungs, brain and spinal cord, blood, sinuses, and middle ear. Pneumococcal disease can lead to death.

• All adults 50 years and older. Talk with your healthcare provider about your situation and which type of vaccine is best for you.

• Some people ages 19 to 49 should also get pneumococcal vaccine depending on certain health conditions or risk factors. Talk with your healthcare provider about your situation and risk.

Vaccine

How often

Disease prevented

Who needs it

Recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV)

2 doses, the second dose given 2 to 6 months after the first

Herpes zoster (shingles), a painful rash marked by blisters

• Adults ages 50 and older. This is given even if you've had shingles before or had a previous zoster live vaccine (ZVL). The live vaccine is no longer available in the U.S.

• Some adults ages 19 and older with a weak immune system may be advised to get RZV. Talk with your healthcare provider about your situation.

Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)**

1 or 2 doses, for ages 19 through 49; 1 dose for ages 50 and older if at risk. An extra dose may be advised in areas of mumps outbreaks.

Measles, a disease marked by red spots, fever, and coughing

Mumps, a disease that causes swelling in the salivary glands. It may affect the ovaries or testes.

Rubella (German measles). This is a form of measles that can cause birth defects if a pregnant woman catches it.

Adults born in 1957 and later who are not known to be immune to measles, mumps, or rubella. Ask your healthcare provider if you need a second dose.

**This vaccine should not be given to pregnant women. Women should prevent pregnancy for 4 weeks after vaccination.

Meningococcal

Two types of vaccines are available depending on age and medical situation:

• Meningococcal conjugate (MenACWY)

• Serogroup B vaccines (MenB)

1 or more doses depending on vaccine type and condition

Meningococcal disease (bacterial meningitis). This is inflammation of the membrane covering the brain and spinal cord. It can lead to death.

Adults with immune deficiencies or at high risk of exposure. Also, first-year college students living in residential housing (if not vaccinated at age 16 or older) and military recruits.

Ask your healthcare provider about meningococcal disease and which vaccine may be right for you.

Hepatitis A (HepA)

One series of 2 to 3 injections depending on the vaccine

Hepatitis A. This is an infection that can result in acute liver inflammation and yellow skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice).

Adults with risk factors, such as clotting disorders or chronic liver disease, and adults with high risk of exposure. This includes men who have sex with men, injection drug users, and travelers to countries where hepatitis A is common.

Hepatitis B (HepB)

One series of 2, 3, or 4 doses depending on the vaccine, age, risk, or condition

Hepatitis B. This is an infection that causes chronic, severe liver disease.

Adults with high risk of exposure, such as healthcare providers and sanitation workers, and adults with diabetes. This includes people living with HIV if not already immune.

Travelers’ diseases

As needed

Infections, such as cholera, typhoid, yellow fever, polio, rabies, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, hepatitis B

Adults traveling out of the country. Required vaccines will vary, depending on the country you visit. Check the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/travel.