When was the last time you reviewed your vaccine history? How often and when do you need to get certain vaccinations? Do you have any conditions that will require you to get vaccinated more often? Below you can find information regarding routine vaccinations for adults as advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult with your provider and local pharmacist today to learn which vaccines are appropriate for you.

It’s important to note that certain disease states and medications put you at a high risk for receiving some vaccines. If you are unsure whether or not a vaccination is appropriate for you, please call your physician and discuss your options.

COVID-19²

At the time of writing this article, the CDC recommends the completion of the primary series and an additional booster vaccine for everyone ages 12 and older. A second booster is recommended for adults ages 50 years and older, and people are who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.

The primary series of COVID-19 vaccines refers to the completion of two doses (or three doses in persons with moderate to severe immunocompromise) of the mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations which include Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna OR one dose (or two doses in persons with moderate to severe immunocompromise) of the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine.

A first booster vaccine is recommended at least 5 months after the final dose in the primary series mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations and 2 months of the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine. The second booster for eligible persons is recommended within 4 months after the first booster.

If you have recently been diagnosed with or received treatment for COVID-19, please call your physician for a consultation prior to receiving any COVID-19 vaccinations.

INFLUENZA (FLU)¹

Yearly flu vaccines are highly recommended for all persons 6 months or older. Flu vaccines are often available early fall and are the best way to boost immunity against the flu. Receiving the vaccination as soon as possible before flu season officially begins gives your body time to build immunity and fight off the virus when it circulates.

PNEUMONIA¹

Pneumonia shots are often personalized based on a person’s health and chronic disease states. Most people are able to receive 1 or 2 doses of the vaccine at age 65 or older for lifelong protection. However, if you have diabetes, chronic heart failure, liver disease, lung disease, asthma or are a current smoker and have not received a pneumonia vaccination in the past 5 years, consult with your provider today to see what pneumonia vaccination plan works best for you.

SHINGLES¹

The shingles vaccination is recommended for all adults over the age of 50. If you have received a shingles shot prior to 2018, you may have received the older version of this vaccination and should speak with your provider about the new two-dose Shingrix® vaccine.

Available since 2018, Shingrix® is a two-dose vaccine, administered 2-6 months apart, and is 90% effective in preventing shingles in patients over the age of 50. In comparison, the previous single-dose vaccine was 51% effective in preventing the disease. If you are over the age of 50 and have not received the two-part shingles vaccination in the past 2 years, consult with your provider and local pharmacist.

TETANUS¹

A tetanus booster shot should be received every 10 years to make sure your body is able to fight off the infection. If you don’t remember your last tetanus shot, call your provider or check MyKelsey Online for your immunization records. If you do not have any records of a tetanus booster in the last 10 years, speak with your local pharmacist and provider today.

References:

1. Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule for ages 19 years or older, United States, 2022 Retrieved from CDC.gov. Last updated Feb, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/imz/adult.html

2. COVID-19 Vaccines. Retrieved from CDC.gov. Last updated May, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html