Recommended Vaccinations for Adults

Purpose

Guide for individuals to ensure they stay up-to-date on recommended vaccines.

Recommended Immunizations for adults aged 19 years and Older, United States, 2024

Staying up to date on your vaccines is one of the best things you can do to protect your health.

If you are pregnant or have a medical condition that puts you at higher risk for infections, talk to your health care provider about which vaccines are right for you.

Key

ALL adults in age group should get the vaccine.

SOME adults in age group should get the vaccine.

Adults should talk to their health care provider to decide if this vaccine is right for them.

Vaccine 19-26 years 27-49 years 50-64 years ≥65 years
COVID-19
At least 1 dose of the current COVID-19 vaccine
Influenza/Flu
Every Year
RSV
If pregnant during RSV season
If aged 60 through 74 years
If aged 75 years
or older
Tdap/Td
Tdap every pregnancy. Td/Tdap every 10 years for all adults.
MMR
If aged 66 years or younger
Chickenpox
If U.S. born and aged 43 years or younger
Shingles
HPV
27–45 years
Pneumococcal
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Through 59 years
Meningococcal
Hib
Mpox

What diseases do these vaccines protect against?

Vaccine-Preventable Disease Disease complications Number of Vaccine Doses
COVID-19
Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, or lungs; may feel like a cold or flu
Pneumonia, blood clots, liver, heart, or kidney damage, long COVID, death 1 or more doses of the current COVID-19 vaccine depending on age or health status. For more information: www.cdc.gov/covidschedule
Influenza (Flu)
Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs
Pneumonia, sinus and ear infections, worsening of underlying health conditions like heart and lung disease, death 1 dose each year
RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus)
Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs
Pneumonia, inflammation of the small airways in the lung; especially dangerous for infants, young children, and older adults 1 dose
Tetanus (Lockjaw)*
Infection caused by bacterial spores found in soil and dust everywhere; spores enter the body through wounds or broken skin
Sudden, involuntary muscle spasms, jaw cramping, seizures, broken bones, difficulty breathing, death 3 doses if not already vaccinated
1 booster every 10 years
1 dose for dirty wounds
Diphtheria*
Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs
Thick, gray, build up in throat or nose makes breathing and swallowing difficult, heart failure, brain injury, coma, death
3 doses if not already vaccinated
1 booster every 10 years
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)*
Contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airway
Severe coughing fits, life-threatening pause in breathing, pneumonia, death; especially dangerous for babies
3 doses if not already vaccinated
1 dose every pregnancy
Measles (Rubeola)
Contagious viral infection that causes high fever, cough, red eyes, runny nose, and rash
Brain swelling, pneumonia, death 1 or 2 doses
Mumps
Contagious viral infection that causes fever, tiredness, swollen cheeks, and tender swollen jaw
Brain swelling, painful and swollen testicles or ovaries, deafness, death 1 or 2 doses
Rubella (German Measles)
Contagious viral infection that causes low-grade fever, sore throat, and rash
Very dangerous in pregnant people; can cause miscarriage or stillbirth, premature delivery, severe birth defects 1 or 2 doses
Chickenpox (Varicella)
Contagious viral infection that causes fever, headache, and an itchy, blistering rash
Infected sores, brain swelling, pneumonia, death 2 doses
Shingles (Zoster)
Caused by the chickenpox virus, which hides in the body and sometimes reactivates later in life
Severe blistering rash on one side of the face or body; long-term nerve pain, hearing damage, blindness, death 2 doses
HPV (Human papillomavirus)
Contagious viral infection spread by sexual contact; sometimes causes genital warts
Many types of cancers including cancers of the cervix, vagina, penis, anus, and throat 2 or 3 doses
Pneumococcal
Bacterial infections of ears, sinuses, lungs, or bloodstream
Depends on the part of the body infected, but can include pneumonia, blood poisoning, infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, death 1 or 2 doses
Hepatitis A
Contagious viral infection of the liver spread by contaminated food or drink or close contact with an infected person
Liver failure, yellow skin or eyes, stomach pain, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, fatigue, death 2, 3, or 4 doses depending on vaccine used
Hepatitis B
Contagious viral infection of the liver spread through contact with infected body fluids such as blood or semen
Liver failure, yellow skin or eyes, stomach pain, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, fatigue, death 2, 3, or 4 doses depending on vaccine used
Meningococcal
Bacterial infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord or the bloodstream
Fever, headache, stiff neck, light sensitivity, confusion, loss of arm or leg, deafness, seizures, death 1 or more doses depending on vaccine used, medical condition, where patient lives or works
Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)
Bacterial infection that can attack the lungs, brain and spinal cord, or bloodstream
Brain damage, hearing loss, loss of arm or leg, death 1 or 3 doses depending on medical condition
Mpox
Contagious viral infection spread by sexual contact; causes a painful rash, fever, headache, tiredness, cough, runny nose, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes
Infected sores, brain swelling, pneumonia, eye infection, blindness, death 2 doses

*Tdap
protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis

*Td
protects against tetanus and diphtheria

†MMR
protects against measles, mumps, and rubella

This Easy-to-Read schedule is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and American College of Physicians (ACP).