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Most adults are not sure which vaccines they have had. Childhood records are lost, shots given at pharmacies or workplaces never make it into the doctor's chart, and the recommendations themselves change as new vaccines arrive and old ones are replaced. A vaccination review sorts this out. We gather what records exist, compare them with the current adult schedule from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and tell you plainly what, if anything, you are missing.
Vaccines are not just for children. Adults need yearly flu vaccination, periodic tetanus boosters, and vaccines that become important with age or with conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease or a weakened immune system. Staying current protects you and also protects people around you who cannot be vaccinated or respond poorly to vaccines, including infants, older relatives and people undergoing cancer treatment.
We care for adults only; children's vaccines are handled by their pediatrician.
Who needs a vaccination review
Every adult benefits from one, and it fits naturally into an annual physical. It is especially worthwhile if you are turning 50 or 65, when new vaccines become recommended; if you have a chronic condition such as diabetes, asthma or COPD, heart, kidney or liver disease; if you are planning a pregnancy, starting a job in health care, or going back to school; if you are planning international travel; or if you are about to start a treatment that suppresses the immune system, since some vaccines are best given beforehand.
How we review your vaccines at NYMD Center
We start by collecting your history: records you bring, pharmacy records, prior doctors' charts and, where available, the state immunization registry. When records cannot be found, blood tests called titers can show whether you are immune to measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox or hepatitis B, which can spare you unnecessary shots. We then check your record against the CDC schedule for your age and health conditions and give you a written list of what is due now and what is coming up.
The vaccines adults are commonly due for
The following reflects the CDC adult schedule as of our most recent review. Recommendations are updated regularly, so we check the current version at your visit.
Influenza
Every adult should get a flu vaccine every season. Adults 65 and older are preferentially recommended a higher-dose, adjuvanted or recombinant vaccine. See our flu shots page for details.
COVID-19
The CDC currently recommends the updated COVID-19 vaccine for people 6 months and older based on individual decision-making with a clinician, and calls it especially important for adults 65 and older and people at high risk of severe illness. We discuss whether and when it makes sense for you.
Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap and Td)
Adults need one dose of Tdap, which includes whooping cough protection, if they did not receive it as an adolescent or adult, followed by a Td or Tdap booster every 10 years, according to the CDC adult schedule. A dose is also given during each pregnancy and may be needed sooner after certain wounds.
Shingles
The CDC recommends two doses of the recombinant shingles vaccine (Shingrix) for all adults 50 and older, given two to six months apart, even if you have had shingles or received the older Zostavax vaccine. Adults 19 and older with a weakened immune system are also eligible.
Pneumococcal (pneumonia)
The CDC now recommends pneumococcal vaccination for all adults 50 and older, and for adults 19 to 49 with certain risk conditions. Depending on the product used and what you have had before, this may be a single dose or two doses spaced apart. We sort out the right sequence from your records.
RSV
Respiratory syncytial virus can cause serious lung infections in older adults. According to the CDC, RSV vaccine is recommended for all adults 75 and older and for adults 50 to 74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV. It is currently given as a single dose.
Hepatitis B
The CDC schedule recommends hepatitis B vaccination for all adults through age 59, and for adults 60 and older with risk factors or who want protection. The series is two, three or four doses depending on the product.
HPV
HPV vaccine is recommended for everyone through age 26. Adults 27 to 45 who were not vaccinated may choose it after a discussion with their clinician, since benefit is lower once exposure is likely. It prevents the infections behind cervical, anal, throat and other cancers.
MMR and chickenpox
Adults without evidence of immunity to measles, mumps and rubella, or to chickenpox, should be vaccinated. A titer can check immunity when records are missing.
Travel vaccines
Trips abroad may call for hepatitis A, typhoid, yellow fever or other vaccines and medications. See our travel medicine page and plan several weeks ahead.
Getting your vaccines
We stock most of the vaccines adults ask for, and if one is not in stock we direct you to a pharmacy that carries it. Some vaccines can be given together at the same visit, which saves trips. We record every dose in your chart so the next review is quicker. Insurance usually covers vaccines on the CDC schedule, though coverage for some varies by plan and by where the vaccine is given.
What to expect at your visit
Bring any vaccine cards, records from prior doctors, pharmacy printouts and a list of your medications and conditions. Tell us if you have had a serious reaction to a vaccine or have a severe allergy, are pregnant or planning pregnancy, or have a weakened immune system, since these affect which vaccines are safe. Common side effects are a sore arm, fatigue or low fever for a day or two. Serious reactions are rare, and we observe patients after vaccination as appropriate.
Questions patients ask
What if I cannot find my childhood vaccine records?
That is common. We check pharmacy records, prior doctors and the state immunization registry where available. For some diseases, such as measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox and hepatitis B, a blood test called a titer can show whether you are already immune. If records cannot be found and immunity is uncertain, it is generally safe to receive the vaccine again.
When should I get the shingles vaccine?
The CDC recommends two doses of Shingrix for all adults 50 and older, given two to six months apart, even if you have already had shingles or received the older Zostavax vaccine. Adults 19 and older with a weakened immune system are also eligible. A sore arm and feeling tired for a day or two are common after each dose.
Who should get the RSV vaccine?
The CDC recommends a single dose of RSV vaccine for all adults 75 and older and for adults 50 to 74 who are at increased risk of severe RSV, such as those with chronic heart or lung disease, diabetes with complications, kidney disease or a weakened immune system. It is not currently recommended as a yearly shot. We can review whether you qualify.
How often do adults need a tetanus shot?
After one dose of Tdap as an adolescent or adult, a Td or Tdap booster is recommended every 10 years. A dose may be needed sooner after a deep or dirty wound if it has been more than five years since your last one. Pregnant women receive Tdap during each pregnancy to protect the newborn from whooping cough.
Is it safe to get more than one vaccine at the same visit?
In most cases, yes. Many adult vaccines can be given at the same visit, usually in different arms, and doing so saves trips and gets you protected sooner. Some people feel a little more soreness or fatigue afterward. We will tell you if there is a reason to space particular vaccines apart.