Vaccines Are Not Just for Kids
When most people picture vaccinations, they picture childhood immunizations — the shots recorded in a school folder decades ago. But protection is not a one-time event. Adults need vaccines throughout their lives for several reasons: immunity from some childhood vaccines fades over time, entirely new vaccines have been developed for diseases that primarily affect older adults, and many adults simply never received certain vaccines when they were younger.
Despite this, adult vaccination rates remain low. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fewer than half of adults are up to date on recommended immunizations. Because the schedule is updated regularly as new vaccines are approved and the evidence evolves, the most reliable way to know where you stand is to have your record reviewed by your physician against the current CDC adult immunization schedule. At Zimmer Medical Group, we review your vaccination status at every annual physical so nothing slips through the cracks.
Which Adult Vaccines Might You Be Missing?
It is easy to lose track of which shots you have had, especially when different vaccines are recommended at different ages. Here is a high-level map of the vaccines most adults should have on their radar. Your own list depends on your age, health conditions, pregnancy status, occupation, and travel plans:
- Every year: influenza (flu), plus staying up to date on COVID-19
- Every 10 years: a tetanus-diphtheria (Td) or Tdap booster, with a one-time Tdap for anyone who never received it
- At 50 and older: shingles (Shingrix), given as two doses
- At 60 and older: RSV, through a conversation with your doctor
- At 65 and older, or younger with risk factors: pneumococcal vaccination
- Through age 45: HPV, if not vaccinated earlier
- For unvaccinated adults: hepatitis B, along with other vaccines depending on individual risk
Think of the sections below as a checklist. If any of these are unfamiliar, or you cannot remember your last dose, flag it at your next visit.
Shingles Vaccine (Shingrix): Age 50 and Older
What Is Shingles?
Shingles (herpes zoster) is caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in your nerve cells and can reactivate decades later, causing a painful, blistering rash that typically appears in a band on one side of the body.
Approximately one in three Americans will develop shingles during their lifetime. The risk increases significantly with age, and the consequences can be severe, particularly a complication called postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), which causes burning nerve pain that can last months or even years after the rash resolves.
The Vaccine
Shingrix is a recombinant (non-live) vaccine given in two doses, two to six months apart. It is recommended for all adults aged 50 and older, regardless of whether they have had shingles before or received the older shingles vaccine (Zostavax).
Shingrix is remarkably effective:
- Over 90 percent effective at preventing shingles in adults 50 and older
- Over 85 percent effective in adults 70 and older
- Approximately 90 percent effective at preventing postherpetic neuralgia
Side effects are common but temporary: sore arm, muscle pain, fatigue, and headache lasting one to three days. These side effects reflect the strong immune response the vaccine generates. Because shingles becomes both more common and more serious with age, this two-dose series is one of the highest-value vaccines available to older adults. For a deeper look, see our guide on what every adult should know about shingles.
Pneumococcal Vaccines: Protecting Against Pneumonia and More
Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae and can lead to pneumonia, bloodstream infections (bacteremia), and meningitis. Older adults and people with chronic medical conditions are at highest risk for severe disease.
Current Recommendations
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends pneumococcal vaccination for:
- All adults 65 and older
- Adults 19 to 64 with certain risk factors: chronic heart, lung, or liver disease; diabetes; alcoholism; smoking; cerebrospinal fluid leaks; cochlear implants; immunocompromising conditions; or sickle cell disease
The exact product and schedule depend on which pneumococcal vaccines you have already received. Because these recommendations have been simplified and updated in recent years, the best approach is to let your physician check your history against the current CDC schedule rather than trying to sort it out from memory. If you are unsure of your pneumococcal vaccination history, your doctor can review your records and determine what you need.
RSV Vaccine: Age 60 and Older
A New Tool Against a Common Threat
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has long been recognized as a serious threat to infants, but it also causes significant illness in older adults. RSV leads to an estimated 60,000 to 160,000 hospitalizations and 6,000 to 10,000 deaths among adults 65 and older in the United States each year.
RSV vaccines (Arexvy and Abrysvo) were approved for adults 60 and older beginning in 2023. The ACIP recommends shared clinical decision-making between patients and their healthcare providers about RSV vaccination for adults aged 60 and older, with a particular focus on those at highest risk:
- Adults 75 and older
- Adults 60 and older with chronic heart or lung disease, diabetes, or weakened immune systems
- Adults living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities
A single dose is currently recommended and provides protection for at least two RSV seasons. RSV is one of several respiratory viruses that circulate each winter, and it can be easy to confuse with a cold, the flu, or COVID-19. Our guide comparing cold, flu, COVID, and RSV explains how to tell them apart and when each one warrants a call to the office.
Tdap and Td Boosters: Every 10 Years
Why Boosters Matter
Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough) vaccines do not provide lifelong immunity. Protection wanes over time, which is why booster doses are needed throughout adulthood.
Recommendations
- Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis): All adults should receive one dose of Tdap if they have not previously had it, regardless of when their last Td booster was given. Tdap is especially important for anyone who will be in close contact with infants, as pertussis can be fatal in newborns.
- Td or Tdap booster: Every 10 years thereafter. Either Td or Tdap can be used for the booster.
- Wound management: If you sustain a deep, dirty wound and it has been more than five years since your last tetanus-containing vaccine, a booster is recommended.
Annual Flu Vaccine
Influenza is not just a bad cold. Each year, the flu causes hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and tens of thousands of deaths in the United States. The virus changes (mutates) each year, which is why a new vaccine is formulated and recommended annually.
Who Should Get It?
Everyone aged six months and older, but it is particularly important for:
- Adults 65 and older, who should receive the high-dose or adjuvanted vaccine for stronger protection
- Adults with chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, or kidney disease
- Pregnant women
- Healthcare workers and caregivers
Timing Your Flu Shot
For most people, the best time to get vaccinated is September or October, before flu activity typically peaks. That said, getting a flu shot later in the season is far better than skipping it, since flu can circulate well into spring. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for full protection to develop, so it is worth building in a little lead time before holiday gatherings and travel.
Updated COVID-19 Vaccines
COVID-19 vaccination recommendations continue to evolve as the virus changes and new vaccine formulations become available. The CDC recommends that adults stay up to date with the most current COVID-19 vaccine, which is updated to target circulating variants.
Updated vaccines are particularly important for:
- Adults 65 and older
- Immunocompromised individuals
- Those with chronic medical conditions
- Healthcare workers
Because timing and eligibility change from season to season, check with your doctor or the CDC website for the most current recommendations.
Hepatitis B Vaccine: For Unvaccinated Adults
Hepatitis B is a viral infection that attacks the liver and can lead to chronic infection, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. While most adults born in the United States after 1991 were vaccinated as children, many older adults were not.
Who Should Be Vaccinated?
The CDC now recommends hepatitis B vaccination for all adults aged 19 to 59, and for adults 60 and older with risk factors including:
- Healthcare workers
- People with chronic liver disease, hepatitis C, or HIV
- People with diabetes
- Sexual partners of hepatitis B-positive individuals
- People who inject drugs
- Travelers to countries with high hepatitis B rates
The standard series is three doses (at 0, 1, and 6 months), though a two-dose option (Heplisav-B, given one month apart) is also available for adults.
HPV Vaccine: For Adults Up to Age 45
Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical, throat, anal, and penile cancers, as well as genital warts. The HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9) is routinely recommended for adolescents at age 11 or 12, but adults who were not vaccinated can receive it up to age 45 through shared clinical decision-making with their provider.
The vaccine is most effective when given before HPV exposure, but it can still provide benefit for adults who have not been infected with all the HPV strains covered by the vaccine. Adults aged 27 to 45 should discuss the potential benefits with their doctor based on their individual risk.
Vaccines and Travel
International travel is a common reason adults need vaccines they might not otherwise consider. Depending on your destination, you may need protection against illnesses such as hepatitis A, typhoid, or yellow fever, and you may need to update routine vaccines before you go. Some travel vaccines require multiple doses spread over several weeks, so the best time to plan is well before departure — ideally four to six weeks ahead.
The CDC maintains destination-specific travel health recommendations that are updated regularly. If a trip is on your calendar, bring the details to your appointment so we can map out what you need and when, and so any multi-dose series can be started in time.
A St. Petersburg and Florida Angle
Living in Pinellas County shapes your vaccine needs in a few practical ways:
- Snowbirds and part-time residents. If you split the year between Florida and another state, your vaccine records can end up scattered across multiple practices and pharmacies. Ask each provider to report doses to the state immunization registry, and keep one consolidated personal record so nothing is duplicated or missed.
- A long, active outdoor season. Year-round gardening, boating, fishing, and yard work mean more opportunities for the kind of deep or dirty puncture wounds that raise tetanus concerns. If you cannot remember your last tetanus-containing shot, it is worth checking before your next big project.
- A large community of older adults. Many age-based vaccines — shingles, RSV, pneumococcal, and high-dose flu — are especially relevant to our region's sizable retiree population. For a broader look at prevention tailored to local residents, see our guide to adult immunizations and the Florida lifestyle.
- Hurricane season. Staying current on vaccinations is part of overall preparedness. Cleanup after a storm often involves floodwater and injuries, which is exactly when up-to-date tetanus protection matters most.
Myths vs. Facts About Adult Vaccines
- Myth: "The flu shot can give me the flu." The injectable flu vaccine is inactivated — it contains no live virus and cannot cause influenza. Temporary soreness or a low-grade achiness is the immune system responding, not an infection.
- Myth: "I already had chickenpox, so I can't get shingles." The opposite is true. Having had chickenpox is exactly why the virus can reactivate later as shingles, which is why the vaccine is recommended at 50 and older.
- Myth: "I had shingles once, so I don't need the vaccine." You can get shingles more than once, and Shingrix is still recommended even after an episode.
- Myth: "I'm healthy, so I don't need vaccines." Serious infections like influenza, pneumococcal disease, and shingles affect healthy adults too — and being vaccinated also helps protect more vulnerable people around you, such as newborns and those with weakened immune systems.
- Myth: "Vaccines wear off, so there's no point." Some immunity does fade, which is precisely why boosters exist. Even when a vaccine does not fully prevent illness, it often dramatically reduces the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
Vaccination is rarely an emergency, but a few situations deserve a prompt conversation:
- You are turning 50, 60, or 65 — each is a milestone that unlocks newly recommended vaccines.
- You have been diagnosed with a chronic condition such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, or a condition that weakens the immune system.
- You are starting a medication that suppresses the immune system, which can affect both the timing and the choice of vaccines.
- You are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, since some vaccines are recommended during pregnancy and others are best given before or after.
- You sustain a deep or dirty wound and cannot recall your last tetanus shot.
- You are planning international travel.
If you are behind on more than one vaccine, there is no need to feel overwhelmed. Your doctor can help you prioritize and, in many cases, safely combine several vaccines into a single visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get more than one vaccine at the same visit? In most cases, yes. Receiving several vaccines at one appointment is safe and convenient, and it is a common way to catch up efficiently. Your physician will advise if any should be spaced apart.
What if I have no record of my past vaccines? Start by checking your state immunization registry and asking previous doctors or pharmacies. When a record truly cannot be found, receiving an extra dose of most vaccines is safe and is generally preferred to leaving you unprotected.
Should I skip my shot if I feel a little under the weather? A mild illness such as a cold is usually not a reason to postpone vaccination. A more significant illness with fever might be — when in doubt, ask your doctor.
Are adult vaccines covered by insurance? Many recommended adult vaccines are covered by Medicare and most private insurance plans, often at little or no out-of-pocket cost. Because coverage details vary, it is worth confirming with your plan or asking our office.
Keeping Track of Your Vaccinations
Many adults are unsure which vaccines they have received. Here are strategies for staying on top of your immunization status:
- Ask your doctor to review your records at your annual physical
- Check your state immunization registry, which tracks vaccines administered by participating providers
- Keep a personal vaccination record and update it after each dose
- When in doubt, revaccinate. For most vaccines, receiving an extra dose is safe and preferable to being unprotected
A Simple Step with Lasting Protection
Vaccines are among the most effective tools in medicine. They prevent suffering, hospitalization, and death from diseases that are entirely avoidable. If you are not sure whether you are up to date, now is the time to find out.
Not sure which vaccines you need? Contact Zimmer Medical Group to schedule an appointment and review your immunization status. Staying current on vaccinations is one of the simplest and most impactful things you can do for your health.
