Vaccinations aren’t just for kids. In 2025, adult vaccination is critical for personal health and community protection. With preventable diseases like influenza, pneumonia, and shingles causing thousands of hospitalizations annually in the worldwide, staying up-to-date on vaccines is a must. This guide covers why adults need vaccines, which ones are essential, and how to get them.
Why Adult Vaccination Matters
The story of Paul Alexander, who contracted polio in 1952 and relied on an iron lung for decades until his passing in 2024, underscores the devastating impact of vaccine-preventable diseases. Thanks to modern vaccines, diseases like polio are nearly eradicated, but others still pose risks.
Here’s why adults need to stay vigilant:
- Fading Immunity: Childhood vaccines like tetanus or pertussis lose effectiveness over time, requiring boosters to “refresh” protection and prevent illness from sneaking back into communities.
- Emerging Threats: New viruses, like evolving COVID-19 variants or influenza strains, can outpace our immunity, making updated vaccines essential for staying protected.
- Age and Health Risks: Chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, heart disease, COPD) increase the chance of severe complications from even common infections.
- Travel Requirements: International travel may expose you to diseases uncommon in your home country, such as yellow fever, typhoid, or Japanese encephalitis, requiring targeted vaccines.
- Community Protection: Vaccines help reduce disease spread, shielding vulnerable populations like newborns, pregnant women, and elderly people whose immune systems are weaker.
According to the CDC, unvaccinated adults account for over 70,000 hospitalizations yearly in the US alone due to preventable diseases like flu and pneumonia.
Key Vaccines for Adults in 2025
1. Influenza (Flu) Vaccine
- Who Needs It: All adults, annually.
- Why: Flu causes up to 41,000 deaths yearly in the US. High-risk groups (over 65, pregnant women, chronic illness) face severe complications.
- Details: Available as an injection or nasal spray (for healthy, non-pregnant adults under 50). Updated each year to match circulating strains.
2. Tdap Vaccine (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis)
- Who Needs It: Adults every 10 years; pregnant women in the third trimester.
- Why: Protects against whooping cough, which can be deadly for infants. Tetanus boosters prevent lockjaw after injuries, and diphtheria can cause heart and nerve damage.
- Details: Combines protection for three diseases in one shot, reducing the number of injections needed.
3. Shingles Vaccine
- Who Needs It: Adults 50+.
- Why: Shingles, caused by the reactivated chickenpox virus, affects 1 in 3 adults, causing painful rashes and nerve damage (postherpetic neuralgia).
- Details: The two-dose Shingrix vaccine is over 90% effective and can be given even if you’ve had shingles before to reduce recurrence.
4. Pneumococcal Vaccine
- Who Needs It: Adults 65+ or those with chronic conditions like lung, heart, or kidney disease, or weakened immunity.
- Why: Prevents pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections, which hospitalize over 150,000 US adults annually.
- Details: Two types (PCV20 or PCV15 + PPSV23) are recommended depending on age, medical history, and prior vaccination record.
5. COVID-19 Vaccine
- Who Needs It: All adults, with boosters per local guidelines.
- Why: Reduces severe outcomes and hospitalizations. Variants continue to emerge in 2025, meaning immunity may need refreshing.
- Details: mRNA vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna) or protein-based options available, often reformulated seasonally to match current strains.
6. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Vaccine
- Who Needs It: Adults 60+ or those with chronic health risks like lung or heart disease.
- Why: RSV causes severe respiratory illness, hospitalizing up to 160,000 older adults yearly in the US.
- Details: Single-dose vaccines like Arexvy or Abrysvo are highly effective; protection lasts at least two RSV seasons in most adults.
7. Other Vaccines
- HPV Vaccine: For adults up to age 45 to prevent cervical, throat, and other cancers caused by human papillomavirus.
- Hepatitis A and B: For travelers, healthcare workers, or those with liver conditions.
- Meningococcal Vaccine: For young adults, especially in shared living environments like dormitories or military barracks.
- Travel Vaccines: Yellow fever, typhoid, or cholera for specific destinations—some required for entry.
Vaccination During Pregnancy
Pregnant women can protect themselves and their babies with safe, recommended vaccines:
- Flu Vaccine: Reduces maternal complications, lowers the risk of premature birth, and passes temporary immunity to the baby.
- Tdap Vaccine: Given in the third trimester to shield infants from whooping cough before they can be vaccinated.
Extra Safety Tips:
- Consult your doctor to confirm timing—second or third trimester is typical for most vaccines.
- Avoid live vaccines (e.g., MMR, varicella) during pregnancy as they may pose risks to the developing baby.
- COVID-19 vaccines are safe during pregnancy and recommended to prevent severe maternal illness, which can also endanger the fetus.
- RSV vaccines can also be given in late pregnancy (32–36 weeks) to protect newborns from severe respiratory illness in their first months.
Booster Shots: Why They’re Crucial
Boosters reactivate your immune system when protection from a previous dose fades. Without them, immunity can drop below protective levels, leaving you vulnerable.
Key Boosters:
- Tetanus/Diphtheria: Every 10 years. If you have a deep or dirty wound and it’s been more than 5 years since your last shot, an earlier booster may be given.
- Pertussis: Included in the Tdap booster; crucial for adults in close contact with infants.
- COVID-19: Booster schedules vary by country, but high-risk adults may be advised to get one every 6–12 months.
- MMR: Adults born before widespread vaccination may need testing to confirm immunity; healthcare workers and travelers may require extra doses.
Why It Matters:Booster campaigns are a major reason why diseases like tetanus and diphtheria are now rare in developed countries. They maintain high antibody levels, ensuring your body can respond quickly if exposed to a pathogen.
Where to Get Vaccinated
Accessing vaccines is easier than ever:
- US: Pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens), primary care providers, or workplace clinics. Most insurance plans cover recommended vaccines under the Affordable Care Act.
- UK: NHS offers free vaccines for eligible groups (e.g., flu for over-65s) at GP clinics or pharmacies.
- Travel Clinics: For vaccines like yellow fever, required for entry to certain countries.
Many locations offer walk-in or same-day appointments, and some pharmacies even allow booking online.
How Vaccines Work: Types Explained
Vaccines prevent infectious diseases by training the immune system to recognize and combat pathogens without causing illness. They introduce a harmless pathogen component, triggering antibody and memory cell production for future defense. Rigorous clinical trials and continuous monitoring, like VAERS, ensure safety. Here are the main vaccine types:
Inactivated Vaccines
- use pathogens that have been killed or inactivated, typically through heat or chemicals, so they cannot cause disease
Live Attenuated Vaccines
- contain weakened forms of live viruses or bacteria that replicate minimally in the body without causing illness.
mRNA Vaccines
- represent a newer technology, as seen in COVID-19 vaccines like those from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna. These vaccines deliver a small piece of messenger RNA (mRNA) that instructs cells to produce a harmless version of a pathogen’s protein .mRNA vaccines are highly effective, adaptable to new variants, and safe, as they do not contain live pathogens or integrate into DNA.
Subunit and Conjugate Vaccines
- use specific pieces of a pathogen, such as proteins or sugars, to trigger immunity. Subunit vaccines, like the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, focus on key proteins, while conjugate vaccines, such as those for pneumococcal disease, link bacterial sugars to proteins to enhance the immune response, particularly in young children. These vaccines are safe for most populations but may require boosters for sustained protection.
Toxoid Vaccines
- target diseases caused by bacterial toxins rather than the bacteria themselves. They use inactivated toxins (toxoids) to stimulate immunity against the harmful effects of toxins produced by bacteria like Clostridium tetani (tetanus) or Corynebacterium diphtheriae (diphtheria). These vaccines are highly effective and typically require periodic boosters to maintain immunity.
Oral and Nasal Vaccines
- These are administered through the mouth or nose, offering a needle-free alternative. Examples include the oral cholera vaccine and the nasal spray flu vaccine. These vaccines stimulate immunity in mucosal tissues, such as those in the respiratory or digestive systems, which are common entry points for pathogens. They are convenient but may have specific storage or administration requirements
Vaccine Safety: Questions to Ask Your Doctor
Before getting vaccinated, clarify:
- Which vaccines do I need?A: Depends on age, health, and lifestyle.
- Are any vaccines unsafe for me?A: Critical for those with immune disorders or allergies.
- Can I get multiple vaccines at once?A: Often yes, saving time and visits.
- What are the side effects?A: Common: mild soreness, fever, fatigue. Rare: allergic reactions (1 in 100,000).
- Does insurance cover it? A: In the US, most plans cover recommended vaccines; always verify.
Benefits of Adult Vaccination
Vaccines offer powerful protection:
- Personal Health: Lowers risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and long-term complications.
- Community Immunity: Prevents outbreaks and protects those who cannot be vaccinated.
- Cost Savings: Avoids expensive treatment costs—shingles complications can exceed $1,000 out-of-pocket.
- Global Safety: Travel vaccines prevent imported outbreaks and keep communities safer.
Final Thoughts: Act Now, Stay Protected
Adult vaccination is a small step with a big impact. From preventing flu hospitalizations to shielding newborns from whooping cough, vaccines save lives and reduce suffering. Paul Alexander’s life in an iron lung reminds us of the stakes—diseases we can prevent today shouldn’t define our future.
Take Action:
- Check your vaccination record with your doctor.
- Schedule your annual flu shot or overdue boosters.
- Stay informed about COVID-19 and RSV vaccine updates.
Quick Links
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-schedules/adult-easyread.html
https://www.immunize.org/clinical/topic/adult-vaccination/
https://www.nfid.org/resource/call-to-action-strategies-to-improve-adult-immunization-in-the-us
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36379499
https://drzaramulla.com/vaccination-and-immunization-importance-of-childhood-vaccination/
