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Vaccines must be part of your health care regimen no matter your age. Caregivers and their loved ones alike need to ensure they are vaccinated. Caregivers cannot afford to be sick, and older adults can be at risk for serious complications from vaccine-preventable diseases.
Since August is Immunization Awareness Month, here we share the key vaccines that all adults over the age of 50 should have according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
| Vaccine | Medical Name | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Flu | Influenza | Annually — it typically becomes available around Labor Day |
| Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis (whooping cough) | Tdap |
|
| Pneumonia | Pneumococcal disease | CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for all adults 65+ |
| Shingles | Herpes Zoster | CDC recommends that healthy adults 50+ get two doses of the shingles vaccine Shingrix (recombinant zoster vaccine) 2 to 6 months apart |
| Measles, Mumps and Rubella | MMR |
|
Different adults have different health risk factors, so other vaccines such as Hepatitis A and B or human papillomaviruses (HPV) might be needed. It’s important to talk with your doctor and make sure that you are properly vaccinated.
In addition to protecting oneself from illness, vaccines help prevent the spread of germs. This is particularly important in multigenerational households. The older adults in these homes can suffer greatly if they become ill, and their likelihood of being exposed to illness is greater if there is a school-age child present. Also, they need to protect other family members from harmful germs. For example, pertussis (whooping cough) can be deadly for babies.
The Health Department’s Health Clinics offer immunizations. You can also find out more about vaccines on the CDC website.