Patient education: Vaccines for adults (The Basics)

What are vaccines? — Vaccines can prevent certain serious or deadly infections. They teach your body how to fight the germs that cause infections. Thanks to vaccines, many fewer people get seriously ill or die from infections than in the past.

Vaccines usually come in shots, but some come in nose sprays or medicines you swallow. When a person gets a vaccine, this is called "vaccination" or "immunization."

Why should I get vaccinated? — Getting vaccinated can help keep you from getting certain infections. If you do get an infection, being vaccinated can also keep you from getting severely ill.

In some cases, being vaccinated also helps protect other people around you. For diseases that can spread from person to person, the goal of vaccines is to get to "herd immunity." Herd immunity is when enough people are immune to a disease that it can no longer spread easily. To get to herd immunity, lots of people need to get vaccinated. This helps protect people who cannot get vaccinated for some reason.

Which vaccines should I get? — Your doctor or nurse will tell you which vaccines you should get.

There are some vaccines that all adults should get, even if they got their childhood vaccines. These vaccines protect against the following infections:

●Coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19") – This is an infection caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. It can cause a fever, cough, and trouble breathing, along with other symptoms. Some people get severely ill from COVID-19.

●Influenza (flu) – The flu can cause fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, and sore throat. It can even cause a lung infection.

●Pertussis – This infection is also known as "whooping cough" and can cause a severe breathing illness in babies. It can also make older children and adults sick. Vaccinating adults helps prevent babies around them from getting the infection. The pertussis vaccine comes in the same shot as the diphtheria and tetanus vaccines.

●Diphtheria and tetanus – Vaccines against these 2 diseases are usually together in 1 shot, or in a shot with the pertussis vaccine. Diphtheria can cause a thick covering in the back of the throat that can lead to breathing problems. Tetanus causes the muscles to work abnormally.

●Hepatitis B – This is a serious disease caused by a virus. It can cause long-term liver problems or liver cancer. The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all adults under age 60, and some adults age 60 and older.

Some adults will need other vaccines, depending on their age, medical conditions, jobs, travel plans, and other factors. These can include vaccines to protect against:

●Pneumococcus – Pneumococcus is a germ that can cause an infection of the lungs, ears, blood, or tissues around the brain.

●Meningococcus – Meningococcus is a germ that can cause an infection of the blood or tissues around the brain.

●Herpes zoster, also called "shingles" – Shingles can cause a painful skin rash and blisters.

●Human papillomavirus ("HPV") – There are different types of HPV. Depending on the type and where the infection is, HPV infection can lead to cancer of the cervix, vagina, penis, or anus. It can also cause genital warts or cancer of the mouth and throat. Most doctors recommend that people get the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12. But people can get the vaccine any time from age 9 to 26.

●Other infections – These include measles, chickenpox, hepatitis A, and respiratory syncytial virus ("RSV").

How many vaccine doses do I need? — Each vaccine is different. Some vaccines work after just 1 dose. Others require 2 or more doses to prevent an infection.

Some vaccines prevent an infection for the rest of your life. Others do not. A "booster" is a vaccine dose that you get after a certain number of years. It reminds the body how to prevent an infection. People who got childhood vaccines sometimes need booster doses in adulthood. People who travel to other countries also sometimes need booster doses of certain vaccines.

When should I be vaccinated? — Different vaccines are given at different ages. Your doctor or nurse will recommend a vaccine schedule that is right for you. For most vaccines, it takes a couple of weeks before you are fully protected. This is because it takes time for your body to prepare to fight the infection.

Do vaccines cause side effects? — They can. Often vaccines cause no side effects, but sometimes they do. When side effects happen, they can include:

●Redness, mild swelling, or soreness where you got the shot

●Mild fever

●Mild rash

●Headache or body aches

These side effects do not mean that you are sick, just that your immune system (infection-fighting system) is responding to the vaccine.

Vaccines also sometimes cause more serious side effects, such as severe allergic reactions. But serious side effects are rare.

Ask your doctor or nurse what side effects to expect each time you get a vaccine. If you have a reaction or a problem after a vaccine, let them know.

What if I am pregnant or want to get pregnant? — If you want to get pregnant, ask your doctor or nurse if you need any vaccines. Some vaccines must be given before pregnancy. Others are important to get during pregnancy. Getting the right vaccines before and during pregnancy can protect you and your baby from serious infections.

More on this topic

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Patient education: COVID-19 vaccines (The Basics)
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Patient education: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (The Basics)
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Patient education: Vaccines for infants and children age 0 to 6 years (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Vaccines for children age 7 to 18 years (Beyond the Basics)
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