Vaccinations for Those Over 50

Vaccines aren't just for kids. In fact, turning 50 means it's time to make sure you have everything up to date and get a few new ones too. You should get both the flu and COVID-19 vaccines every year. Older adults have a higher risk of getting complications from the flu like pneumonia.

Consider adding the RSV vaccine to fight against the virus that causes mild cold-like symptoms. It's recommended for adults 60 and older. It's also a good time to double-check that you are up-to-date on your Tdap vaccine, which covers diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough. Even if you were vaccinated as a child, you should get a booster every 10 years.

Sometimes, if you had chickenpox as a child, the virus can become reactivated in your body when you become older and cause shingles, which affects the nerves causing them to itch and have pain. The shingles vaccine is recommended for anyone over 50 and it comes in two doses spaced apart. All adults under age 59 should get a hepatitis B vaccine, as well as those over 60 who have risk factors for hepatitis B. The vaccine is not specifically recommended for those over 60 without risk factors.

If you are 65 or older, it's recommended that you get a pneumococcal vaccine to protect against pneumococcal disease and pneumonia. Some vaccines may not be recommended for adults with specific health conditions. Talk with your doctor about which vaccines are right for you.