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Preventive care checklist

Vaccines for Older Adults

Vaccines help prevent illnesses that can be especially serious later in life. The right schedule depends on age, health conditions, past doses, season, and current public-health guidance.

Written and reviewed by Nick Anderson, PharmD · Reviewed September 13, 2026

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About your visit
Three quick medication-safety questions

1. A complete medicine list should include nonprescription products, vitamins, and supplements.

2. It is safe to suddenly stop any medicine that might cause dizziness.

3. A pharmacist can help check for duplicate medicines and interactions.

How confident are you about using a medicine list and asking medication-safety questions?

Privacy: no name, email address, birth date, diagnosis, medicine, provider, or caregiver-record entry is collected. An anonymous code on this device connects the starting and follow-up checks.

Vaccines commonly discussed with older adults

Seasonal respiratory vaccines

  • Flu: recommended every year; adults 65 and older should receive an age-appropriate option when available.
  • COVID-19: use the current CDC schedule because recommended products and timing can change by season.
  • RSV: CDC recommends one dose for everyone age 75 and older, and for adults 50–74 who have increased risk of severe RSV. It is not currently an annual vaccine.

Routine protection

  • Shingles: a two-dose series is generally recommended beginning at age 50, including for many people who had shingles before.
  • Pneumococcal: recommended beginning at age 50; the product and number of doses depend on vaccination history and health factors.
  • Tdap/Td: one Tdap dose if never received, then a Td or Tdap booster every 10 years; vaccination may also be needed with some wounds.

Prepare for the visit

  • Ask which vaccines are due now and which can wait.
  • Confirm whether vaccines can be given during the same visit.
  • Ask what common reactions to expect and how to manage them.
  • Request written documentation and add it to your personal record.

After vaccination

Temporary soreness, fatigue, headache, or mild fever can occur. Follow the instructions given by the vaccinator. Call 911 for trouble breathing, swelling of the face or throat, a fast heartbeat with dizziness, widespread hives, or other signs of a severe allergic reaction.

Recommendations change

This page is a conversation guide, not a personal schedule. Check the current CDC adult immunization schedule or ask a pharmacist or other qualified healthcare professional before acting.

Trusted resources

General education only. This page does not replace individualized advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine without guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.

Finished this guide? Record what you learned

Your anonymous answers help evaluate medication-safety knowledge, confidence, and intended next steps.

Three quick medication-safety questions

1. A complete medicine list should include nonprescription products, vitamins, and supplements.

2. It is safe to suddenly stop any medicine that might cause dizziness.

3. A pharmacist can help check for duplicate medicines and interactions.

How confident are you about using a medicine list and asking medication-safety questions?
What do you plan to do?

After submitting, you can use the same anonymous code for the optional 30-day action check.

Nick Anderson, PharmDClinical referenceNick Anderson, PharmDBCGP certification lapsed · View professional profile

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