πΊπΈ US Adult Vaccine Schedule Checker
Which vaccines does the CDC recommend for your age?
Vaccines to discuss
For informational purposes only, not medical advice.
US adult vaccination starts with three for everyone 19 and older: annual flu, Tdap/Td on the 10-year rhythm, and current COVID guidance. Age adds more: shingles at 50+, RSV shared decision-making at 60+ (recommended at 75+), and pneumococcal at 65+. A 65-year-old is therefore looking at 6 vaccines to discuss. This checker lists the CDC's age-based recommendations so you can walk into the pharmacy or clinic visit prepared.
Adult vaccination is the most neglected corner of preventive care: childhood coverage is high, adult coverage lags badly, and the diseases, flu, shingles, pneumococcal pneumonia, hit adults hardest. The schedule exists; the gap is awareness.
How to Use This Checker
Enter your age. The tool lists the vaccines CDC recommends at your age with the dosing pattern for each.
Enter your age in years.
Read the recommended vaccines and their schedules.
Bring the list to your doctor or pharmacist, who will tailor it to your health history and prior doses.
The Adult Schedule by Age
| Vaccine | Schedule |
|---|---|
| Influenza | Every fall, all adults. |
| Tdap, then Td/Tdap | Tdap once, booster every 10 years. |
| COVID-19 | Per current CDC guidance, updated periodically. |
| Shingles (Shingrix) | 2 doses at 50+, even if you had shingles. |
| RSV | 60+ shared decision; 75+ recommended. |
| Pneumococcal | 65+ per CDC recommendation; earlier with risk factors. |
Risk factors pull several of these earlier: pneumococcal and flu matter more with chronic heart, lung, liver disease, diabetes, or immune compromise, and hepatitis vaccines follow exposure and risk rather than age. The age list is the floor, not the ceiling.
Worked Example
Age 65, healthy, last Tdap at 55, never had shingles or pneumococcal vaccines: the checker returns 6 items, flu (due this fall), Tdap booster (10 years elapsed), COVID per current guidance, Shingrix series (2 doses), RSV discussion, and pneumococcal. That is a full pharmacy visit, and spacing them across two visits is perfectly reasonable.
Age 30: three items, flu, Tdap timing check, COVID. The list grows with age because the diseases do, which is the entire logic of the schedule.
Reading Your Result
Use the list as a discussion agenda, not a prescription pad. Your clinician will check what you have already had, because prior doses count, and adjust for conditions like immune compromise or pregnancy. Pharmacists in most states can administer all of these without a separate doctor visit.
My take: do the shingles series the year you turn 50 and stop thinking about it. Shingles pain is famously miserable, the vaccine is highly effective, and it is the single most procrastinated item on this list.
Limits
CDC guidance updates, sometimes yearly, and this page summarizes the age-based core rather than every risk-based recommendation. Travel vaccines, hepatitis series, and MMR catch-up follow separate rules. When guidance and this page differ, guidance wins; check the CDC adult schedule for the current version.
Related Tools
Understand the numbers behind vaccines with the vaccine efficacy calculator and protection length with our vaccine immunity guide.
For informational purposes only, not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional.
Frequently Asked Questions
What vaccines do adults need in the US?
Per CDC: annual flu, Tdap/Td every 10 years, and current COVID guidance for all adults 19+; shingles at 50+; RSV discussion at 60+ (recommended 75+); pneumococcal at 65+. Risk factors add hepatitis and earlier pneumococcal vaccination.
At what age do you get the shingles vaccine?
50 and older: two doses of Shingrix, 2-6 months apart, even if you previously had shingles or the older Zostavax. It is over 90% effective against shingles.
Who needs the pneumococcal vaccine?
Adults 65+ per CDC age-based guidance, plus younger adults with chronic conditions, immune compromise, or smoking history. Your doctor picks the right formulation and timing.
Do adults need MMR?
Adults born after 1956 generally should have at least one dose documented; healthcare workers and travelers may need two. Many adults are covered by childhood vaccination.
How often is the flu shot needed?
Every year, ideally in the fall. Protection wanes and the strains change, so last year's shot does not carry over.
Is the RSV vaccine recommended for older adults?
CDC recommends it for 75+ and advises shared decision-making for ages 60-74 with risk factors. It protects against a virus that hospitalizes many older adults yearly.
Do I need COVID boosters still?
Follow current CDC guidance, which is updated periodically based on variants and evidence. Recommendations vary by age and risk; your pharmacist has the latest.
Can pharmacists give adult vaccines?
In most states, yes, pharmacists can administer flu, COVID, shingles, pneumococcal, RSV, and Tdap without a doctor's prescription. It is often the fastest route.
What if I lost my vaccine records?
Check your state immunization registry, doctor's office, and pharmacy records. When in doubt, your provider can order titers for some diseases or simply revaccinate, which is safe for most vaccines.
Where is the official CDC schedule?
The CDC publishes the recommended adult immunization schedule yearly. This checker summarizes its age-based core; the official schedule is authoritative when anything differs.