What vaccines do I need in my 50s?

Turning 50 opens up two new vaccines: the shingles vaccine (2 doses of Shingrix) and the pneumococcal vaccine (1 dose if you have never had one). Keep your Td or Tdap booster current every 10 years and get a flu shot each year. If you have a qualifying risk condition like COPD, heart disease, or diabetes on insulin, you may also be eligible for the RSV vaccine at 50.

Is the shingles or RSV vaccine an annual shot like the flu?

No. Shingrix is a 2-dose series given 2 to 6 months apart and does not need a booster after that. The RSV vaccine is currently a one-time dose. Only influenza (and COVID-19, if you and your clinician choose it) are given seasonally.

I am over 65. Which pneumonia vaccine do I need, and do I need two?

If you have never had a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), you need one dose of PCV15, PCV20, or PCV21. If you receive PCV15, a second vaccine (PPSV23) is given at least a year later. PCV20 or PCV21 can usually be given alone. Bring your records, since the plan depends on what you have already received.

Do I still need a tetanus shot if I am not injured?

Yes. Adults need a tetanus-containing booster (Td or Tdap) every 10 years regardless of injury. If you have a deep or dirty wound and it has been more than 5 years, you may need one sooner. If you have never had an adult Tdap, get Tdap once for whooping-cough protection.

Is it too late to get the HPV vaccine as an adult?

If you are 26 or younger and were not vaccinated, catch-up is recommended. Between 27 and 45 it is not routine, but it may benefit some adults, so talk through your individual risk with your clinician. The vaccine is not licensed for use after age 45.

Can I get several vaccines at the same visit?

Generally yes. The CDC says most vaccines can be given at one visit using different injection sites. A few have timing rules (live vaccines like MMR and varicella have spacing considerations, and pregnancy or immune status can affect eligibility), so your clinician or pharmacist will sequence them correctly.

Primary Care

Adult Vaccine and Immunization Schedule by Age

A plain-language reference to which adult vaccines you need in your 20s through your 70s and beyond, per the 2026 CDC and ACIP schedule.

Morningside Medical Team

Which adult vaccines do I need, and when?

Every adult needs a flu shot each year and a tetanus booster (Td or Tdap) every 10 years. After that, most adult vaccines are tied to your age: shingles and pneumococcal vaccines start at 50, and RSV is recommended for everyone at 75 (and for some adults starting at 50). The schedule below follows the 2026 CDC adult immunization recommendations. Always confirm the specifics with your clinician, because some 2025 to 2026 recommendations (especially COVID-19 and RSV) changed recently and may be updated again.

Key takeaways

Every year, every age: an annual flu shot for everyone 6 months and older; adults 65+ get a higher-dose or adjuvanted version.
Every 10 years: a Td or Tdap tetanus booster, with one lifetime adult Tdap and a Tdap dose during each pregnancy.
Starting at 50: 2 doses of the shingles vaccine (Shingrix) and one pneumococcal vaccine if you have never had one.
RSV: one dose for all adults 75+, and for adults 50 to 74 with higher-risk health conditions.
COVID-19 (2025 to 2026): now a shared decision with your clinician, not a blanket recommendation, with the most benefit for adults 65+ and those with weakened immune systems.

Ages 19 to 26: catch-up and the basics

This is the catch-up window. Keep your annual flu shot and make sure you have had an adult Tdap at least once, then a Td or Tdap booster every 10 years.

If you were not fully vaccinated as a teen, this is the time to catch up on the HPV vaccine, which is routinely recommended through age 26. You should also have documented immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and chickenpox (varicella); if not, you may need 1 to 2 doses of MMR and 2 doses of varicella. Both are live vaccines, so they are not given during pregnancy or with a severely weakened immune system.

Ages 27 to 49: staying current

Keep the flu shot annual and the Td or Tdap booster on its 10-year schedule. Every pregnancy should include a Tdap dose, ideally between weeks 27 and 36, to protect the newborn from whooping cough.

HPV is no longer routine after 26, but for adults 27 to 45 it can still be worth discussing based on your individual situation. If you have certain health conditions (such as a weakened immune system), you may also be recommended a pneumococcal vaccine before 50.

Ages 50 to 64: the new-vaccine decade

Fifty is a milestone birthday for immunity. Two vaccines open up:

Shingles: 2 doses of Shingrix, 2 to 6 months apart. Uptake has climbed fast, from just 1.1% of eligible adults in 2018 to 24.1% in 2023, but there is still plenty of room to protect yourself.
Pneumococcal: as of October 2024, ACIP lowered the age-based recommendation from 65 to 50. If you have never had a PCV, you need one dose of PCV15, PCV20, or PCV21. This matters because only about 37% of adults 50 to 64 with a risk condition had been vaccinated, even though invasive pneumococcal disease hit 13.2 per 100,000 in this age group in 2022.

If you have a qualifying condition like chronic lung or heart disease, diabetes on insulin, or a weakened immune system, you also become eligible for the RSV vaccine starting at 50 (ACIP lowered the risk-based age from 60 to 50 in April 2025).

Ages 65 and up: full coverage

At 65, a few things shift. Your flu shot should be a higher-dose or adjuvanted product. Everyone 75 and older is recommended one dose of the RSV vaccine, and it is a one-time dose for now, not annual. Keep the pneumococcal and shingles vaccines on your record if you did not get them earlier, and stay current on your 10-year tetanus booster.

Where does COVID-19 fit in?

For the 2025 to 2026 season, ACIP moved COVID-19 from a universal recommendation to shared clinical decision-making. The benefit is greatest for adults 65 and older and for anyone with a moderately or severely weakened immune system. This is one of the fastest-changing items on the schedule, so it is worth a direct conversation at your next visit. (Wondering whether that winter cough is even worth a shot? Our guide on cold versus flu symptoms can help you tell the difference.)

When should I seek care?

Call 911 or go to the ER for signs of a severe allergic reaction after any vaccine: hives, swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, or weakness, usually within minutes to a few hours. See CDC vaccine safety.
Skip live vaccines (MMR, varicella) if you are pregnant or have a severely weakened immune system unless your clinician advises otherwise. Tell your clinician if either applies.
Hold routine vaccines during a moderate-to-severe illness. A mild cold is not a reason to wait.
Get a deep or dirty wound checked if your last tetanus shot was more than 5 years ago; you may need a booster sooner.

A quick word from our team

Keeping vaccines current is one of the simplest, highest-value things you can do for your long-term health, and the schedule really is more about your age and history than anything complicated. If you are not sure what you have had or what you are due for, bring whatever records you can find and we will map out a plan together. Our adult primary care team can review your history and give any shots you need in the same visit.

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Talk to your clinician about your specific situation.

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