Immunizations Across the Lifespan

Why Immunize?

Vaccines are widely and routinely administered on the principle that it is better to keep people from falling sick than to treat them once they are sick. Vaccines have saved countless lives, prevented untold illness and, thereby, enriched the health of everyone in our society. The benefits of widespread use of vaccines by the end of the 1900s were so significant in diminishing pain and suffering from vaccine-preventable disease that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cited vaccination as the number one public health achievement of the 20th century.

It is important that we, as a society, continue to protect the health of our generation and following generations by using life-saving vaccines. To do that, we must ensure that everyone, young and old, the haves and have-nots, receive all needed immunizations. Immunizations are and will continue to be one of the pillars upon which society builds good public health.

Recommended Immunizations

• Hepatitis B
• Rotavirus
• DTaP
• Haemophilus Influenzae type B (Hib)
• Pneumoccocal (PCV)
• Polio
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
• Varicella
• Hepatitis A
• Influenza (annually)
  There are two types of influenza vaccine:
  Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (select populations)
  Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (most populations)

If high risk:

• Meningococcal (for children considered high risk)

Please discuss these recommended immunizations with your primary care provider.

Recommended Immunizations

• Tdap
• HPV (females only)
• Meningococcal
• Influenza (annually)
  There are two types of influenza vaccine:
  Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (select populations)
  Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (most populations)

If not already received by age 6:

• Hepatitis B
• Polio
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
• Varicella

If high-risk:

• Pneumoccocal (PPSV)
• Hepatitis A

Recommended Immunizations

• Tetanus diphtheria (Td) (every 10 years)
• Tdap (one dose in place of the dicennial Td booster)
• Influenza (annually)
  There are two types of influenza vaccine:
  Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (select populations)
  Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (most populations)

If not already received in childhood/adolescence:

• Hepatitis B
• Polio
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
• Varicella
• Meningococcal
• HPV (females only)

If high risk:

• Pneumoccocal (PPSV)
• Hepatitis A

If travelling outside of the U.S, please visit the CDC Travel Web site for information on country-specific vaccines.

Recommended Immunizations for All Adults

• Tetanus diphtheria (Td) (every 10 years)
• Tdap (one dose in place of the dicennial Td booster)
• Influenza (annually)
  There are two types of Influenza vaccine:
  Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (select populations)
  Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (most populations)

If not already received in childhood/adolesence:

• Varicella
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
• HPV (females younger than 26)

If high risk:

• Pneumoccocal (PPSV)
• Hepatitis B
• Hepatitis A
  

Recommended Immunizations for a Healthy Pregnancy

• Influenza
  Only Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine is appropriate for pregnancy

If high risk or indicated:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Tetanus diptheria (Td)
  

Recommended Immunizations to Protect a Newborn

The following immunizations should be given to all caregivers of newborns to help protect newborns from diseases for which they are not yet able to receive immunizations. Caregivers include: parents and other family members and day care providers. 

• Influenza (annually)
  There are two types of influenza vaccine:
  Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (select populations)
  Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (most populations)
• Tdap (one dose in place of the dicennial Td booster)
  

Recommended Immunizations for Over 60

• Pneumoccocal (PPSV) - older than 65
• Shingles (Zoster) - older than 60
• Influenza
  Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (older than 49)

Recommended Immunizations for Health-Care Workers

• Hepatitis B
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
• Varicella
• Tetanus diphtheria (Td) (every 10 years)
• Tdap (one dose in place of the dicennial Td booster)
• Influenza (annually)
  There are two types of influenza vaccine:
  Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (select populations)
  Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (most populations)
  

Recommended Immunizations for Educators

• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
• Varicella (unless documented proof of immunity is available)
• Tetanus diphtheria (Td) (every 10 years)
• Tdap (one dose in place of the dicennial Td booster)
• Influenza (annually)
  There are two types of Influenza vaccine:
  Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine (select populations)
  Trivalent Inactivated Influenza Vaccine (most populations)
• Hepatitis B (special education teachers, nurses, custodians)
• Hepatitis A (food handlers)