AgePage

Shots for Safety

As you get older, your doctor may recommend 

vaccinations — shots — to help prevent certain 

illnesses and to keep you healthy.

Talk with your doctor about which of the 

following shots you need, and make sure to protect 

yourself by keeping your vaccinations up to date.

Flu

Flu — short for influenza — is a virus that can 

cause fever, chills, sore throat, stuffy nose, 

headache, and muscle aches. Flu is very serious 

when it gets in your lungs. Older adults are at a 

higher risk for developing serious complications 

from flu, such as pneumonia.

The flu is easy to pass from person to person. 

The virus also changes over time, which means 

you can get it over and over again. When the virus 

changes, annual flu shot ingredients change. Also, 

the protection you get from a flu shot lessens with 

time, especially in older adults. That’s why most 

people (age 6 months and older) should get the 

flu shot each year. 

Ideally, you should get your shot between 

September and November. Then, you may be 

protected when the flu season starts. It takes at 

least 2 weeks for your shot to start working. There 

are special flu shots designed specifically for 

people age 65 and older. Medicare will pay for the 

shot, and so will many private health insurance 

plans. You can get a flu shot at your doctor’s office 

or local health department, as well as some 

grocery and drug stores. The vaccine is the same 

wherever you receive it.

COVID-19 

The COVID-19 coronavirus is a 

respiratory disease that causes symptoms 

such as fever, cough, and shortness of 

breath. It can lead to serious illness and 

death. For more information about 

NIH’s research under development for a 

COVID-19 vaccine, visit

www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/

covid-19-clinical-research.

Pneumococcal Disease

Pneumococcal disease is a serious infection 

that spreads from person to person by air. It often 

causes pneumonia in the lungs, and it can affect 

other parts of the body.

According to the Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention (CDC), part of the federal 

government, adults who are 65 and older should 

have two pneumococcal vaccinations to help prevent 

the disease. You can get either of the two 

pneumococcal vaccines (but not both) when you get 

the influenza (flu) vaccine. Talk with your health 

care professional to find out when you should come 

back for the other pneumococcal vaccine.

Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis 

(Whooping Cough)

Tetanus (sometimes called lockjaw) is caused 

by bacteria found in soil, dust, and manure. It 

enters the body through cuts in the skin.

Diphtheria is also caused by bacteria. It is a 

serious illness that can affect the tonsils, throat, 

nose, or skin. It can spread from person to person.

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is 

caused by bacteria. It is a serious illness that causes 

uncontrollable, violent coughing fits that often 

make it hard to breathe. It can spread from person 

to person. 

Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis can lead

to death.

Getting the shot is the best way to keep from 

getting tetanus and diphtheria. Most people get 

their first shots as children. The CDC says that every 

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adult should get the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, 

and pertussis) vaccine once if they did not receive 

it as a teen (first recommended in 2005) to protect 

against pertussis (whooping cough), and then a Td 

(tetanus, diphtheria) booster shot every 10 years to 

keep you protected. Ask your doctor if and when 

you need a booster shot.

Shingles

Shingles is caused by the same virus as 

chickenpox. If you had chickenpox, the virus is 

still in your body. The virus could become active 

again and cause shingles.

Shingles affects the nerves. Common 

symptoms include burning, shooting pain, 

tingling, and/or itching, as well as a rash and 

fluid-filled blisters. Even when the rash disappears, 

the pain can remain.

The shingles vaccine is safe and easy, and it 

may keep you from getting shingles and ongoing 

pain called post-herpetic neuralgia, or PHN. 

Healthy adults age 50 and older should get 

vaccinated with a shingles vaccine called Shingrix, 

which is given in two doses. Zostavax, a previous 

shingles vaccine, is no longer available in the 

United States.

You should try to get the second dose of 

Shingrix between two and six months after you get 

the first dose. If your doctor or pharmacist is out 

of Shingrix, you can use the Vaccine Finder,

www.vaccinefinder.org, to help find other providers 

who have Shingrix. You can also contact 

pharmacies in your area and ask to be put on a 

waiting list for Shingrix. If it’s been more than

six months since you got the first dose, you should 

get the second dose as soon as possible. You don’t 

need to get a first dose again.

You should get a Shingrix shot even if you have 

already had shingles, received Zostavax, or don’t 

remember having had chickenpox. However, you 

should not get a Shingrix shot if you have a fever 

or illness, have a weakened immune system, or 

have had an allergic reaction to Shingrix. Check 

with your doctor if you are not sure what to do.

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You can get the shingles vaccine at your 

doctor’s office and at some pharmacies. All 

Medicare Part D plans and most private health 

insurance plans will cover the cost.

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella

Measles, mumps, and rubella are viruses that 

cause several flu-like symptoms but may lead to 

much more serious, long-term health problems, 

especially in adults.

The vaccine given to children to prevent 

measles, mumps, and rubella has made these 

diseases rare. If you don’t know if you’ve had the 

diseases or the shot, you can still get the vaccine.

Side Effects of Shots

Common side effects for all these shots are 

mild and include pain, swelling, or redness where 

the shot was given.

Before getting any vaccine, make sure it’s safe 

for you. Talk with your doctor about your health 

history, including past illnesses and treatments, as 

well as any allergies.

It’s a good idea to keep your own shot record, 

listing the types and dates of your shots, along 

with any side effects or problems.

Shots for Travel

Check with your doctor or local health 

department about shots you will need if traveling 

to other countries. Sometimes, a series of shots is 

needed. It’s best to get them at least four to six weeks 

before you travel to give you enough time to build 

up immunity and get the best protection from 

vaccines that may require multiple doses. For more 

information, visit the Centers for Disease Control 

and Prevention website, www.cdc.gov, or call its 

information line for international travelers at 

800-232-4636.
For More Information About Shots 

and Vaccines

American Lung Association

800-586-4872 (toll-free)

info@lung.org

www.lung.org

Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention (CDC)

800-232-4636 (toll-free)

888-232-6348 (TTY/toll-free)

cdcinfo@cdc.gov

www.cdc.gov

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

877-645-2448

nhlbiinfo@nhlbi.nih.gov

www.nhlbi.nih.gov

National Institute of Allergy

and Infectious Diseases

866-284-4107 (toll-free)

800-877-8339 (TTY/toll-free)

ocpostoffice@niaid.nih.gov

www.niaid.nih.gov

For information on health and aging, including 

resources on caregiving and Alzheimer’s

disease, contact:

National Institute on Aging Information Center

800-222-2225 (toll-free)

800-222-4225 (TTY/toll-free)

niaic@nia.nih.gov

www.nia.nih.gov

Visit www.nia.nih.gov/health to find more health 

and aging information from NIA and subscribe to 

email alerts. Visit https://order.nia.nih.gov to order 

free print publications.

NIH...Turning Discovery Into Health®

December 2020

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National Institute

on Aging