A Resource for Nurses

SHARE 

Vaccine Recommendations 

for Patients with Diabetes

Research indicates your recommendation is a critical factor 

in whether your patients get vaccinated. However, for some 

patients, a clear and strong recommendation may not be enough. 

They may need additional information to make an informed 

decision. You can help by following the SHARE approach:

SHARE the tailored reasons why the recommended vaccine is right 

for the patient given his or her age, health condition (such as diabetes), 

lifestyle, occupation, or other risk factors.

HIGHLIGHT positive experiences with vaccines (personal or in 

your practice), as appropriate, to reinforce the benefits and strengthen 

confidence in vaccination.

ADDRESS patient questions and concerns about the vaccine, 

including side effects, safety, and vaccine effectiveness in plain

and understandable language.

REMIND patients that vaccines protect them and their loved ones 

from many common and serious diseases.

EXPLAIN the potential costs of getting the disease, including serious 

health effects, time lost (such as missing work or family events), 

and financial costs.

U.S. Vaccination Rates for 

Adults are Low1,2

• 2018-2019 influenza season 

estimates show only 62% of adults 18 

years or older with diabetes received 

their influenza vaccination.

• Among adults with diabetes, only 

33% of adults 19-59 years and 15% of 

adults 60 years or older received their 

hepatitis B vaccination.

• Only 32% of adults 60 years or older 

with diabetes have received their 

shingles vaccination.

• Only 38% of adults 19 to 64 years old 

with diabetes have received their 

pneumococcal vaccination.

• Only 24% of adults 19 years or older 

with diabetes have received their 

Tdap vaccination in the past 10 years.

1. https://www.cdc.gov/brfss/annual_data/annual_2018.html 

2. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/nhis_2018_data_release.htm

June 2020

cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/adults
Common Questions and Answers about

Vaccines for Patients with Diabetes

When talking to adult patients with diabetes, make a strong recommendation and allow time for them to ask 

questions. Hearing your answers can help patients feel more confident about protecting themselves with vaccines.

Why do I need vaccines?

Even if you received the vaccines you needed as a child, 

the protection from some vaccines can wear off. Every 

year, thousands of adults in the U.S. become seriously ill 

and are hospitalized because of diseases that vaccines can 

help prevent. Many adults even die from these diseases. 

Living with diabetes, even if well managed, can make 

it harder for your immune system to fight infections. 

People living with diabetes are at increased risk for 

complications from certain vaccine-preventable diseases. 

For example, flu can cause your blood glucose to rise to 

dangerously high levels.

Do vaccines work?

Vaccines can lower your chance of getting certain diseases. 

Vaccines work with your body’s natural defenses to help 

you safely develop immunity to disease. In the U.S., vaccines 

have greatly reduced or eliminated many diseases that 

once routinely killed or harmed infants, children, and adults. 

However, vaccines cannot prevent all cases. Your level of 

protection can vary based on factors such as age or existing 

health conditions.

Which vaccines do I need?

People with diabetes need: 

• Flu vaccine every year, to project against seasonal flu;

• Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine to protect against 

meningitis and bloodstream infections; 

• Hepatitis B vaccine series, to project against hepatitis B 

virus infection, which causes a serious liver disease;

• Tdap vaccine, to protect against tetanus, diphtheria, 

and pertussis, or whooping cough; and

• Zoster vaccine, to protect against shingles if you are 

50 years or older.

Are vaccines safe?

Before a vaccine is approved for use in the U.S., it goes 

through careful testing to make sure it is safe and effective. 

Highly trained scientists and doctors at the U.S. Food and 

Drug Administration (FDA) evaluate the results of these 

clinical studies. FDA also inspects the sites where vaccines 

are made to make sure they follow strict manufacturing 

guidelines. Once a vaccine is licensed, FDA and CDC continue 

to monitor its safety. 

Vaccines are one of the safest ways to protect your health. 

What side effects can I expect?

With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance 

of side effects. The most common side effects include 

soreness, redness, or swelling where the shot was given. 

Severe side effects are rare.

For additional information and resources on adult immunization, visit:

cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/adults