What Vaccines Do I Need This Season?

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<p>Most parents know that newborn babies, toddlers, and young children go through a litany of vaccines. Very specific schedules are set, and parents are frequently back-and-forth to doctors’ offices just to keep up. But, what shots do adults need? The schedules can be difficult to read or understand. To stay on top of adult vaccines, read on to help determine what may be best for you.</p>
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<p>If you’ve felt overwhelmed by the number of vaccines you’re hearing about this fall, you are not alone. <a href="https://italienentdeckenn.de/about/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Christian Miller</a>, 34, who says he’s always kept up to date on his vaccines found himself “facing a bit of uncertainty,” in 2023. </p>
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<p>“There were a lot more options and considerations to take into account. It felt overwhelming to decide which ones were necessary and which ones I could potentially do without,” he added. </p>
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<p>There’s the usual flu shot, a new COVID booster, and a somewhat new vaccine approved to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for some adults. With measles cases surging around the country, you may also be wondering if you need a booster to protect yourself against the extremely contagious disease. That’s in addition to existing recommendations for occasional vaccinations to protect against tetanus, pneumonia, shingles, and more. </p>
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<p>With guidance from his family doctor, as well as some internet sleuthing, Miller ultimately decided to get the flu, COVID, and pneumonia vaccinations in 2023. On the other hand, 43-year-old <a href="https://www.visiblemoments.com/about-us/joanna-sieczkowska-photographer-baby-newborn-birthday-family-maternity-photographer-dublin-studio/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Joanna Sieczkowska</a>, always gets her flu shot, but found herself wondering if she could get the RSV vaccine when it first came out. She is a photographer who works with infants and small children. </p>
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<p>“I want to make sure my little clients are safe when coming to me for their photo session,” she says.</p>
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<p>If you’re wondering which shots you need this season, here’s what you should know about the benefits and side effects of vaccines recommended for adults.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How U.S. Vaccine Recommendations are Made</h2>
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<p>A group of experts, known as the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/committee/role-vaccine-recommendations.html#:~:text=The%20Centers%20for%20Disease%20Control,on%20Immunization%20Practices%20(ACIP)." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)</a>, a committee under the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), reviews the available evidence regarding new vaccines, and new evidence regarding older vaccines, too. The ACIP convenes at three meetings per year and develops the recommendations for both adult and childhood vaccine schedules. During COVID, the group met more often, virtually. </p>
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<p>The meetings are open to the public, who can comment during designated times in addition to the opportunity for <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">written public comment</a>. However, only the 15 voting members of the committee get to vote on the recommendations. The ACIP members include experts in immunology, virology, pediatrics, and public health, alongside one consumer representative. </p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Vaccines for Adults 19 to 49 Years Old</h2>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Shots You May Need Annually</h3>
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<ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li><a href="https://medshadow.org/what-vaccines-do-i-need-this-season/#flu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flu Shot</a></li>
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<li><a href="https://medshadow.org/what-vaccines-do-i-need-this-season/#covid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COVID Shot</a></li>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Shots that Last 10 Years or More</h3>
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<ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li><a href="https://medshadow.org/what-vaccines-do-i-need-this-season/#Tdap" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tdap</a> for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) </li>
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<li>Varicella for chicken pox, if you have not previously been vaccinated or infected. Two doses should be enough for life.</li>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Shots Your Provider May Recommend if You Have Certain Conditions</h3>
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<ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li><a href="https://medshadow.org/what-vaccines-do-i-need-this-season/#shingrix" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shingrix</a> for shingles: two doses should be enough for life.</li>
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<li><a href="https://medshadow.org/what-vaccines-do-i-need-this-season/#pneum" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pneumococcal</a>: the number of shots will depend on which versions you receive and when.</li>
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<li>Meningococcal: If you haven’t already received the meningococcal vaccine after the age of 16, experts recommend getting the shot before moving into a college dorm setting.</li>
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<h4 class="wp-block-heading">If You’re Pregnant</h4>
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<ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li><a href="https://medshadow.org/what-vaccines-do-i-need-this-season/#Tdap" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tdap</a> for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) </li>
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<li><a href="https://medshadow.org/what-vaccines-do-i-need-this-season/#RSV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RSV</a> (it’s not yet known how often you may need this)</li>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Vaccines for Adults 50-64 Years Old</h2>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Shots You May Need Every Year</h3>
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<ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li><a href="https://medshadow.org/what-vaccines-do-i-need-this-season/#flu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flu Shot</a></li>
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<li><a href="https://medshadow.org/what-vaccines-do-i-need-this-season/#covid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COVID Shot</a></li>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Shots You May Need That Will Last 10 Years or More</h3>
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<ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li><a href="https://medshadow.org/what-vaccines-do-i-need-this-season/#Tdap" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tdap</a> for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) </li>
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<li><a href="https://medshadow.org/what-vaccines-do-i-need-this-season/#shingrix" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Shingrix</a> for shingles: two doses should be enough for life.</li>
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<li><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/vaccines/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fvaccines%2Fvpd%2Fmmr%2Fpublic%2Findex.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MMR</a> for measles, mumps and rubella. From 1963-1967, many children received a vaccine with an inactive (dead) measles virus. This shot may not be protective. If you were one of them, or if you’re not sure, you may need a booster shot today with the live virus to ensure you remain protected during outbreaks.</li>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">If You Have Preexisting Conditions</h3>
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<ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Varicella for chicken pox (two doses should be enough for life)</li>
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<li><a href="https://medshadow.org/what-vaccines-do-i-need-this-season/#RSV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RSV</a> (it’s not yet known how often you may need this)</li>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Vaccines for Adults 65 or Older</h2>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Shots You May Need Every Year</h3>
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<ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li><a href="https://medshadow.org/what-vaccines-do-i-need-this-season/#covid" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COVID Shot</a></li>
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<li><a href="https://medshadow.org/what-vaccines-do-i-need-this-season/#flu" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Flu Shot</a></li>
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<li><a href="https://medshadow.org/what-vaccines-do-i-need-this-season/#RSV" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">RSV</a> (it’s not yet known how often you may need this)</li>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Shots You May Need That Will Last 10 Years or More</h3>
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<ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li><a href="https://medshadow.org/what-vaccines-do-i-need-this-season/#pneum" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pneumococcal</a>: the number of shots will depend on which versions you receive and when.</li>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">If You Have Preexisting Conditions</h3>
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<ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Varicella for chicken pox (two doses should be enough for life)</li>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>Flu shot</h2>
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<p>The main <a href="https://medshadow.org/antibiotics-in-vaccines/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ingredients</a> in influenza vaccines are either dead or weakened flu viruses. These viruses cannot replicate and wreak havoc on your body like a normal flu virus, but their purpose is to prompt your immune system to mount an immune response. This response prepares your body to recognize and respond faster if it <em>does</em> encounter the actual influenza virus later in the season.</p>
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<p>To come up with a new flu vaccine each year, researchers make educated guesses as to which strains of flu are most likely to cause the illness based on what circulated the previous year.</p>
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<p>“They can never know exactly which strains are going to happen. Each flu shot that we get has at least three or four strains of flu from the preceding season,” says Daren Wu, MD, chief medical officer at <a href="https://opendoormedical.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Open Door Family Medical Center in New York City.</a></p>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Side Effects of Flu Vaccines</h3>
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<p>The flu vaccine can cause side effects, which, while generally not dangerous, can mimic the types of symptoms you might get from a mild influenza infection. </p>
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<p>“Once in a while, people have very uncomfortable reactions. Your body aches, [you can experience] chills, headaches. I’ve had those [myself] at least twice in the last 20 years of getting flu shots since I became a doctor. And I felt terrible,” says Wu.</p>
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<p>“In the process of mounting that immune response, making the antibodies to be able to battle the real flu, people can feel terrible because it feels like you ARE fighting off the flu,” Wu says. </p>
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<p>He adds, “It’s a one-, two-day reaction that’s completely different from actually getting the flu, which is a seven-day or more process. One is an immune reaction that is temporary, and the other is you are infected.”</p>
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<p>Aside from brief, flu-like symptoms lasting a day or two, patients also report pain or soreness at the injection site. This is common with many vaccines. Wu recommends keeping the arm moving to alleviate the pain. A nurse once told <a href="https://medshadow.org/associates/melissa-finley/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Melissa Finley</a>, Editorial Content Manager at MedShadow, that “instead of clenching the arm, I should try to go loose, like it is jello,” when receiving the injection to help prevent soreness after. “And it really did,” she says.</p>
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<p>Lastly, there are some other possible side effects, depending on the type of vaccine you get. Most vaccines do not contain <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/thimerosal.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">thimerosal</a>, a preservative that was once considered controversial, but has since<a href="https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center/vaccine-ingredients/thimerosal" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> been shown</a> to be safe in vaccines. It does, however, contain egg, which can be a problem for patients with severe egg allergies.</p>
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<p>If you or your child has an egg allergy, know that most doctors and pharmacists stock a few<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/how-fluvaccine-made.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> eggless vaccines</a>, says Wu. These vaccines, known as cell culture vaccines, are made using animal cells and recombinant vaccines that are synthetic and don’t have egg products.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>COVID Vaccine</h2>
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<p>COVID hasn’t settled into one particular season just yet, but much like the flu vaccine, researchers are tracking the dominant strains and updating the original vaccine to target newer strains that might otherwise be able to escape the immune defense you built up from a previous vaccine. Leading up to the Fall of 2023, Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 was the dominant strain, and that’s the variant that the new vaccines target. <a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-summary" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Newer strains have since become more prevalent</a> than XBB.1.5 since, but researchers say they are related, and the vaccine remains effective against them, too. </p>
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<p>Because the current strain can evade the immunity from previous vaccines, the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/p0912-COVID-19-Vaccine.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CDC recommends</a> that everyone over the age of 6 months get at least one shot of the updated vaccines this season, no matter when your last shot was. Scientists will continue tracking the virus as it mutates and issue new recommendations for another booster, when and if they are needed. If you are unable to get one of the two mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer or Moderna, the <a href="https://www.fda.gov/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Food and Drug Administration</a> (<a href="https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/coronavirus-covid-19-cber-regulated-biologics/novavax-covid-19-vaccine-adjuvanted" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">FDA) also approved an updated vaccine from Novavax</a> made with an protein from the virus, as opposed to mRNA that instructs your body to make the spike protein.</p>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Side Effects of the COVID Vaccine</h3>
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<p>The most common side effects of the COVID shots to date are similar—but sometimes more intense—to side effects of flu vaccines. For about two days after the getting the shot, many people experience:</p>
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<ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Fatigue</li>
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<li>Muscle pain</li>
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<li>Low-grade fevers</li>
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<li>Headaches </li>
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<p>Because so many people have received the shots, researchers have been able to track a variety of less common side effects such as menstrual cycles lasting 24 hours longer than usual.</p>
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<p>There are some other rare side effects such as myocarditis and hives lasting several weeks.</p>
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<p>Check out<a href="https://medshadow.org/covid19-vaccine-side-effects/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> MedShadow’s vaccine side-effects tracker</a> for more details and frequent updates on side effects. You can also check out MedShadow’s <a href="https://medshadow.org/category/covid-19-drugs-updates/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COVID-19 topic page</a> to find more in-depth reporting on specific findings, like what doctors say about the <a href="https://medshadow.org/myocarditis-covid19-vaccine/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">risk of myocarditis for kids.</a></p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>Tdap for Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Whooping Cough) </h2>
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<p>You should get a Tdap vaccine when you’re about 10 or 11 years old. However, the immunity you build from this shot doesn’t last forever, so experts recommend  getting it every 10 years.</p>
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<p>Additionally, since infants are at high risk for whooping cough, the CDC suggests that <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/pregnant/hcp/vaccine-effectiveness.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">women get the vaccine during pregnancy</a>—ideally during the third trimester—so that they form antibodies which get passed on to their infant and protect the baby during the first few months of its life when it is most vulnerable to the infection. At two months, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/dtap-tdap-td/public/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">babies can get their first DTap</a> shot, but they still need several boosters to build up protection from these illnesses.</p>
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<p>It is important to know that this type of immunity is not long-lasting for the child. Since mom makes the antibodies and passes them along to the baby, the baby’s immune system doesn’t know how to make these antibodies. When they start to leave the bloodstream over time, the child’s immunity is gone until they get the shot themselves and their immune systems learn to make their own antibodies.  </p>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/tdap.html#:~:text=Your%20health%20care%20provider%20can%20give%20you%20more%20information.&text=Pain%2C%20redness%2C%20or%20swelling%20where,sometimes%20happen%20after%20Tdap%20vaccination." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Side Effects of Tdap</a></h3>
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<p>Like many vaccines, pain, swelling, and redness at the injection site is common. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559008/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">You may also have</a> a mild fever, fatigue, headaches, nausea, diarrhea, or stomach pain. </p>
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<p>In rare cases, people have also had severe allergic reactions, swelling, hives, and neurological complications such as <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/guillain-barr%C3%A9-syndrome" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Guillain-Barre</a>, in which your immune system attacks your nerves and can cause temporary or long-term paralysis.</p>
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<p><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37117057/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">A study of over 100,000 pregnant women</a> found that the vaccine did not raise the risk of preterm birth or other adverse infant outcomes.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>RSV Vaccine </h2>
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<p>The FDA approved two vaccines for RSV in 2023: GlaxoSmith Kline’s<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-vaccine" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Arexvy</a> for adults over the age of 60, and Pfizer’s<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-drug-prevent-rsv-babies-and-toddlers" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Abrysvo</a>, for adults over the age of 60, as well as pregnant mothers to provide immunity for their newborns. </p>
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<p>In older adults, one dose of GSK’s Arexvy was 82.6% effective at preventing symptomatic RSV during the first season after they were given the vaccine. After a year, during the second RSV season, protection dropped to 56.1%. </p>
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<p>For Prizer’s Abrysvo, efficacy during the first season was 88.9%. After a year, it fell to 78.6%. Only a few patients in either group ended up hospitalized with severe illness, so the vaccine’s efficacy against severe disease was not quantified, but the experts suggested that since it prevents symptomatic disease, it will likely also reduce hospitalization.</p>
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<p>Given between the 32nd and 36th week of pregnancy, the<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-vaccine-pregnant-individuals-prevent-rsv-infants" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> shots lowered the risk of lower respiratory tract disease</a> by 34.7% in newborns and the risk of severe lower respiratory tract disease by 91.1% for 90 days after the babies were born. As the babies got older, protection started to wane. By the time they were six months old, the risk of any lower respiratory tract disease was 57.3% lower than it was for babies who received a placebo and the risk of severe disease 76.5% lower. It’s not yet clear if breastfeeding extends protection.</p>
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<p>RSV is a seasonal illness. It doesn’t mutate as much as respiratory viruses like COVID or influenza, but since most of us are infected multiple times throughout our lives, it’s reasonable to guess that vaccine-induced immunity will not last forever. Of course, at this point, we simply don’t know. The research is ongoing. </p>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Side Effects of the RSV Vaccines</h3>
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<p>“The main side effects that we know are what we expected: people feel sore on the arm, people feel achy, some malaise, a little bit of a headache,” says <a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers/ed-ward-md" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ed Ward, MD</a>, a Mayo Clinic Hospital Physician</p>
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<p>However, there were a few rare, but worrisome, side effects that ACIP pointed out it will be keeping an eye on in the future. The group said that between both vaccines for older adults, six individuals (out of tens of thousands of people in the trials) had inflammatory neurologic events such as<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/campylobacter/guillain-barre.html#:~:text=What%20is%20Guillain%2DBarr%C3%A9%20syndrome,muscle%20weakness%20and%20sometimes%20paralysis." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Guillain-Barre syndrome</a>, and acute disseminated myeloencephalitis which is temporary multiple-sclerosis-like inflammation that can cause long-term damage.</p>
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<p>“Whether these events occurred due to chance, or whether RSV vaccination increases the risk for inflammatory neurologic events is currently unknown. Until additional evidence becomes available from post marketing surveillance, clarifying the existence of any potential risk, RSV vaccination in older adults should be targeted to those who are at highest risk for severe RSV disease and therefore most likely to benefit from vaccination,” the committee <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/pdfs/mm7229a4-H.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">wrote</a>.</p>
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<p>Additionally, some experts hesitate to recommend the vaccine for pregnant women, as there was a signal in the trials the shot could <a href="https://medshadow.org/should-you-get-the-rsv-vaccine-some-experts-urge-caution/#A_Question_About_Preterm_Births_and_RSV_Vaccinations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">raise the risk of preterm birth</a>, though it wasn’t statistically significant.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>Shingrix for Shingles</h2>
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<p>Shingles is a unique disease in that it’s not caused by a new infection. It’s a reactivation of the herpes zoster virus that causes chickenpox in children. After you recover from chickenpox, the virus lays dormant in your body for decades. It can be reignited to cause shingles at any age, but this becomes more likely as you get older, or if you are immunocompromised. The CDC recommends the vaccine for people 50 years and older, even if you’ve already had shingles, and those 19 and older who are immunosuppressed.</p>
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<p>The Shingrix vaccine contains two shots. You should get these shots two to six months apart. Clinical trials demonstrated that it was 91% to 97% effective in preventing shingles, and that protection seems to stay strong, at least for the first four years in the patients who were tracked. Since the vaccine was approved in 2018, there’s a chance that adults will need additional booster shots if immunity wanes in the future, but scientists don’t yet know if that will be the case or what timeframe that booster may be needed.</p>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Side Effects of Shingrix</h3>
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<p>As with other shots, pain at the injection site is common. Keep your arm moving to help lower the pain. </p>
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<p>Other typical vaccine side effects were also common, with 10% of people reporting that the symptoms were intense enough to limit their activity. Others reported the following:</p>
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<li>45% muscle pain</li>
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<li>45% fatigue</li>
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<li>38% headaches</li>
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<li>27% chills</li>
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<li>21% fevers</li>
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<li>17% gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea or diarrhea</li>
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<p>If you are experiencing systemic symptoms after taking the vaccination, says<a href="https://www.gapna.org/about/board-bylaws" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Natalie Baker,</a> DNP, president of the gerontological advanced practice nursing association (GAPNA), basic medications can help.</p>
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<p>“It’s certainly fine to take [over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers] through the first two to three days when having symptoms,” says Baker. If the symptoms last longer than that, she says it’s time to call your healthcare provider.</p>
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<p>Like many vaccines, Shingrix may raise your risk of <a href="https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/safety-availability-biologics/fda-requires-warning-about-guillain-barre-syndrome-gbs-be-included-prescribing-information-shingrix#:~:text=About%20Shingrix,months%20after%20the%20first%20dose." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Guillain-Barre syndrome</a>, a rare complication that can cause temporary paralysis. </p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading"><a target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"></a>Pneumococcal Vaccine</h2>
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<p>There are <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/pneumo/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">four different pneumococcal vaccines</a> to prevent pneumococcal diseases <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/pneumococcal/about/infection-types.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">which include pneumonia, meningitis, certain types of sinus infections, blood infections and ear infections.</a> You’ll want to speak with your healthcare provider about which one to get, based on your risk factors and whether you’ve received the pneumococcal vaccine in the past. Depending on which shots you get, you may need one, two, or three shots in a series.</p>
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<p>Typically, you won’t need these shots until you’re 65 or older, however if you have <a href="https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/pneumococcal#:~:text=Adults%2019%20or%20older%20with,greater%20risk%20for%20pneumococcal%20pneumonia.&text=Adults%2065%2B%20are%20at%206.1,healthy%20adults%20aged%2018%E2%80%9364." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">certain preexisting conditions</a> such as <a href="https://www.cochrane.org/CD001390/AIRWAYS_do-injectable-pneumococcal-vaccines-prevent-pneumonia-people-copd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">chronic obstructive pulmonary disease</a> (COPD), asthma, or heart disease, all of which put you at higher risk, your healthcare provider may recommend getting the shots earlier. </p>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Side Effects of the Pneumococcal Vaccine</h3>
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<p><a href="https://www.uptodate.com/contents/pneumococcal-vaccination-in-adults/print" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">More than half</a> of those who get the pneumococcal vaccine have pain and tenderness at the injection site. Twenty percent have swelling and 15 percent have redness. These typically go away within three to four days.</p>
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<p>Fever, chills, fatigue, headaches, and muscle and joint pain are also common during the three to four days after the injection.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) Vaccine</h2>
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<p>Most people get the MMR vaccine, which provides protection from measles, mumps and rubella in childhood. However, because of large <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">measles outbreaks in 2025</a>, some adults may be wondering if they’re still protected. Most adults who received the shots as children remain <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/vaccines/index.html#:~:text=Two%20doses%20of%20the%20MMR,mumps%20may%20decrease%20over%20time." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">protected for life</a>, but a small group of individuals vaccinated with a different form of the vaccine between 1963 and 1967 may need a booster shot, as that vaccine was found to be ineffective. </p>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Side Effects of the MMR Vaccine</h3>
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<p>The most <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/vaccines/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">common side effects</a> of the MMR vaccine, according to the CDC, are: </p>
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<ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item -->
<li>Soreness, redness and swelling at the injection site</li>
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<li>Mild rashes</li>
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<li>Temporary joint pain and stiffness</li>
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<li>And fevers</li>
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<p>In rare instances, fevers may be high enough to cause seizures.</p>
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<p>In 2015, <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4447805/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">researchers reviewed</a> the FDA’s database of reported vaccine side effects, VAERS, and found no new side effects reported by adults who had the MMR shots.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Can I Get All the Seasonal Vaccines at The Same Time?</h2>
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<p><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/general-recs/timing.html#simultaneous" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Several vaccines can be taken at once</a>, though not all combinations have been thoroughly evaluated yet by researchers. Here’s what we know so far. </p>
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<p>Getting your flu shot and COVID booster at the same time does not change their efficacy or the likelihood of experiencing side effects, according to a <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2809119" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">September 2023 study</a>. </p>
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<p>You can also safely get the pneumococcal vaccine <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/hcp/shingrix/administering-vaccine.html#:~:text=Shingrix%20and%20pneumococcal%20vaccine%20can,be%20administered%20concomitantly%20with%20Shingrix." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alongside the shingles vaccine</a>, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/pneumo/hcp/administering-vaccine.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">flu shot</a>, or <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37244809/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">COVID booster</a> if needed. However, getting the Tdap vaccine with the pneumococcal vaccine <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27780630/#:~:text=Sequential%20or%20co%2Dadministration%20of,conjugate%20pneumococcal%20or%20meningococcal%20vaccines." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">may lower the effectiveness</a> of your pneumococcal shot.</p>
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<p>Despite this, the CDC says it’s ok to get <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/dtap-tdap-td/hcp/administering-vaccine.html#:~:text=There%20are%20no%20contraindications%20to,at%20a%20different%20anatomic%20site." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tdap at the same time as any other vaccines</a> if needed.</p>
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<p>You can get the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/hcp/shingrix/administering-vaccine.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shingles vaccine at the same time</a> as the pneumococcal vaccine, flu shot, or Tdap. Scientists are still testing whether it’s safe and effective to get it at the same time as the COVID shots.</p>
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<p>It’s not yet clear whether you should get the RSV vaccine at the same time as other shots. <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7229a4.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Limited data suggests</a> that it may be more effective, and reduce your risk of side effects, to get your RSV and flu shots separately, but more research is needed.</p>
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<p>When it comes to vaccination, particularly in adulthood, it’s important to discuss your options with your healthcare provider. Depending on any preexisting conditions and your medical and vaccination history, your individual recommendations should be unique to you.</p>
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Are Vaccines Made Of?</h2>
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<p>While you often hear about the active ingredients of vaccines, such as the <a href="https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/messenger-rna" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">mRNA</a>, the attenuated virus, or viral particles designed to wake up our immune systems and prime them to respond to future, more potentially virulent, attacks, there are several other ingredients that go into creating vaccines, such as chemicals that keep the vaccine stable (extend shelf-life) or help it to work better. Read what <a href="https://www.chop.edu/doctors/offit-paul-a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paul Offit, MD</a>, director of the <a href="https://www.chop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vaccine Education Center</a> and a professor of pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia <a href="https://medshadow.org/antibiotics-in-vaccines/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">told <em>MedShadow</em> about these additives</a>.</p>
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<p>While the recommended vaccine schedule for adults can be a helpful guide, each individual is different, and you should speak to your doctor about what you may individually need or not need at any given time in your life. </p>
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