What vaccines should you have in 2024? Breaking it down by age group

Ever-present COVID variants, the flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the resurgence of measles: People are getting sick of trying to stay healthy, said Dr. Robert Lahita, director of the Institute for Autoimmune and Rheumatic Disease at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Passaic County. But letting your guard down is dangerous.

"There's so much misinformation about vaccines, it is going to cost lives because people are going to think twice before getting vaccinated," Lahita said. “Vaccination has been the bulwark of prevention over the past 100 years or so, ever since the 1918 flu epidemic.”

What vaccines should adults have in 2024? Here’s a list categorized by age as suggested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Vaccines for ages 19 to 26

Young adults should ensure they are current on vaccines for chickenpox (varicella), COVID-19, the flu (influenza), hepatitis B, HPV (human papillomavirus), MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella), and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough) or Td (tetanus, diphtheria), according to the CDC. The MenB vaccine (meningococcal disease) is recommended for adults up to 23 years of age.

Meningitis is especially important for college students, who typically live in compact, congested places, Lahita said.

Vaccines for ages 27 to 49

The CDC recommends vaccines for COVID-19, flu, hepatitis B, MMR, and Tdap or Td for this age group. And you should get the chickenpox vaccine if you were born in 1980 or later, states the CDC, adding that HPV may be necessary “based on individual health factors.”

“With regard to tetanus and diphtheria, adults 19 to 64 years old should receive a single dose of tetanus and diphtheria toxoids at 10-year intervals, especially if you're in a profession where you get tetanus-prone wounds,” Lahita said.

Vaccines for ages 50 to 64

People in this age group should receive vaccines for COVID-19, flu, shingles (zoster), and Tdap or Td.  The CDC recommends Hepatitis B vaccination for all adults up to the age of 59. MMR vaccines are recommended for people born in 1957 or later.

“MMR: That’s measles mumps and rubella," Lahita said. "That's the one that people in Florida and in other places avoid, certain religious groups don't want to be immunized for measles and that's a big issue. In Florida, they are saying that these compulsory booster shots are not necessary at all and you'd be better off not to get a booster and not to get a vaccine. People are reading that as 'we're not going to immunize our kids against rubella, measles, tetanus pertussis or whooping cough.' This is a disaster waiting to happen.”

Vaccines for ages 65 and older

As immune systems weaken with age, older adults are advised to get vaccinated against COVID-19, flu, pneumococcal diseases, shingles and Tdap or Td. The RSV vaccine is recommended for people 60 and older.

Locally, Lahita said he’s seen some resistance among patients who are over 65 who don’t want to get a COVID-19 booster because of symptoms that can follow vaccination.

“You should get the booster. It's very important to stay up to date, especially if you're above the age of 65,” he said, adding, “Also if you're immunosuppressed, you should definitely be vaccinated."

Special considerations

The CDC advises pregnant women to get the Tdap vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy to protect against whooping cough. Vaccines for COVID-19, flu and hepatitis B are also recommended during pregnancy.

International travelers should make sure they are up to date with recommended vaccines and find out about destination-specific requirements. Vaccinations should take place at least four to six weeks before a trip.

The CDC also offers a quiz on its website to help people figure out which vaccines are needed based on the factors above.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Vaccines that adults should have by age group: A breakdown