Which Vaccines Do Adults Need This Year? A 2026-2027 Guide by Age
Flu, COVID, RSV, shingles, pneumonia, and more: see which vaccines fit your age and health this season, what changed, and what to ask at the pharmacy.
Which vaccines do adults need this year? Your 2026-2027 guide
If vaccine advice feels more confusing than usual, you are not imagining it. Federal recommendations have shifted over the past two years, and some medical groups now publish their own schedules. This guide sorts out what has changed, which shots fit your age and health, and what to ask at the pharmacy.
Why the advice looks different this year
The CDC’s current adult schedule is dated July 2025. For COVID, the FDA approved this season’s vaccines for adults 65 and older and for younger people with a condition that raises their risk, while the CDC’s published guidance recommends a COVID vaccine for all adults. Groups such as the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also issue their own recommendations. The steps below follow where these sources agree and point out where they differ.
The three seasonal shots
Every year
Flu
Recommended for nearly everyone 6 months and older. This season’s shot covers three strains, and all three are new. Adults 65 and older should ask for a high-dose, adjuvanted, or recombinant version. A new mRNA flu vaccine is approved for adults 50 and older.
Updated for 2026-2027
COVID
FDA approved for adults 65 and older and for anyone under 65 with a high-risk condition, such as diabetes, heart or lung disease, obesity, or a weakened immune system. Healthy adults under 65 can still get it in many places; ask about your state’s rules.
Only once
RSV
One dose for all adults 75 and older, and for adults 50 to 74 with certain chronic conditions or who live in a nursing home. If you already had an RSV shot, you don’t need another.
Your checklist by age
| Vaccine | 19 to 49 | 50 to 64 | 65 and older |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flu | Yearly | Yearly | Yearly, higher-strength |
| COVID | If high risk, or ask | If high risk, or ask | Yes |
| RSV (one time) | During pregnancy only | If high risk | 75+, or 65 to 74 if high risk |
| Shingles (2 doses) | If immune system is weakened | Yes | Yes |
| Pneumococcal | If high risk | Yes | Yes |
| Tdap or Td | Every 10 years | Every 10 years | Every 10 years |
| Hepatitis B | If never vaccinated | Through 59; after, if at risk | If at risk |
| HPV | Through 26; ask if 27 to 45 | Not routine | Not routine |
Green means recommended for most people in that group. Yellow depends on your health or history. Your clinician or pharmacist can confirm what fits you.
The ones adults most often miss
Shingles
Two doses, 2 to 6 months apart, starting at 50. You need it even if you have had shingles or chickenpox.
Pneumonia
The recommended starting age dropped to 50. Newer versions often need just one dose.
Tetanus booster
Due every 10 years, or sooner after a deep or dirty wound. Many adults are overdue without knowing it.
Measles (MMR)
Adults born in 1957 or later without proof of immunity should get at least one dose, especially before travel.
If you are pregnant
| Flu | Any trimester, during flu season |
| Tdap | Every pregnancy, ideally at 27 to 36 weeks, to protect your newborn from whooping cough |
| RSV | One dose at 32 to 36 weeks during RSV season, in one pregnancy only, unless your baby will get an RSV antibody shot instead |
| COVID | No longer routinely recommended by HHS, but still recommended by ACOG. Discuss it with your OB. |
Timing and getting several at once
The best time for flu and COVID shots is early fall, but getting them later still protects you, since flu often circulates into spring. You can get flu, COVID, and RSV vaccines at the same visit. Some people prefer to space them out to keep side effects milder, which is fine as long as it doesn’t mean skipping one.
Normal after a vaccine
- Sore arm, redness, or swelling
- Tiredness, headache, or muscle aches
- Low fever for a day or two
Get help right away for
- Hives, swelling of the face or throat
- Trouble breathing or a racing heartbeat
- Dizziness or weakness that doesn’t pass
Tell the pharmacist first if you
Had a severe allergic reaction to a past vaccine or one of its ingredients, are sick with a fever today, take medicine that weakens your immune system, or are pregnant. Most people can still be vaccinated, but some need a different product or timing.
Quick answers
Can the flu shot give you the flu?
No. The shot contains no live virus. Feeling achy for a day is your immune system responding, not an infection.
Do I need a prescription to get vaccinated at a pharmacy?
Usually not for adults, but pharmacist vaccination rules vary by state and by vaccine. Call ahead if you are unsure, especially for COVID if you are under 65.
I don’t remember which shots I’ve had. Now what?
Your state’s immunization registry may have your record, and your pharmacy can often look it up. If a record can’t be found, getting a vaccine again is generally safe.
Bring to the pharmacy counter
- Your vaccination card or record, if you have one.
- Your photo ID and insurance card.
- A list of your medicines and health conditions.
Not sure which shots you are due for?
Ask your pharmacist to review your age, health, and vaccine history. Many shots can be given the same day, often without an appointment.
