Immunizations
Adult Immunizations
Recommended immunizations
Your need for immunizations does not end when you reach adulthood. The specific shots (injections) you need as an adult are determined by factors such as your age, lifestyle, type and locations of travel, overall health, and previous immunizations. Tetanus and diphtheria immunizations need to be repeated (booster shots) every 10 years throughout adulthood in order to maintain immunity. The Canadian National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends immunization schedules for the general adult population and adults with medical conditions (including pregnancy).12
Your health professional will consider your medical and immunization history (and documentation) when deciding which shots you need.
To see what shots you may need, ask your health professional or local health unit. You may also be able to find the immunization schedule on the Web site of your province's or territory's ministry of health.
Adults may receive vaccinations for:
This shot protects against chicken pox. Chicken pox infection can be very serious when it occurs after childhood.
Who should get it?
- Adults who are not already immune to the chicken pox virus need two doses, given at least 4 weeks apart.
Pregnant women and people with immune system problems should not receive this shot.
Not all provincial or territorial health plans cover the cost of chicken pox shots for adults. You may have to pay for them yourself.
The shots protect against hepatitis A.
Who should get it?
- Adults who live in communities where outbreaks of hepatitis A have recently occurred need the shots.
- Adults who live in a community where there is increased risk for hepatitis A.
- Adults who will be travelling to certain foreign countries, such as those in Central or South America also need the shots.
- Adults who have certain risk factors, such as long-term (chronic) liver disease, should also be immunized.
Two doses are needed for long-lasting protection.
This shot protects against hepatitis B.
Who should get it?
- Adults who have not received the vaccine series for hepatitis B need this shot when their work, travel, health condition, or lifestyle increases their risk of exposure.14
Three shots are needed over at least 4 months.
A hepatitis combination vaccine is recommended for those who are at risk for both hepatitis A and hepatitis B. A reduced-dose formulation is available for those 15 years of age or younger.15
Inactivated influenza (flu) shot
This immunization helps protect against the flu. Flu viruses are always changing, so the flu vaccines are updated every year.
Who should get it?
- It is recommended that everyone age 6 months and older get a flu shot once a year.
- A yearly flu shot is especially important for anyone who has a high risk of complications from the flu. This includes adults 65 years of age and older, women who are pregnant or breast-feeding, and those with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, chronic heart or lung disorders, or an impaired immune system.
- The flu shot should be given each year to household contacts or out-of-home caregivers of all children 23 months of age and younger and to close contacts of others who are at high risk for complications of the flu.16
If you are not high risk, you may have to pay for the flu shot.
Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
This shot protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Who should get it?
- Adults born after 1956 may need MMR vaccination if they do not have evidence of immunity.
Women should avoid becoming pregnant for 28 days after getting the MMR shot. Women who are known or suspected to be pregnant and people who have impaired immune systems should not receive the MMR vaccine.17
Pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPV)
This shot protects against meningitis, pneumonia, and blood infections (sepsis).
Who should get it?
- All people 65 years of age and older need this shot.
- People ages 2 to 64 who have a chronic disease (such as heart, liver, or lung disease), do not have a spleen, or have a damaged spleen also need this shot.
- People who smoke or are dependent on alcohol should also get the vaccine.
This vaccine is different than the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) that is recommended for children. Most adults only need one dose of PPV for protection. Some people might need to get a booster shot after 5 years.
This shot protects against polio.
Who should get it?
- Adults whose jobs or travel puts them at increased risk for exposure to polio need this shot.
Routine polio immunization is not recommended for adults (age 18 and older) who live in Canada.
Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap)
This shot protects against tetanus, diptheria, and whooping cough (pertussis).
Who should get it?
- All adults need Td boosters every 10 years throughout life.
- Adults up to 54 years of age who did not get the booster dose of Tdap as a teen should get one instead of Td (tetanus and diphtheria) vaccine.
If you recently had a Td booster, you should wait 2 to 5 years before getting a booster dose of Tdap.18, 19 The more vaccines you get in a short time frame, the more likely you are to react with arm swelling and redness at the site of the shot. But it may be worth a mild reaction in order to protect an infant from getting pertussis.
Other immunizations
Human papillomavirus (HPV), for women
The shots, called Gardasil, protect against the four types of HPV that cause most cases of cervical cancer and genital warts.
Who should get it?
- Girls 9 to 13 years old, before they become sexually active, need three shots over 6 months.13
- Females ages 14 to 26, even if they are already sexually active, have had an abnormal Pap test, or have had an HPV infection should get the shot.
Provincial health plans may not yet cover the cost of Gardasil. You may have to pay for the vaccine.
If you or your daughter already has HPV infection, talk with your doctor about whether to get immunized. The shot has not been shown to help existing HPV infection, but it may protect against other HPV infection.13
This shot protects against meningitis and blood infections (sepsis).
Who should get it?
- Anyone 2 years of age and older should be considered for the meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine if they:
- Have an increased risk of becoming infected during an outbreak.
- Have a damaged spleen or have had the spleen removed.
- Live in or travel to areas of the world where meningococcal disease is common, such as to certain parts of Africa or to Saudi Arabia during the Hajj.
- Are a military recruit.
Consult your doctor or public health unit if you missed an immunization or to find out whether you need a specific immunization.
Immunizations and pregnancy
Before you become pregnant, it is best to discuss your immunization history with your health professional. If you need the chicken pox or measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) shots, wait at least 4 weeks after the immunization before becoming pregnant.
The NACI recommends the inactivated influenza vaccine (flu shot) for all women who are or who plan to be pregnant during the flu season or who will be in close contact with people that are considered high risk for complications from the flu. Pregnant women who are due for their tetanus booster can get immunized with the Td vaccine. Because no studies have been done to see the effect of Tdap on fetuses, the NACI recommends that pregnant women wait until they have had their babies to get Tdap.
If you are pregnant, your children should still get their immunizations on schedule. You do not need to speed up or delay your child's immunizations.
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| Author: | Alison Allen Debby Golonka, MPH | Last Updated: January 29, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Andrew Swan, MD, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine | |
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