Senior Vaccines
Free with Medicare. Save lives.
Recommended vaccines
- Flu — yearly. High-dose senior version.
- COVID — annual updates.
- Pneumonia — once or twice in life.
- Shingles (Shingrix) — 2 doses, 50+. Critical.
- Tdap — every 10 years.
- RSV — new for 60+.
- Hep A/B — if at risk.
Shingles (most missed)
- Shingrix — 2-dose vaccine.
- 97% effective.
- Shingles VERY painful, lasts months.
- Postherpetic neuralgia = long-term pain.
- Free with Medicare Part D (2023+).
- Ask pharmacy or doctor.
- Most seniors haven't gotten — please get.
RSV (new important)
- RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) hospitalizes 60K seniors/yr.
- New vaccines 2023+ effective.
- Recommended for 60+ in poor health, 75+ everyone.
- Single dose protection.
- Free with Medicare.
- Pharmacies + doctors offer.
Travel vaccines
- Talk to doctor 4-6 weeks before international travel.
- Hepatitis A — most warm climates.
- Typhoid — South Asia, Africa.
- Yellow fever — Africa, South America.
- Travel clinics specialize.
- CDC.gov/travel — country-specific recommendations.
Free + easy
- CVS, Walgreens, Walmart pharmacies — walk-in.
- Most free with Medicare or insurance.
- Schedule online or walk-in.
- 15 min total visit.
- Sometimes get all due in one visit.
- Make list of yours, take to pharmacy.
Vaccine record
Keep digital copy in iPhone Health app or Google Pay (vaccine card scanning). Print copy in important docs file. Helps doctor know what you've had. State immunization registries also keep record. Get when offered — saves visits.