Adult Vaccines News & Features
- Shingles Vaccine Could Lead to Delay in Dementia
July 25, 2024 — The newest shingles vaccine may reduce the risk of dementia better than the older version. Researchers found that Shingrix increased the length of time without shingles by nearly 20%.
- Big News for Older Adults: Pneumococcal Vaccine Approved
June 18, 2024 — There’s a new tool to fight invasive pneumococcal disease and pneumococcal pneumonia in adults, as the FDA approved Merck’s new vaccine designed to prevent the disorders.
- Changing Entrenched Health Beliefs Is Not Impossible
April 18, 2024 — Some people with deep-rooted beliefs on a wide range of health topics – from COVID vaccination to mental health stigma to foods including genetically modified organisms – could be persuaded to rethink their positions.
- Pandemic and Costs Limited Use of Shingles Vaccine
March 20, 2024 — Only about 30% of adults eligible for Shingrix have gotten it, according to a 2022 report by the Government Accountability Office.
- Flu Vaccines to Change After COVID Kills Off One Strain of Virus
March 6, 2024 — An FDA advisory committee has recommended that the United States switch from a quadrivalent to trivalent influenza vaccine for the next flu season.
- Flu Shots Are Moderately Effective This Season, CDC Says
March 1, 2024 — The influenza vaccines being used this flu season are 41% to 44% effective in preventing flu-related hospitalization in adults and 52% to 61% effective for children, according to estimates in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report issued Thursday.
- Research Finds Stronger Vaccine Protection from Alternating Arms
February 6, 2024 — People who alternated arms when receiving multiple shots of the COVID-19 vaccine saw an improved immunity response, according to new research.
- Flu Vaccines Given to Pregnant Women Protect Their Newborn Babies
January 25, 2024 — Researchers found that vaccinating moms reduced the rate of emergency room visits for infants younger than 6 months old by 20% and the rate of hospitalizations by 40%. Vaccinating pregnant women also reduced the risk of babies younger than 6 months from getting the flu by one third.
- This Season’s Flu Shot Is Shaping Up to Be Very Effective
November 20, 2023 — For people who have gotten a flu shot heading into flu season, there’s good news. This year’s formulation looks like it will be very effective at preventing severe cases and hospitalization. That’s based on how the vaccine performed in the parts of the world where flu season is now wrapping up.
- FDA Approves First Vaccine for Mosquito-Borne Chikungunya Virus
November 10, 2023 — The FDA approved the first vaccine against the chikungunya virus, which is transmitted to humans through infected mosquito bites.
- COVID, Flu Vaccines Might Raise Risk of Strokes in Older People
October 26, 2023 — Vaccines for COVID-19 and flu might raise the risk of strokes for older people, especially when given together and to seniors over 85, new research says.
- FDA Approves RSV Vaccine to Be Given During Pregnancy
August 22, 2023 — The long-awaited vaccine for RSV that can be given to pregnant people was approved by the FDA on Monday.
- CDC Signs Off on RSV Vaccine for Older Adults
June 30, 2023 — The CDC gave a green light this week to two new vaccines to protect against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, in older adults.
- FDA to ‘Fast Track’ Review of Experimental Gonorrhea Vaccine
June 28, 2023 — The FDA announced on Tuesday that it will "fast track" review of a vaccine in development to prevent gonorrhea infections.
- CDC Urges International Travelers to Get Measles Vaccine
June 22, 2023 — The CDC is urging people to ensure they are vaccinated against measles before summer travel. International travelers are particularly at risk, the CDC said, noting that 88% of all cases in the U.S. so far this year are linked to international travel.
- What Adults Need to Know About the New RSV Vaccines
June 9, 2023 — Here's what adults need to know about the recently approved RSV vaccines Arexvy and Abrysvo.
- Two Doses of Mpox Vaccine Highly Effective, Studies Show
May 19, 2023 — The mpox vaccine distributed during last summer’s mpox outbreak was highly effective at preventing infection, especially when two doses were given, two studies show.
- FDA Advisory Panel Recommends RSV Vaccine for Pregnant Women
May 18, 2023 — An FDA advisory panel has recommended that the FDA approve an RSV vaccine for pregnant women. The vaccine would be given in the final trimester, with protection from RSV being passed through the placenta to the unborn baby.
- Trial Begins of Potential Universal Flu Vaccine
May 16, 2023 — A clinical trial to test a universal flu vaccine is under way, based on messenger RNA technology that was behind Moderna’s and Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines, the National Institutes of Health announced.
- FDA Approves First RSV Vaccine for Older Adults
May 4, 2023 — The first of several expected vaccine options for preventing RSV in older adults has been approved by the FDA.
- Vaccines, Better Tests Are Coming for Lyme Disease
April 25, 2023 — This may be one of the last few summers that people will need to mostly depend on doing tick checks as the best defense against getting Lyme disease. Multiple drugmakers are developing vaccines that could help people avoid the many troubling symptoms of the tick-borne illness.
- Cancer, Heart Disease Vaccines May Be Ready by 2030, Moderna Says
April 11, 2023 — Vaccines for the world’s most deadly diseases, like cancer and heart disease, will likely be ready by 2030 and could save millions of lives, according to the top doctor at one the world’s leading drug companies.
- Vaccine Makers Ready to Test Bird Flu Vaccine in Humans
March 20, 2023 — Three major vaccine manufacturers say they can readily make hundreds of millions of bird flu shots for humans if the H5N1 influenza virus ever makes the jump to infecting people.
- 2 RSV Vaccines for Older Adults Gain Approval of FDA Panel
March 3, 2023 — An FDA advisory panel has recommended two vaccines to become the first to fight respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in older adults. Shots could be made available before the expected winter surge of cases.
- Moderna Says RSV Vaccine for Older Adults Is 84% Effective
January 18, 2023 — Moderna announced that its vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for older adults was 84% effective at preventing at least two symptoms of the illness and 82% effective at preventing at least three symptoms.
- A New Era in Hope and Health Equity: Malaria Vaccinations
The recent malaria vaccine approval is a major step forward in the global fight for health equity but also showcases that socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals are at higher risk for virtually all diseases due to lower access and prioritization.
- Vaccines as Part of Preventative Health
Vaccines can protect you from serious diseases like measles, mumps, rubella, and meningitis. Immunization facts you should know.
- Your Travel Vaccine Checklist, Continent by Continent
Before you pack your bags, find out which shots you need to protect your health when visiting other countries.
- Vaccines for Hepatitis A & B
Learn how hepatitis A and B vaccines protect you from the viruses that can lead to this liver disease.
- HPV Vaccines and Adults: Expert Q&A
WebMD explains what the HPV vaccine is, who needs to get it, and possible side effects.
- Whooping Cough Vaccine for Adults
WebMD discusses the benefits and side effects of the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine.
- Vaccines for College Students: Expert Q&A
WebMD lists the vaccines college students need and answers common questions about the vaccine guidelines for college students.
- Shingles Vaccine: Expert Q&A
WebMD talks about who needs a shingles vaccine, when to get it, side effects, and explains more about the vaccine.
- Flu Breakthrough: The Search for a Universal Vaccine
Tired of having to get a different flu shot every year -- and sometimes even having to get two? Someday we may have one shot that protects us against all the strains.
- Adult Immunizations: Are You Protected?
The flu vaccine, tetanus boosters, hepatitis shots -- why adults still need vaccinations.
- Treating Disease With Vaccines
Can therapeutic vaccines cure illnesses we already have -- like HIV, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer?
- Vaccines for Adults
Are you up to date on your vaccines? Find out which ones you should be getting as an adult.
- How Your Vaccines are Approved
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that each year up to 50,000 children and adults are hospitalized because of the virus, and that 20 to 40 people die from it.