Are you up-to-date on your vaccines?

All the vaccines listed below can cause mild side effects, including redness, soreness, or rashes around the injection site. Occasionally, more serious side effects might occur, especially in those who experience an allergic reaction. But the recommended vaccinations have very good safety records, and all offer benefits that far outweigh any risks. For more detailed advice and periodic updates, see the Centers for Disease Control's vaccine information.

Vaccine	Who should get it?
Chicken pox: Two doses at least 4 weeks apart	Anyone who has never had chicken pox. (Immunity can be checked with a blood test, if necessary.)
Hepatitis A: Two doses at least 6 months apart	People who travel or work in areas where the disease is prevalent  Liver transplant patients and anyone with chronic liver disease or a clotting-factor disorder  Former or current users of illegal injectable drugs  Sexually active gay and bisexual men  Possibly food handlers who work in high-incidence communities
Hepatitis B: Two doses 1 month apart, followed by a booster shot at least 6 months later	Adolescents 11 to 19  Those who live with or are sexual partners of hepatitis B carriers  Sexually active people who are not in a long-term monogamous relationship  Former or current users of illegal injectable drugs  People who have HIV disease, chronic liver disease, or are on kidney dialysis  People who live or work in a health-care facility, mental-health facility, or prison  Travelers to areas where the disease is prevalent
Human papillomavirus (HPV): Two injections 1 to 2 months apart, with a final dose 6 months later	Females 11 to 26, preferably before becoming sexually active  Possibly women 27 and older  Possibly males 9 to 26
Influenza: Once a year	People 6 months and older, especially young children and older adults, those with chronic health problems, pregnant women, and health-care workers
Measles, mumps, rubella: One dose for most people	Adults born after 1956 who were never immunized or infected. (Adults born earlier are generally immune. Immunity can be checked with a blood test, if necessary.)  Health-care workers, who require two doses
Meningitis: Once. (Booster shot every 5 years for some people at high risk because of continued exposure to the bacterium.)	People 11 to 18  College freshmen living in dormitories, military recruits, and travelers to areas where the disease is prevalent, if they haven't been previously vaccinated  People with impaired immunity
Pneumonia: Once. (Booster shot after 5 years for people who got first shot before age 65 or are at very high risk.)	Adults 65 and older  Alcoholics and smokers; people who have asthma, diabetes, impaired immunity, or heart, liver, lung, or sickle-cell disease; and people who have had their spleen removed  People who live in nursing homes or other health-care facilities
Shingles: Once	People 60 and older who don't have a weakened immune system
Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis: Three doses over one year. Booster shot for tetanus and diphtheria every 10 years.	People younger than 65 should receive the combination vaccine  People 65 and older should receive tetanus-and-diphtheria shot