When we talk about adherence in healthcare, we often think about medications: taking the right medication, at the right dose, at the right time.
But adherence matters for another important part of your health, too: vaccines.
Vaccines are not always a one-and-done part of healthcare. Some are recommended annually. Others require multiple doses or boosters. And recommendations can change as you age or if you develop certain health conditions.
Staying up to date with the vaccines recommended for you is another way to take an active role in protecting your health.
What Does Vaccine Adherence Mean?
Vaccine adherence simply means receiving recommended vaccines and doses according to the appropriate schedule for you.
The CDC’s adult immunization schedule includes recommendations based on age, vaccination history, medical conditions and other risk factors.
For example, the schedule includes recommendations for vaccines that protect against illnesses such as influenza, shingles, pneumococcal disease, tetanus, hepatitis and RSV.
Your individual needs may be different from someone else’s, which is why regularly reviewing your vaccination history with a healthcare provider or pharmacist is important.
Why Does Staying on Schedule Matter?
Vaccination schedules are designed to help your body develop and maintain protection.
Some vaccines require more than one dose to build the intended immune response. Others require boosters or repeat vaccination because protection can decrease over time or because the viruses circulating in the community change.
If a vaccine or subsequent dose is delayed, it does not necessarily mean you have to start the entire series over. In fact, the CDC notes that extended intervals between doses generally do not require restarting a vaccine series.
However, waiting longer can mean spending more time without the protection that the recommended vaccine or next dose is intended to provide.
That is why keeping track of what you have received and what you may be due for is an important part of preventive care.
Your Risk Can Change as You Get Older
Age is one of the biggest factors healthcare providers consider when making vaccine recommendations.
For example, adults 65 and older are at increased risk for serious complications from influenza. The CDC also reports that the majority of deaths from flu and pneumonia occur among adults age 65 and older.
Yet many older adults remain behind on recommended vaccinations. In 2024, CDC data showed that 67.1% of adults 65 and older reported receiving a flu vaccine in the previous 12 months, while 64.7% reported ever receiving a pneumonia vaccine.
Age-related vaccine recommendations extend beyond flu and pneumonia. Depending on your age and individual health history, your healthcare provider may also recommend vaccines for shingles, RSV and other illnesses.
The important takeaway: the vaccines you needed at 30 may not be the same vaccines you need at 50, 65 or 75.
Certain Health Conditions Can Increase Your Risk
Your existing health conditions matter, too.
According to the CDC, people with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung disease and certain other chronic illnesses are at greater risk of developing serious complications if they contract influenza.
Consider these numbers:
If you have diabetes: About 30% of adults hospitalized with flu in recent seasons had diabetes, according to the CDC
If you have heart disease: Heart disease is one of the most common chronic conditions among adults hospitalized with influenza. The CDC reports that about half of adults hospitalized with flu have heart disease. Research cited by the CDC also found that the risk of heart attack was six times higher within one week of a confirmed flu infection.
If you have asthma: Even people with mild or well-controlled asthma are at greater risk for serious flu complications. Influenza can increase inflammation in the lungs, trigger asthma attacks and increase the risk of pneumonia. Learn more from the CDC.
These are good examples of why vaccination is not just about checking a box. Your age, health history and medications can all influence which vaccines are important for you.
Why Do Adults Fall Behind?
Most people do not intentionally ignore their vaccinations.
Life simply gets busy.
You may not remember when you received your last tetanus booster. You may not realize that a new vaccine is recommended once you reach a certain age. You may see several healthcare providers and assume someone else is keeping track.
The CDC identifies several common barriers to adult vaccination, including limited access to healthcare, low awareness of recommended vaccines, complicated vaccination schedules and difficulty coordinating care between multiple healthcare providers.
In fact, the CDC reports that the vast majority of adults are missing one or more routinely recommended vaccines.
That makes vaccine adherence less about remembering everything yourself and more about having a healthcare team that helps you stay on track.
Your Pharmacy Can Help
Pharmacies have become an important part of preventive healthcare.
During the 2023–2024 respiratory virus season, 71.5% of U.S. adults who received an updated COVID-19 vaccine received it at a pharmacy or drug store, making pharmacies the most common vaccination setting among vaccinated adults, according to CDC data.
That convenience matters.
Your pharmacist already has insight into your medications and can be another resource for identifying potential gaps, answering questions and helping you understand which vaccines may be appropriate based on current recommendations.
Instead of treating vaccination as a completely separate part of healthcare, it can become another part of the routine you already have in place.
Reminders Make Adherence Easier
Remembering every medication refill, vaccine, booster and healthcare appointment on your own can be difficult.
That’s where reminders and coordinated care can make a difference.
The CDC recommends reminder systems to help patients stay on schedule with upcoming vaccinations and follow up when appointments or doses are missed.
The same idea applies to medication adherence.
When your medications are organized and refills are coordinated through programs such as medication synchronization, there are more opportunities for your pharmacy team to regularly connect with you about your overall health needs.
That routine touchpoint can make it easier to ask:
- Are my medications up to date?
- Are my refills on schedule?
- Am I due for any recommended vaccines?
Vaccine Adherence Is Part of Taking Care of Yourself
Self-care isn’t only about what you do when you feel sick.
It’s also about taking steps to reduce your risk of becoming seriously ill in the first place.
Taking medications as directed, attending recommended appointments, staying active, eating well and keeping up with recommended vaccinations all contribute to a more proactive approach to your health.
And when you stay up to date on vaccines, the benefits can extend beyond you. Vaccination can also help reduce the spread of certain illnesses to the people around you, including family members, friends and others who may be more vulnerable to serious complications.
At ACORx Pharmacy, we believe adherence should make healthcare easier, not more complicated. Our team works with patients and caregivers to simplify medication routines, provide helpful reminders and support the everyday habits that can help people stay healthier and more independent.
Not sure if you’re up to date on your vaccines? Talk with your ACORx pharmacist about your vaccination history and which vaccines may be recommended for you.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Vaccine recommendations vary based on age, medical history, medications, previous vaccination, pregnancy and other factors. Talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about the recommendations that apply to you.
