Key Takeaways

Many people are choosing to steer clear of in-person medical care due to COVID-19, and they’re missing routine vaccinations as a result. But doctors stress the importance of making sure your vaccines are up to date—especially during a pandemic.

Kate King, DNP, MS, RN, LSN, director of Health, Family, and Community Services at Columbus City Schools in Ohio, has noticed many students have fallen behind on their vaccinations.

“Our focus is on kindergarteners who missed their second MMR [measles, mumps, rubella] vaccinations. Thousands and thousands of them," King tells Verywell. “Parents are scared to take their children to the doctor and clinics are overwhelmed.”

On a global level, the United Nations (UN) predicted a much higher figure. This spring, UN health agencies forecasted 117 million children may miss measles shots due to COVID-19.

King and her staff are working to make sure the children get their next scheduled dose as soon as possible adding, “We don’t need a measles outbreak now.”

COVID-19 Is Impacting Vaccination Rates of All Ages, Including Adults

It’s not just children who need vaccinations. Adults living with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) might need extra protection this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19 that attacks the respiratory system, weakens the pulmonary activity of already weakened lungs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following vaccines for people with COPD and asthma:

As communities begin to open up, it’s important for you to work with your healthcare provider to make sure you—or your kids—stay up to date on routine vaccines.

What This Means For YouCheck with your doctor and see if they recommend you get vaccinated. Schedule office visits at off-peak times to reduce your risk of COVID-19 exposure.

What This Means For You

Check with your doctor and see if they recommend you get vaccinated. Schedule office visits at off-peak times to reduce your risk of COVID-19 exposure.

Why Staying Up to Date On Vaccinations is Important

Every adult who can safely get a flu (influenza) vaccine should do so every year. The flu shot is especially important for people with chronic health conditions, pregnant women, and older adults. Getting one this year can possibly protect you from the risk of contracting the flu and COVID-19 simultaneously.

How to Safely Get a Flu Shot During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Adults should also get the Tdap vaccine if they did not receive it as a teen to protect against pertussis (whooping cough), and then get a Td (tetanus, diphtheria) booster shot every 10 years. Pregnant women should get the Tdap vaccine between 27 through 36 weeks.

COVID-19 Vaccine Considerations to Discuss with a Doctor During Pregnancy

Pneumonia and COVID-19

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can cause pneumonia. The World Health Organization (WHO) highly recommends a pneumonia vaccine to protect your respiratory health. It’s especially important that adults with COPD or asthma take precautions to avoid COVID-19, although WHO clarifies that a pneumonia vaccine is not a vaccine or protection against COVID-19 itself.

Pneumonia Vaccinations

There are two vaccines that help prevent pneumococcal disease among adults 65 years or older. These vaccines are safe and effective, but they cannot be given at the same time, according to the CDC.

Do You Need the Pneumonia Vaccine?

The two vaccines offer protection against pneumococcal disease:

The CDC recommends all adults 65 years or older get a shot of PPSV23. They also recommend adults 65 years or older get a shot of PCV13 if they have never received a dose and in addition, have a:

Older adults who have never received a pneumonia vaccine and do not have one of the conditions described above may also discuss vaccination with their vaccine provider to decide if PCV13 is appropriate for them.

If your doctor recommends you receive both vaccines, get PCV13 first. Talk to your doctor about when to come back to get PPSV23. If you’ve already received PPSV23, wait at least a year before getting PCV13.

Do I Need Another Vaccination?

TheCDC offers an online questionnaireto help determine your possible need for adult vaccinations. You’ll need to indicate:

You can use the results of the questionnaire to determine which vaccines are recommended for you at your next medical appointment.

Going to Medical Offices During the COVID-19 Outbreak

To schedule a vaccination, call your doctor’s office and ask about ways they safely offer office visits during this time. Many medical offices are taking extra steps to make sure that visits can happen safely during the COVID-19 outbreak, including:

COVID-19 Vaccines:Stay up to date on which vaccines are available, who can get them, and how safe they are.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What You Need to Know About COPD, Asthma, and Adult Vaccines.The World Health Organization.Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Mythbusters.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumonia Can Be Prevented—Vaccines Can Help.

3 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What You Need to Know About COPD, Asthma, and Adult Vaccines.The World Health Organization.Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Mythbusters.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumonia Can Be Prevented—Vaccines Can Help.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What You Need to Know About COPD, Asthma, and Adult Vaccines.The World Health Organization.Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Mythbusters.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumonia Can Be Prevented—Vaccines Can Help.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What You Need to Know About COPD, Asthma, and Adult Vaccines.

The World Health Organization.Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: Mythbusters.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pneumonia Can Be Prevented—Vaccines Can Help.

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