What Vaccines Do You Need in March if You’re Over 50? Doctors Explain

As the days grow longer, it’s natural to start to get excited for a light at the end of the cold/flu/RSV/COVID-19 tunnel. Hope springs eternal as the calendar flips to March. And we probably don’t think of it as a time of year when vaccination matters much. Doctors stress that vaccine necessity doesn’t go out the window just because the weather is warmer.

“Even if flu season is waning, which in my part of the country it isn’t yet, it is still very important for people over 50 years of age to stay up-to-date on vaccinations because we know that the risk of serious illness…increases with age,” explains Dr. Beth Oller, MD, a family physician.

In fact, infections like viruses (including the flu!) can happen year-round, putting people over 50 at a particularly high risk not only of a bad case of something nasty but also of longer-term side effects.

“If… these infections are acquired after 50 years old, the risk for complications such as pneumonia, hospitalizations, long COVID, heart problems and shingles-related nerve pain may be present in those not vaccinated,” warns Dr. Luis Marcos, MD, an infectious disease expert with Stony Brook Medicine.

In other words, unfortunately, age is more than a number to your immune system.

“As we age, our immune systems age with us,” explains Dr. Linda Yancey, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Memorial Hermann Health System. “Illnesses that would have been trivial when we were younger can be much more severe for older adults. Vaccines serve as an immune booster, helping protect us against hospitalizations and deaths.”

Give yourself a shot at doing the things you actually want to do this spring by making sure you have these vaccines this March if you’re over 50.

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What Vaccines Do You Need in March if You’re Over 50?

“Influenza vaccine, COVID vaccine, shingles, pneumococcal, RSV and TdaP,” Dr. Marcos shares.

Dr. Yancey added that some individuals over 50 may need the MMR, chickenpox and zoster vaccines. The good news is that these vaccines are widely accessible at various locations near you.

“Most of these vaccines are available through primary care providers, pharmacies, local health departments and some specialty clinics,” she reports. “Many pharmacies can give multiple vaccines in one visit.”

Below, doctors shared a bit more about why you should roll up your sleeves for these vaccines in March if you’re over 50 (and don’t worry, we’ve taken into account that you might have gotten some of these vaccines already this season)!

1. Influenza vaccine

Yes, you can still get your flu shot in March. In fact, you should if you haven’t already.

“This protects against circulating flu strains that can cause severe respiratory illness,” shares Dr. Raj Dasgupta, MD, the chief medical advisor for Sleepopolis. “It is recommended annually for everyone [over 6 months], but especially adults over 50 and those with chronic conditions. High-dose or adjuvanted versions are typically preferred for adults 65 and older because they have a stronger immune response.”

FYI, flu is still at its peak circulation in some areas in March and not fun all year round.

2. COVID-19

As we learned during the pandemic, COVID-19 can spread, even as the weather warms. That hasn’t changed, but our access to vaccines has.

“Updated COVID vaccines protect against severe disease, hospitalization and death from current circulating variants,” Dr. Dasgupta says. “Adults over 50 are eligible for updated boosters depending on prior vaccination timing. Those with chronic disease, obesity, or immune compromise benefit most from staying current.”

3. RSV

The RSV vaccine is a single dose that should provide lifelong protection. “It protects against respiratory syncytial virus, which can cause serious lower respiratory infections in older adults, particularly those with heart or lung disease,” Dr. Dasgupta states.

The CDC recommends that adults 50–74 years old who are at risk of severe RSV get this vaccine. This recommendation may apply to you if you have a chronic condition like COPD. Plus, the CDC guidelines state that everyone over the age of 75 should get this vaccine.

4. Tdap or Td booster

If it’s been a decade since you got this vaccination, it’s time to re-up your immunity.

“This helps protect against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis,” Dr. Dasgupta notes. “Adults should make sure they get a tetanus booster every 10 years. If you have never received Tdap as an adult, you should get it to help with pertussis coverage.”

5. Zoster

This one protects against shingles, and Dr. Yancey shares that everyone needs to get this vaccine, whether they had chickenpox as a child or not. She says the zoster vaccine can:

• Prevent a shingles outbreak

• Reduce the time and size of an outbreak

• Prevent the permanent pain that sometimes follows an episode of shingles

The CDC reports that the zoster vaccine is over 90% effective at preventing shingles and post-herpetic neuralgia (chronic pain in the nerve area of a prior rash) in healthy adults aged 50 years and up.

6. Pneumococcal

The CDC recommends this vaccine for all adults aged 50 and older.

“The pneumonia vaccine prevents only one certain kind of pneumonia, but it is a deadly one,” Dr. Yancey says. “Prior to our modern vaccines, pneumonia used to be the leading cause of death in people over 50.”

2 Other Vaccines To Make Sure You’re up to Date On

1. MMR

Two doses of the MMR vaccine provide lifelong immunity. That said, adults at low risk for measles, mumps and rubella who were born after 1957 have unknown vaccination status and should get this vaccine.

Additionally, some high-risk groups may benefit from another dose of the MMR vaccine, including healthcare personnel and people living in areas with ongoing outbreaks. You can learn your immunity status against these illnesses with a simple blood test.

“With the numerous measles outbreaks currently going on in the U.S., it is important to be protected against this,” Dr. Yancey stresses. “Mumps and rubella can be spread to children who have much more severe illness.”

She adds that if a pregnant woman gets rubella, the fetus is at risk for issues, including having abnormalities after birth.

2. Varicella

Chickenpox was once a rite of passage in childhood. However, some of us were lucky not to experience it.

“For the lucky few who did not have chicken pox as a child, it is a very good idea to get the vaccine,” Dr. Yancey says. “Chicken pox in adulthood can be very serious, much more so than in children. It is also a prolonged disease. No one wants to be itchy and miserable for three weeks.”

You may have gotten this vaccine previously. However, a blood test can let you know if you still have strong immunity.

Related: The Popular Supplement Doctors Say Isn’t as Harmless as It Sounds

Where To Find Information on Vaccines

There’s a lot of information about vaccines out there right now, but not all of it is accurate.

“For accurate information on vaccines, I always recommend going to your family physician,” Dr. Oller shares. “There has been a lot of misinformation circulating recently, so go to the people who do this every day.”

Dr. Yancey says that “The American College of Physicians has some excellent vaccine resources.”

Related: Here’s Exactly What Happens to Your Blood Pressure When You Eat Bananas

Other Tips To Keep Your Immune System Healthy This March

Vaccines are a great way to give your immune system a fighting chance at warding off illnesses, especially of the most severe variety. So if you haven’t gotten your seasonal vaccines or aren’t up to date on some of the others mentioned above, this is a great time to get them.

And other practical tips will help you layer on protection, too. “Besides the recommended vaccines, people should always look for a healthy diet, exercise and low stress,” Dr. Marcos advises. “Spring is a good reset point for blood pressure, cholesterol and cancer screenings. Schedule an appointment with your primary care physician.”

While you’re in your calendar, proactively get ahead for this coming fall, which will be here before you know it.

“Be sure you pencil in [flu , RSV and COVID-19 vaccines] in for early fall of next year,” Dr. Oller states.

Up Next:

Related: The 3 Supplement Label Claims Doctors Are Begging You Not To Ignore

Sources:

• Measles Vaccination. CDC.

• Shingles Vaccination. CDC.

• Polio Vaccine Recommendations. CDC.

This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the Health & Wellness section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.