Immunization for Everyone

Immunizations are a safe and effective way to protect against vaccine-preventable diseases and the spread of these diseases. Immunization is especially important in adults with chronic conditions, who are more likely to experience complications from infectious diseases, including more severe and long-term illness, hospitalization, and even death.

If you have a chronic health condition or are in close contact with someone who does, talk with your health care provider, nurse, pharmacist, or local public health office about your immunization status and the immunizations that are recommended for you.

Listed below are some of the immunization recommendations for people with certain chronic conditions. If you have a chronic condition not listed below, consult your health care provider, nurse, pharmacist, or local public health office about vaccines that will protect you.

Chronic Heart Disease

People with chronic heart disease are at higher risk of experiencing serious complications from viral and bacterial infection that can worsen their heart condition and lead to hospitalization.

Those with chronic heart disease are recommended to receive the influenza (flu) vaccine every year and the pneumococcal vaccine.  

Chronic Lung Disease

People with chronic lung disease, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, or other disorders that affect the lungs are at increased risk for complication from influenza and pneumococcal infection. People with chronic lung diseases have sensitive airways which can worsen from infection, no matter how well controlled or mild the symptoms are.

People with chronic lung disease, including smokers, are recommended to receive the influenza (flu) vaccine each year and the pneumococcal vaccine.

Diabetes

People with diabetes often have complications from diabetes that can affect their immune systems’ ability to fight off infection, even those with well-managed diabetes. This puts these individuals at greater risk for complication and hospitalization from infection.

People with diabetes are recommended to receive the influenza (flu) vaccine each year and the pneumococcal vaccine.

Chronic Liver Disease

People with chronic liver disease experience impaired immune function that can limit their ability to fight off infection and can increase the risk of complication and hospitalization.

People with chronic liver disease are recommended to receive pneumococcal and hepatitis A and B vaccines. Annual immunization with the influenza vaccine is also recommended.

Chronic Kidney Disease

People with chronic kidney disease or those who are undergoing dialysis are at increased risk of infection that can lead to complication and hospitalization from vaccine-preventable diseases.

People with kidney disease or those undergoing dialysis are recommended to receive hepatitis B and pneumococcal vaccines. Annual immunization with the influenza vaccine is also recommended.