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The Adult Immunization Catch-Up Schedule: A Practical Guide for Primary Care
Vaccine-preventable diseases claim up to 50,000 adult lives each year in the US. Click through this compact reminder of recommended catch up shots for your patient panel.
Vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) claim an estimated 40,000–50,000 adult lives annually in the United States,1 yet adult vaccination coverage remains persistently low across most recommended vaccines. Primary care clinicians face an information gap, however, when it comes to ensuring their patients are current: while childhood immunization schedules are well-established and routinely implemented, adult catch-up vaccination lacks clear algorithmic guidance.
Research strongly suggests that the burden extends beyond acute disease. Adults hospitalized with VPDs face a 4-fold increased risk of 30-day mortality compared to matched controls and experience significant downstream effects including loss of independence, increased need for home health care, and worsening chronic conditions.2 These preventable complications contribute approximately $27 billion annually in direct medical costs and lost productivity.3 As of April 2025, however, 20.4% of adults have received updated COVID-19 vaccination and just 44.5% have received seasonal influenza vaccine—rates that fall far short of population health goals.4
The challenge intensifies as we encounter growing numbers of under-immunized adults: immigrants with incomplete vaccination histories, previously uninsured adults newly gaining coverage, and young adults from vaccine-hesitant families reaching independence.5-8 Without clear catch-up protocols, these patients slip through the cracks of our preventive care systems.
The short slide show above offers a practical, evidence-based framework for adult catch-up vaccination. The content draws on information from the CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (current) to address
- when to prioritize which vaccines
- how to navigate missing documentation
- strategies for visit efficiency
- billing considerations
The goal is straightforward: equip you with actionable tools to close immunization gaps and reduce the substantial—yet preventable—burden of vaccine-preventable disease in your adult patient population.
References
Kolobova I, Nyaku MK, Karakusevic A, et al. Burden of vaccine-preventable diseases among at-risk adult populations in the US. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2022;18(5):2054602.
Burden of vaccine-preventable diseases in adults (50+) in the United States: a retrospective claims analysis. BMC Public Health. 2024;24:2886.
McKinsey & Company. The potential of adult vaccination in the United States. April 2025.
CDC. Vaccination Uptake, Intent, and Confidence. RespVaxView. Data as of April 2025.
Gust DA, et al. Lack of immunization documentation in Minnesota refugees: challenges for refugee preventive health care. J Immigr Health. 2004;6(1):47-51.
New York State Department of Health. Guideline for Refugee and Immigrant Vaccination Requirements. Available at: https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/immunization/providers/docs/vaccinations_in_refugee_children_nys_nyc.pdf
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. Health Coverage Under the Affordable Care Act: A Detailed Examination. March 2023.
Etti M, Fofana A, Kimble M, Khan A, Barnes L. Vaccine hesitancy in the refugee, immigrant, and migrant population in the United States: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2023;19(1):2155251.
