What vaccines do grandparents need?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Grandparents need to be current on flu every year and Tdap, plus whatever the CDC adult schedule adds for their age and health. The newborn-critical one is Tdap: cocooning a baby means vaccinating the adults around them, and a Tdap booster is due every 10 years, ideally two-plus weeks before baby cuddles. Flu and COVID currency protects the baby too, since infants cannot be flu-vaccinated. The adult schedule adds vaccines at older ages, and one appointment with your doctor or pharmacist can check your status against it. No records is a solvable problem: titers or re-vaccination.
What to do
- Check your Tdap date; boosters are due every 10 years, get one before meeting a newborn.
- Stay current on flu and COVID vaccines.
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist to run the adult schedule for your age and conditions.
- Do not worry about missing records; re-vaccinating is safe for most vaccines.
Related questions
- Can I get a Tdap shot before seeing a newborn?
- What vaccines do adults need?
- Can I ask an online doctor about my child's vaccines?
- When is flu season?