Women Veterans, armor up!

Women Veterans, we understand that vaccines and routine health check-ins can easily fall to the wayside. But now is actually a great time to look at your vaccine history and talk to your VA health care provider about which vaccines are right for you.

As a woman, your health changes with time, age, reproductive life stages—such as pregnancy and overall wellness. Focusing on preventative care with vaccination is important for your overall well-being, especially if you’re pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

Don’t let the year end without making sure you’re up to date on your vaccines. It’s one of the simplest ways to invest in your health and protect yourself.

Protecting yourself and others

As a Veteran, you’re no stranger to protecting your community. An easy way to continue keeping others safe is by getting vaccinated. If enough people get vaccinated, large outbreaks can be avoided. By getting vaccinated, you’re also helping to stop the spread of preventable diseases to others, especially those who cannot be vaccinated because they’re too young or have a weakened immune system due to being older or having a serious health condition.

Recommended vaccines

VA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend several vaccines based on your age and health.

These may include:

• Pneumonia: This vaccine can prevent a serious infection in the lungs (pneumonia)  that can lead to respiratory complications and even death. It is recommended for those aged 65 and older and for those younger than 65 with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes.

• Human papillomavirus (HPV)​: HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection that is spread through sexual or skin-to-skin contact. It can lead to cancers like cervical or vaginal cancer, mouth cancer, throat cancer and anal cancer. The HPV vaccine is one of the only vaccines that can prevent cancer. All people through age 26 and some who are older should receive this vaccine.

• Flu: Influenza, or the flu, is a viral condition that can effect anyone but causes more severe sickness in the elderly. The vaccine, needed yearly, can prevent the flu and complications like bacterial pneumonia. Getting a flu shot while you’re pregnant can also protect your newborn by giving them immunity from the flu for the first six months of life.

• COVID-19: COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that spreads easily. It can be life-threatening in people with other conditions, such as heart disease or poor immune systems. COVID-19 vaccines are recommended for all adults, especially if you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

• Tdap: The Tdap vaccine protects against three diseases, including tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, or whooping cough. Most people should get a booster every 10 years. It is especially recommended for people who are pregnant or may come in contact with young children who are not yet vaccinated against whooping cough.

• Shingles: Shingles is a painful skin rash caused by the same virus as chicken pox. People aged 50 and older should receive this vaccine, which requires two shots, two to six months apart.

• Hepatitis: Hepatitis is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver and can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (or scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure and death. The Hepatitis B vaccine is available and recommended for all age groups.

• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)​: The RSV vaccine can prevent lower respiratory tract disease. If you are a Veteran who is 60 years and older, talk with your VA health care provider about whether RSV vaccination is right for you, especially if you have an underlying medical condition that may put you at higher risk for severe RSV infection. If you’re pregnant, we recommend you receive an RSV vaccine between weeks 32 and 36 of your pregnancy.

Vaccines are safe, but they may come with mild side effects including fever, tiredness, body aches or redness, swelling and tenderness where you received your shot. These reactions usually go away within a couple of days. Serious or long-lasting side effects are extremely rare and vaccine safety is continually monitored.

Vaccines and pregnancy

CDC also recommends certain vaccines before, during and after pregnancy. Know that it’s also safe for you to receive vaccines right after giving birth even while breast or chest wall feeding. It’s important to speak with your VA health care provider if you’re planning to become pregnant or are pregnant, so we can ensure you receive the vaccines you need to keep you and your baby safe.

We can also help you understand which vaccines to avoid during your pregnancy journey.

Vaccinate with VA

Speak with your VA health care provider about which vaccines are right for you. You can conveniently get all the vaccines you need at a VA Medical Center or clinic. We highly recommend you get vaccinated at VA, the same place you receive your other health care, so we can keep your medical files up to date and keep track of your vaccine history for you!

Call the Women Veterans Call Center at 1-855-VA-WOMEN or visit the Women’s Health Immunizations page to learn more.

You can also download our Preventative Health Checklist for Women or visit VA’s Preventative Care page for women Veterans to learn more about what prevention tests and vaccines are recommended based on your age.