The CDC indicates that vaccines are available for protection against several diseases, and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for the different types of vaccinations depend upon age, geographical location, medical history, and other patient factors such as job and travel history. The panel of experts from the ACIP employs evidence-based safety and efficacy data to develop recommendations for vaccinations, including ages when vaccines should be given, number of doses, time between doses, and precautions and contraindications.  

In addition to the first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine approved in 2020, the FDA approved the first RSV vaccine in 2023 for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) and severe LRTD caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), marking the most recent vaccine approval for a new disease.

According to the CDC, vaccine-preventable diseases include the following:  

• Chickenpox/varicella
• COVID-19
• Dengue
• Diphtheria
• Influenza
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type 2)
• HPV (human papillomavirus)
• Measles
• Meningococcal
• Mpox
• Mumps
• Pneumococcal
• Polio (poliomyelitis)
• Rotavirus
• RSV (respiratory syncytial virus)
• Rubella (German measles)
• Shingles (herpes zoster)
• Tetanus (lockjaw)
• Whooping cough (pertussis).

Individuals in specific research roles or travel scenarios may encounter dangerous or deadly diseases that are no longer prevalent in the U.S. Due to the heightened risk of disease exposure in these situations, nonroutine vaccines are available and categorized by disease. These vaccines are considered nonroutine because they are not included in the recommended immunization schedules for children, adolescents, and adults. In November 2023, the FDA approved a live attenuated chikungunya vaccine, marking the first and only chikungunya vaccine currently licensed in the U.S. for use in adults aged 18 years and older, and it should be considered for some travelers at greater risk of exposure to the virus or at risk of severe disease.

The following diseases can be prevented by nonroutine vaccines:

• Adenovirus
• Anthrax
• Cholera
• Japanese encephalitis
• Rabies
• Smallpox
• Tuberculosis
• Typhoid fever
• Yellow fever.

More information on these vaccine-preventable diseases can be found on the CDC website.

The content contained in this article is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. Reliance on any information provided in this article is solely at your own risk.