Immunizations Topic Guide

Immunization is the process of developing immunity, most often through vaccines. Vaccines train the immune system to recognize and fight infections in a safe way. They greatly reduce the chance of getting sick, needing hospital care, or dying from infectious diseases. When many people are vaccinated, it also helps protect the community by slowing the spread of disease, including protecting people who cannot get vaccinated. Vaccines may cause mild side effects like tiredness or soreness for a short time, but the protection they provide can last for many years or even a lifetime.

Infections can be unpredictable and serious, even when symptoms are mild or not noticeable. Vaccines help the body build protection before exposure, which is important because it may be too late to prevent illness after infection. Some vaccines need more than one dose to give full protection, and boosters may be needed over time.

American Indian/Alaska Native

During the 2023–2024 flu season, American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults got the flu vaccine 23% less often than U.S. adults overall. AI/AN children born in 2020 were 16% less likely to be fully vaccinated by age 2 compared with all U.S. children born that year.

For additional data on immunizations and American Indians/Alaska Natives, please visit our Population Profiles.

Asian American

In 2024, Asian American adults age 65 and older got the pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine 22% less often than U.S. adults age 65 and older. During the 2023–2024 flu season, Asian American adults got the flu vaccine 12% more often than U.S. adults overall. In 2022, Asian American adults were 15% more likely to have received all age-appropriate vaccines than U.S. adults overall. Asian American children born in 2020 were 7% more likely to be fully vaccinated by age 2 compared with all U.S. children born that year.

For additional data on immunizations and Asian Americans, please visit our Population Profiles.

Black/African American

In 2024, Black/African American adults age 65 and older got the pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine 16% less often than all U.S. adults age 65 and older. During the 2023–2024 flu season, Black/African American adults got the flu vaccine 6% less often than U.S. adults overall. In 2022, Black/African American adults were 47% less likely to have received all age-appropriate vaccines than U.S. adults overall. Black/African American children born in 2020 were 7% less likely to be fully vaccinated by age 2 compared with all U.S. children born that year.

For additional data on immunizations and Black/African Americans, please visit our Population Profiles.

Hispanic/Latino

In 2024, Hispanic/Latino American adults age 65 and older got the pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine 35% less often than U.S. adults age 65 and older. During the 2023–2024 flu season, Hispanic/Latino American adults got the flu vaccine 23% less often than U.S. adults overall. In 2022, Hispanic/Latino American adults were 25% less likely to have received all age-appropriate vaccines than U.S. adults overall. Hispanic/Latino American children born in 2020 were 4% less likely to be fully vaccinated by age 2 compared with all U.S. children born in 2020.

For additional data on immunizations and Hispanic Americans, please visit our Population Profiles.

Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander

In 2024, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (NHPI) adults got the flu vaccine 29% less often than U.S. adults overall. In 2024, NHPI adults got the pneumococcal (pneumonia) vaccine 34% less often than U.S. adults overall. NHPI children born in 2020 were 12% less likely to be fully vaccinated by age 2 compared with all U.S. children born that year.

For additional data on immunizations and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, please visit our Population Profiles.