Chapter 13 · Managing Asthma Day-to-Day

Vaccinations and Asthma

Which vaccines matter when you have asthma, and why.

Staying up to date with certain vaccines is one of the simpler ways to protect your lungs when you have asthma. Here is why it matters and which ones tend to come up most.

Maria Ditter, MD (Dr. med.), MPH · Reviewed September 2026 · Editorial standards

Why It Matters

Asthma increases your risk of complications from respiratory infections. To give a sense of scale, among children and teens aged 5 to 17 hospitalized with the flu, 35.9% had asthma (CDC, 2024-25 flu season). That is why staying current with recommended vaccines is generally seen as an important part of looking after your lungs.

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Start with the basics

People with asthma need the same routine vaccines as everyone else, so it helps to keep your usual schedule up to date:

Keep your usual childhood and teen vaccinations current.
For most teens that includes routine boosters such as Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough) and the HPV vaccine.
Your doctor can confirm which ones you are due for.

A few vaccines are especially worth staying on top of when you have asthma, which we look at below.

Vaccines to Know About

Vaccination is especially relevant against respiratory infections, which can hit harder when you have asthma.

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Influenza (flu)

A yearly flu vaccine is commonly recommended for people with asthma, since the flu can trigger flare-ups and lead to more serious illness.

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COVID

Staying up to date with COVID vaccination is generally advised, as the infection affects the airways and lungs.

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RSV

RSV can hit the lungs hard, but RSV vaccines are currently only for babies and older adults, not for teens.

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Pneumococcal

Most people get it as a baby. An extra dose is sometimes recommended, but it depends on which asthma treatment you get, and your doctor will advise you if needed.

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Good to know

This is a general overview, not a personal schedule. A few things worth keeping in mind:

Which vaccines are right for you can depend on your age, your asthma, and your medical history.
Your doctor or asthma nurse can let you know which vaccines they recommend and when to get them.
It is a good idea to mention your asthma when you go for any vaccination, so the team has the full picture.

Learn More

For trusted background on asthma and staying well, this resource may be helpful:

Cleveland Clinic: Asthma (opens in a new tab).

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Worried about a symptom? Talk to your medical team. TeenHealthInsight is health education, not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never change your medication without speaking to your asthma team first.