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Test Your Vaccine Smarts

How much do you know about the vaccines that can keep you healthy? Take our quiz to find out

Barbara Stepko,

Updated December 21, 2023

AARP

En español

Updated December 21, 2023

10 Questions

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You’ve read all about the vaccinations you need to keep you healthy at 50 and beyond. Now, test your knowledge about everything from the new RSV vaccines to the shot for shingles.

Test Your Vaccine Smarts

[ {
 "question" : "When was the influenza vaccine first approved for civilians?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "1937",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "1945",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "1951",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "1960",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Because of the staggering number of deaths in the U.S. military during the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic, a flu vaccine was a priority. But an influenza vaccine wasn’t approved for civilian use until 1945, after it was tested for safety and efficacy on the U.S. military.&nbsp;\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "How many people worldwide were infected with influenza during the 1918-1919 influenza pandemic, also known as the Spanish flu?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "50 million",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "100 million",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "500 million",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "1 billion",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "It’s estimated that about 500 million people — or one-third of the world’s population — became infected with this virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the U.S., roughly 675,000 died.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "How often do you need a COVID vaccine?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Every 2 months",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Every 6 months",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Every year ",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "It hasn’t been determined yet",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Health officials have not yet set a COVID-19 vaccine schedule, but we could be moving toward an annual shot. For now, the recommendation is to stay up to date on your vaccines, which means if you haven’t received the latest XBB.1.5 Omicron-targeting vaccine released in September 2023, it's time to catch up.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "True or false: The three available COVID-19 vaccines are all mRNA vaccines.\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "True",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "False",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Two of the available vaccines — from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna — are mRNA vaccines. The third, from Novavax, is a protein-based vaccine.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "Who is eligible for the new RSV vaccines?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Adults 60 and older",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Pregnant individuals ",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Infants and some young children",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "All of the above",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "This year, the FDA approved the first-ever vaccines to help protect against a severe case of RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus infection. The common virus is often mild and causes cold-like symptoms. However, it can be dangerous in some people, and infants and older adults are more likely to get a severe case and need hospitalization.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
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}, {
 "question" : "The Tdap vaccine offers protection from which of the following conditions:\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Tetanus",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Pertussis",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Diphtheria",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "All of the above",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "The Tdap vaccine is a triple whammy, protecting against tetanus and diphtheria as well as offering an additional defense against pertussis (whooping cough). This three-in-one can count as one of the tetanus/diphtheria boosters you need to get every 10 years. You get Tdap only once, and after that you still need a booster (either Tdap or Td) every 10 years.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "True or false: Whooping cough is exclusively a childhood disease.\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "True",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "False",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Although anyone at any age can get whooping cough, and anyone can get a severe case of it, it is most dangerous for babies, according to the CDC. The shot to prevent whooping cough, or pertussis, is your Tdap vaccine.&nbsp;&nbsp;\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "You can prevent infection from hepatitis A by getting the vaccine how soon after exposure?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "1 day",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "1 week",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "2 weeks",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "1 month",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "If you learn that you’ve been exposed to hepatitis A — either through personal contact with someone who has the virus or through a foodborne outbreak — you can ward off a nasty infection by rolling up your sleeve as soon as possible within two weeks of exposure.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "True or false: If you’ve already had a bout of shingles, you don’t need the vaccine.\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "True",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "False",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "The CDC recommends that everyone 50 and older get Shingrix even if they’ve had the previously recommended vaccine Zostavax or if they’ve already had shingles. Older adults should also get this vaccine whether or not they can recall having had chickenpox as a child. Why? More than 99 percent of Americans over the age of 40 have been exposed to the varicella-zoster virus, even if they don’t recall getting chickenpox.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "True or False:&nbsp;If you had a pneumococcal vaccine when you were younger, you don’t need to get another one when you turn 65.\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "True",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "False",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "All adults 65 and older (and individuals 19 to 64 who have certain medical conditions) should get a pneumococcal vaccine — but the type you receive may be dependent on your vaccine history.&nbsp;\nPneumococcal disease is one of the most common causes of vaccine-preventable deaths in the U.S., and older adults are among those at higher risk for some of these more severe outcomes.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
} ]

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Barbara Stepko was a longtime health and lifestyle writer, and former editor at Women’s Health and InStyle. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Parade and other national magazines.