Adult Immunizations & Vaccines in Hilo & Across Hawaiʻi — Medicaid (QUEST) Accepted

Adult immunizations are vaccines recommended throughout adult life to protect against serious infections such as influenza, COVID-19, pneumonia, shingles, and RSV. Immunity from childhood shots can fade, and new vaccines become recommended as we age, so staying current is one of the simplest ways to protect both yourself and the people around you. At Ohana Care Clinic in Hilo, we keep your vaccines on track using the CDC’s adult schedule.

Why adults still need vaccines

Vaccines are not only for children. Some protection wears off over time, some diseases become more dangerous with age, and some vaccines are designed specifically for adults. Staying up to date prevents illnesses that can be serious or even life-threatening, reduces missed work and hospital visits, and helps protect more vulnerable family members, including infants and kūpuna, through community immunity.

What adults commonly need

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publish a yearly adult immunization schedule. Depending on your age, health, and history, that commonly includes a yearly influenza vaccine, COVID-19 vaccination, the shingles vaccine for older adults, pneumococcal vaccines, a tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap) booster, and RSV vaccination for those at higher risk. Some adults need additional vaccines based on health conditions, travel, or work.

How we keep you protected

At your visits we review your vaccine history, identify what you are due for, and make a plan that fits your situation, including any chronic conditions that change the recommendations. Because guidance updates each year, we check against the current CDC schedule rather than relying on memory. We can discuss your needs by telehealth and arrange in-person vaccination at our Hilo clinic.

Culturally grounded care

We care for the whole person, in the spirit of lōkahi — balance and harmony among the connected parts of life: the body, the mind and emotions, the spirit, the ʻohana (family), and our relationship with the ʻāina (land) and community. In a Native Hawaiian understanding of health, these are not separate, and neither is our care. To mālama (care for and protect) your wellbeing and to live pono (in balance and rightness), we listen to your whole story, welcome your ʻohana into the process, and honor the values and traditions that ground you. Offering kōkua (help given freely, with aloha) in a way that respects who you are is at the heart of how we practice.

Insurance and how we see you

We accept Medicare and Medicaid, including the Hawaiʻi QUEST Integration plans (AlohaCare, the Hawaiʻi Medical Service Association (HMSA), ʻOhana Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan), along with most commercial insurance, and we are accepting new patients in Hilo. Primary care works best as a partnership. Your first visit is in person at our Hilo clinic. We see patients in person for physical exams, vitals, and lab work, and we use telehealth for follow-up visits, medication management, and chronic-disease check-ins whenever it is clinically appropriate.

Common questions about adult immunizations

Which vaccines do adults need?

It depends on your age and health, but commonly an annual flu vaccine, COVID-19 vaccination, shingles vaccine for older adults, pneumococcal vaccines, a Tdap booster, and RSV vaccine for those at higher risk. We follow the current CDC adult schedule and tailor it to you.

I had my childhood shots. Why do I need more as an adult?

Some immunity fades over time, some diseases get more serious with age, and some vaccines are made specifically for adults. Staying current keeps that protection strong.

Can you review my vaccines by telehealth?

Yes. We can review your history and recommendations by video and arrange in-person vaccination at our Hilo clinic.

What insurance do you accept?

We accept Medicare and Medicaid, including the Hawaii QUEST Integration plans (AlohaCare, HMSA, Ohana Health Plan, and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan), along with most commercial insurance. We are accepting new patients in Hilo.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Recommended adult immunization schedule by age. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/imz-schedules/adult-age.html

Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. (2025). Recommended adult immunization schedule for adults aged 19 years or older — United States, 2025. MMWR, 74(2). https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7402a3.htm

Papa Ola Lōkahi. (n.d.). Native Hawaiian health. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://www.papaolalokahi.org/

This page is general health education from Ohana Care Clinic, written by George Mackel, MSN, APRN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP. It is not a substitute for a personal evaluation by a qualified clinician who knows your situation, and reading it does not create a provider–patient relationship. If you think you may have a medical condition, reach out to us or another licensed provider. In an emergency, call 911.

George Mackel, MSN, APRN, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP — President & Owner