Vaccines can be a hot topic, but once we hit our 40s, there are a few that can make a real difference in protecting our long-term health. You’ve heard about flu shots and COVID boosters, but what about shingles, pneumonia, or even HPV after 40?
In this episode of The Grown-Ass Woman’s Guide, Dr. Kudzai Dombo, a board-certified OB/GYN and menopause expert, joins us for the final episode in our 4-part series. This time, she talks about which vaccines matter most for women in their 40s, 50s and beyond.
You’ll learn:
• Which vaccines women over 40 should consider and when to get them
• What you need to know about shingles, pneumonia, and HPV
• How to tell which vaccines are essential and which are optional
• How to check your immunity with bloodwork before getting vaccinated
• What to consider based on travel, health history, and lifestyle
Get your FREE Grown-Ass Woman Health Cheat Sheet!
Whether you’re navigating perimenopause, protecting your immune system, or just want to understand what’s really necessary at this stage of life, this episode breaks it all down in clear, practical terms.
About the Guest:
Dr. Kudzai Dombo, MD, FACOG, MSCP, is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and menopause expert with 20 years of experience dedicated to women’s health. Known for her deep commitment to both individual care and global health advocacy, she brings a unique cross-cultural perspective shaped by her upbringing in the U.S. and Zimbabwe.
Her career has spanned continents, with work for Doctors Without Borders and NGOs in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, El Salvador, South Africa, and Haiti, where she has advocated for women at every stage of life. In recent years, she has focused her practice on supporting women in midlife and the menopausal transition, most recently as a practicing physician and Director of Advocacy and Outreach at Alloy Women’s Health and Akasha Center for Integrative Health.
She is currently a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a Diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, and a member of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health.
She loves the creative arts, enjoys traveling, and appreciates time with her family.
Free Resource
Download your Grown-Ass Woman’s Health Cheat Sheet — a simple, printable guide to the screenings, labs, and hormone insights you need to take charge of your midlife health.
👉 Get the cheat sheet here
Listen to the Full Series
-
Vaccines and Prevention Updates for Midlife Women (you’re here!)
Full Transcript
Vaccines can be a hot-button topic. But once we hit our 40s, there are some important ones we at least need to know about. Sure, you’ve heard about flu shots and COVID boosters, but what about shingles, pneumonia, or even HPV after 40? In this episode, we’re breaking down which vaccines matter, when to get them, and what questions to ask before you roll up your sleeve.
