BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- More than 50,000 Americans die of illnesses each year that could have been prevented with a vaccine -- but the surprising part is that nearly all of these deaths are in adults, not children.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention annually issues new guidelines on vaccines for adults. Some shots are targeted especially for seniors, such as the shingles vaccine. Others provide boosters for immunity that might have worn off since childhood, including whooping cough and tetanus.

Experts said that older patients are particularly vulnerable to infectious disease, but only 36 percent get their annual flu shot and one-third are not vaccinated against pneumonia.

Part of the problem is that many adults do not see a doctor regularly, so they may not realize the shots are recommended for them. Others lack the health insurance to pay for their vaccines.

Doctors suggested people ask their personal physician if they are up-to-date on their shots -- and for those who lack health coverage, contact your state health department to see if they offer any vaccine clinics at reduced rates.