Adult immunisation refers to vaccines recommended for those who have completed the childhood schedule — including boosters for waning immunity, vaccines against new risks that emerge in adulthood, and catch-up doses for those who missed childhood vaccines. Vaccine-preventable diseases cause significant morbidity and mortality in adults who consider themselves fully immunised from childhood.
Why childhood vaccines aren't enough
Many vaccines given in childhood provide protection that wanes over time. Tetanus and diphtheria protection, for example, requires a booster every 10 years to maintain effective immunity. Whooping cough (pertussis) immunity — whether from childhood vaccination or infection — also fades after 5–10 years.
Other vaccines are not part of the childhood schedule because the relevant risks only emerge in adulthood: shingles (herpes zoster reactivation), pneumococcal pneumonia and meningococcal disease in specific risk groups, and human papillomavirus (HPV) for adults who missed adolescent vaccination.
The core adult vaccines
| Vaccine | Who needs it | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Influenza (flu) | All adults | Every year |
| Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) | All adults | Every 10 years; once in pregnancy |
| COVID-19 | All adults; higher risk groups prioritised for updated doses | Follow current national guidance |
| Shingles (Shingrix) | Adults ≥ 50 (or immunosuppressed from age 18) | 2 doses, 2–6 months apart |
| Pneumococcal (PCV15, PCV20 or PPSV23) | Adults ≥ 65; younger adults with specific risk factors | 1–2 doses depending on type |
| HPV | Adults up to age 26; some 27–45 after discussion | 2–3 doses |
| Hepatitis B | Unvaccinated adults; anyone at increased risk | 3 doses over 6 months |
| MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) | Adults without documented immunity | 1–2 doses |
Vaccines for specific risk groups
- Meningococcal ACWY and B — recommended for first-year university students living in halls, people without a spleen, and travellers to high-risk regions
- Hepatitis A — for travellers to endemic countries, men who have sex with men, people with chronic liver disease
- Yellow fever, typhoid, Japanese encephalitis — for specific travel destinations
- Rabies — for animal workers and travellers to endemic areas with limited access to post-exposure treatment
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) — now recommended for adults ≥ 60 in several countries
Vaccines in pregnancy
Vaccination in pregnancy protects both the mother and the newborn — who is born with maternal antibodies and cannot receive many vaccines until 8 weeks of age. The pertussis vaccine (as Tdap) in the third trimester is strongly recommended in most countries. Influenza vaccine is safe and recommended throughout pregnancy. COVID-19 vaccination is also recommended during pregnancy.
"Vaccines don't just protect you — they protect the people around you who cannot be vaccinated. That community effect is where much of the public health value lives."
Omar Khalil, Health Educator, Looms
Keeping your records
Vaccination records are among the most frequently requested health documents — for travel, employment in healthcare, school enrolment and immigration. Keeping a digital copy in your Looms record ensures you can produce proof instantly, without chasing paper documents through multiple providers.