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
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.
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.