Beyond Childhood Shots: Important Vaccines for Adults

Every year on March 24, the world observes World Tuberculosis Day, highlighting the ongoing fight against TB. Tuberculosis (TB) is the world’s deadliest infectious disease globally​, but thankfully TB is rare in Australia​ due to strong public health measures. This contrast is a powerful reminder that immunisation doesn’t stop at childhood. Even in countries like Australia where TB and other diseases are well controlled, adults need to stay vigilant with vaccines to keep it that way.

Beyond childhood shots, why do adults need vaccines? Many of us got a series of vaccines as kids, but immunity can fade over time and new health threats can emerge. The Australian National Immunisation Program (NIP) schedule includes recommended vaccines throughout life, from birth through to adulthood​. In fact, health authorities note that booster doses of some vaccines are needed in adulthood to maintain high protection​. That means grown-ups shouldn’t assume they’re covered for life just because they got their childhood jabs. As we age, we may require new vaccines (like the COVID-19 vaccine) or boosters to fortify our defenses.

Staying up-to-date with adult immunisations is easier than ever. In Australia, you can even manage your healthcare needs through telehealth – consult a doctor from home and get online prescriptions for medications or vaccines if needed. No matter how busy life gets, there’s no need to put off these important preventive steps. Let’s look at some key vaccines recommended for Australian adults (beyond the usual childhood schedule) and why they matter.

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World TB Day and the Importance of Adult Immunisation

Before diving into specific vaccines, it’s worth reflecting on why adult immunisation matters – and World TB Day is a perfect reminder. World TB Day, observed every March 24th, amplifies the urgency of ending tuberculosis, a disease that continues to devastate millions globally​. Here in Australia, we’re fortunate that TB is uncommon (only a few hundred cases per year nationwide) and deaths from TB are very rare​. This success is thanks to decades of vigilance in public health, including vaccination policies and quick responses to outbreaks. We don’t routinely vaccinate everyone for TB in Australia (the BCG vaccine is given only to those at particular risk, since our TB rates are low), but the broader lesson is clear: vaccines work to keep dangerous diseases at bay.

World TB Day’s message – “Yes! We Can End TB” – resonates beyond tuberculosis. It highlights that prevention is key. Diseases we barely see today could resurge if we become complacent. That’s why Australian health authorities encourage adults to maintain their immunity through recommended vaccines. The NIP provides a roadmap for this, and many adult vaccines are free or subsidised for eligible people. Even if a disease isn’t circulating widely here (like TB), global travel and changing conditions mean outbreaks can happen. Keeping our immunisations up-to-date is like maintaining a safety shield around our community.

In short, adult immunisation is about staying protected and protecting others. It’s not just kids who need shots – grown-ups have skin in the game too. Whether it’s boosting immunity that has waned over time, guarding against new viruses, or protecting the next generation (like newborn babies who rely on adult caregivers’ immunity), there are plenty of reasons for adults to roll up their sleeves. Now, let’s explore the specific vaccines that Aussie adults should have on their radar.

Annual Flu Shot

The flu isn’t just a cold – influenza can knock even healthy adults out of action for days and lead to serious complications. That’s why getting an influenza vaccine every year is recommended for everyone aged 6 months and over​. The flu virus strains change year to year, so the flu shot is updated annually. By getting your flu jab each year, you refresh your immunity against the latest strains.

Why get a flu vaccine every year?

• Keep yourself healthy: The flu shot helps you avoid fever, cough, body aches and other miserable symptoms. It significantly reduces your risk of severe illness or hospitalization, especially important for older adults and those with chronic conditions.
• Protect the vulnerable: When you’re vaccinated, you’re less likely to spread flu to family or coworkers. This shields vulnerable groups like young kids, the elderly, or people with weakened immune systems who could suffer life-threatening complications from influenza.
• Work and life continuity: No one wants to use up sick days or miss important events because of the flu. An annual shot can save you from that unwanted downtime.

In Australia, the influenza vaccine is free for certain higher-risk groups under the NIP (such as adults over 65, pregnant women, Indigenous Australians, and those with chronic medical conditions)​. But anyone can get a flu shot at their GP or pharmacy, usually from around April each year ahead of the winter flu season. If you’re not eligible for a free vaccine, your doctor can provide a script – you could even obtain the prescription online after a quick telehealth consult, then pop into a clinic or chemist to get the shot. The bottom line: a yearly flu vaccine is a simple step that offers big protection for you and your community.

COVID-19 Boosters

COVID-19 isn’t “just a 2020 problem” – it’s still with us, and keeping up with COVID-19 booster shots is key to maintaining your immunity. Australia’s vaccine experts (ATAGI) recommend periodic boosters for adults to top up protection, since immunity from earlier doses or infection can wane over time. The exact advice can evolve, but as an example, in 2024 Australian guidelines suggested that while everyone over 18 can consider an annual COVID booster, it’s especially urged for people over 65 or those with weakened immune systems​. Older adults and vulnerable individuals have the option of a booster every 6 months​, whereas a healthy adult might get one booster a year for extra peace of mind.

Staying current with COVID-19 vaccines helps reduce your risk of severe illness, hospitalization or long COVID. It also contributes to community protection, making it harder for the virus to spread. If it’s been a while since your last dose, talk to your GP about whether you’re due for a booster. COVID-19 vaccine prescriptions (if required) can be arranged easily – even via prescriptions online through telehealth – and many pharmacies and clinics offer the shots without much hassle. Remember, the COVID vaccines are free for everyone in Australia, so cost isn’t a barrier. It’s all about keeping your immunity up to date so you’re ready for whatever COVID-19 might throw our way next.

Whooping Cough Booster

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory disease known for causing severe coughing fits. You might recall getting vaccinated for whooping cough as a child (often as part of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis shot), but immunity can wear off by adulthood​. For most adults, pertussis might just mean a nasty cough, but for newborn babies it can be life-threatening. That’s why health authorities urge adults in close contact with infants to get a whooping cough booster.

If you’re expecting a baby or have a new grandchild, a booster is a must. Pregnant women should receive the pertussis vaccine in the third trimester of each pregnancy (typically at 20–32 weeks) so they can pass protection to their baby before birth​. Partners, grandparents, and any regular caregivers of the newborn should also ensure they’ve had a pertussis booster in the last 10 years. This “cocooning” strategy forms a safety circle of immunity around the baby until they’re old enough to get their own vaccines.

Key points about the whooping cough booster for adults:

• New and expecting parents: Pregnant mums get a free pertussis vaccine in late pregnancy​. Dads/partners should also get a booster well before the baby arrives (at least two weeks prior to contact with the infant)​.
• Grandparents & carers: If it’s been over 10 years since your last whooping cough shot, get a booster before cuddling a newborn. It’s often available by prescription from your GP or even through trained pharmacists.
• General adult boosters: Some Australian states recommend a pertussis booster at around age 50, and all adults over 65 are advised to have one if a decade has passed since the last dose. Check with your doctor if you’re due.

The whooping cough vaccine for adults usually comes combined with tetanus and diphtheria (called the dTpa vaccine). So by protecting yourself against pertussis, you’re often updating your tetanus protection too – a nice bonus. You can get this booster from your GP (if you need a script, you could get an online prescription and have it filled at a pharmacy that offers vaccinations). It’s a small poke that could save a baby’s life – truly beyond worth it.

Shingles Vaccine After 50

Have you ever had chickenpox? If so – and that’s most of us – the virus that causes it (varicella-zoster) is likely lying dormant in your nerves. Years or decades later, that virus can reactivate as shingles (herpes zoster), an extremely painful rash that can also cause long-term nerve pain. About 1 in 3 people will get shingles in their lifetime​, and the risk rises with age. The good news: we have vaccines to prevent shingles, and they’re recommended for adults over 50.

A shingles vaccine (such as the newer Shingrix® vaccine) greatly lowers your chances of developing shingles and its complications. Australia’s immunisation experts recommend that all adults aged 50 and above receive a shingles vaccination, unless there’s a medical reason they can’t​. If you’re in your 50s or early 60s, you might need to ask your GP about it, as the National Immunisation Program currently funds the shingles vaccine at certain older ages (for example, it’s free for everyone at 65, and also free for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people from 50 years old​). But even if you’re not yet eligible for a free dose, your doctor can prescribe it for you privately – you may need a prescription to get it from the pharmacy​.

Why consider the shingles shot?

• Prevent a painful illness: Shingles causes a blistering rash and often excruciating nerve pain that can last for months. Many sufferers describe it as one of the worst pains they’ve felt.
• Avoid complications: In some cases, shingles can affect the eyes or cause long-term neuralgia. The vaccine drastically reduces these risks.
• Most adults are at risk: Over 95% of Australians over 30 have had chickenpox in the past​, so if you’re over 50, your chance of shingles is real. Vaccination is a safe way to boost your immune defenses and keep the virus in check.

Talk to your GP as you approach 50 about the shingles vaccine. If you’re eligible for a free vaccine, great – book in and get it done. If not, it’s still worth the investment to purchase it for peace of mind. Some telehealth services can help by arranging an online prescription for the shingles vaccine, which you can then take to a vaccination provider. No one wants to spend their golden years dealing with avoidable pain, so roll up your sleeve and protect yourself.

Pneumococcal Vaccine for Seniors and At-Risk Adults

Pneumococcal disease might not be a household name, but you’ve likely heard of its most serious form: pneumonia. The pneumococcus bacterium can cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and meningitis, particularly in older people or those with certain medical conditions. To guard against this, a pneumococcal vaccine is recommended as you get older. Under Australia’s schedule, a single dose of pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for all non-Indigenous adults at age 70, and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults from age 50​. If you miss it at that age, you should get a catch-up dose as soon as possible​.

Additionally, people of any age with risk factors (for example, chronic heart, lung or kidney disease, diabetes, smoking-related diseases, or immune system problems) may need the pneumococcal vaccine earlier and possibly additional doses​. Your doctor will assess your needs based on your health conditions.

For healthy seniors, the pneumococcal shot at 70 helps your immune system recognize and fight off the bacteria. This significantly lowers your chance of a severe pneumonia or invasive infection in your older years. The vaccine is free at age 70 (or earlier for Indigenous Australians at 50) under the NIP, so it’s a no-brainer to get it. If you’re in a risk category requiring the vaccine at a younger age, it may also be free or subsidised – check with your GP.

While the pneumococcal vaccine is often administered at GP clinics, you might still need a script to obtain it if getting vaccinated at a pharmacy. Telehealth makes that simple; a quick online consultation can secure you an online prescription, without the need to visit a clinic just for the paperwork. Once you have the vaccine (it’s usually a one-time dose for seniors), you’re set for many years of protection. Considering the seriousness of pneumococcal infections, this is an important one-time immunisation to mark on your calendar as you or your loved ones turn 70.

Staying Up-to-Date with Your Vaccines

Life gets busy, and it’s easy to let immunisations slip off the radar after childhood. But as we’ve seen, adult vaccines are a crucial part of staying healthy. The diseases they prevent – influenza, COVID-19, whooping cough, shingles, pneumonia – can have severe consequences for adults. The good news is that keeping track of your vaccines is simpler than ever in the digital age. The Australian Immunisation Register records vaccinations for adults, and your GP can review your history to see what you might be due for. There are even reminder apps and calendars to help you plan your shots.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to healthcare providers for guidance. Your general practitioner can advise which vaccines you need based on your age, health, and lifestyle. If getting to a clinic is a challenge, Australian telehealth services like NextClinic (nextclinic.com.au) are there to support you. Through a phone or video consultation, you can discuss your immunisation needs, get medical advice, and even receive online prescriptions or specialist referrals if necessary. For instance, if you need a script for a shingles vaccine or a whooping cough booster, a telehealth GP can issue it electronically. This way, you can pick up your vaccine and get protected without delay.

Remember that prevention is better (and usually easier) than treatment. Vaccines strengthen your immune system before you encounter these illnesses, so you either don’t get sick at all or have a much milder illness. By staying up-to-date with adult vaccinations, you’re looking after your future self – and looking out for those around you. It’s a proactive investment in long-term health.

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Disclaimer

This medical blog provides general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your regular doctor for specific medical concerns. The content is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication and may change. While we strive for accuracy, we make no warranties regarding completeness or reliability. Use the information at your own risk. Links to other websites are provided for convenience and do not imply endorsement. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily representative of any institutions.