Adult Vaccination
The immunisations offered to adults, by age and by condition.
Last revised
Key takeaways
- Annual flu vaccine: over 65, pregnant women, long-term conditions, carers
- Pneumococcal: usually a single dose at 65, earlier for some conditions
- Most useful single change: Ask your GP practice to review your vaccination record.
- Commonest mistake: Assuming childhood vaccination covers you for life.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.
Why it matters
Adults assume vaccination is a childhood matter, and several of the most important ones are offered later.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Annual flu vaccine | over 65, pregnant women, long-term conditions, carers |
| Pneumococcal | usually a single dose at 65, earlier for some conditions |
| Shingles and RSV | offered to older adults; eligibility changes |
| Catch-up | MMR and HPV available free into adulthood |
| Travel vaccines | need lead time; plan weeks ahead |
What helps
- Ask your GP practice to review your vaccination record
- Arrange MMR catch-up if you are unsure whether you had two doses
- Plan travel vaccinations several weeks in advance
- Use pharmacies, which offer several vaccines without an appointment
What to avoid
- Assuming childhood vaccination covers you for life
- Leaving travel vaccines until the last week
- Skipping the annual flu vaccine because you had one last year
Where to go next
- What Adult Vaccination Is, and Why It Matters
- Adult Vaccination: What to Do, in Order
- Knowing Your Numbers: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
- The Evidence on Stopping Smoking, Without the Hype
When to get help
Call 999 for swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, difficulty breathing or collapse after vaccination. Tell the vaccinator about allergies, immunosuppression, pregnancy or a bleeding disorder beforehand. Seek urgent advice for shingles affecting the eye.
Where this comes from
- UK Health Security Agency — immunisation schedules
- NHS — NHS vaccinations and when to have them
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.