Vaccination is often framed as a childhood event — then forgotten. But immunity is not permanent for every disease, risk changes with age, pregnancy, travel, and chronic illness, and outbreaks do not respect your birth year.

The World Health Organization describes immunisation as a life-course strategy — strengthening delivery to ensure access to relevant vaccines across the lifespan. This approach recognises that health protection is not a one-time moment; it is continuous risk management.

Why adults should care

Adult vaccination matters in three ways: protecting individuals with chronic illness, protecting families (especially infants and seniors), and reducing the outbreak burden on health systems.

The misinformation problem: what people get wrong

• Myth: “Natural immunity is always better.”
  Reality: Some “natural” infections can cause lifelong damage or death before immunity ever develops.
• Myth: “Vaccines overload the immune system.”
  Reality: The immune system encounters thousands of antigens daily; vaccines are targeted training.
• Myth: “If I’m healthy, I don’t need vaccines.”
  Reality: Health today doesn’t predict exposure tomorrow, and some infections hit the healthiest people hardest.

High-priority groups

• Pregnant women (maternal immunisation where advised).
• Health workers and caregivers.
• People with diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, chronic lung disease.
• Travellers and high-exposure workers.

What a responsible health desk will say clearly

Vaccine schedules and recommendations differ by country and risk profile. The correct step is not guessing from social media — it is consulting a clinician or official public-health guidance for what applies to you.

Bottom line: Immunisation is not a debate topic. It is a public-health tool that protects the most vulnerable among us — and reduces the chance that a preventable disease becomes a family tragedy.