Up to Date

How to complete Up to Date

Adult immunity is not set-and-forget: tetanus protection lapses every ten years, and the adult schedule has grown while you were not looking, with Tdap, HPV, hepatitis B, and shingles at the right age. Most adults are missing at least one dose and have no idea.

1. Hunt down your records: childhood vaccination card, patient portal, or your country's immunization registry.
2. Compare what you find against your country's official adult immunization schedule.
3. Bring the gaps to your GP or a pharmacist and ask what you are actually due for given your age and health.
4. Book the missing doses; many pharmacies take walk-ins for the common ones.
5. Photograph or scan the updated record so the next check takes five minutes.

Tips

• No records at all? You can often simply revaccinate safely, or check antibody titers first. Ask which route is cheaper and faster.
• Planning a trip? Fold travel vaccines into the same appointment.
• Some vaccines come in a series, like HPV and hepatitis B. Put the follow-up dates in your calendar before leaving the pharmacy.

What counts as done

Your record has been checked against the adult schedule and every missing dose is either done or booked.