A simple injection has helped protect people around the world from serious illnesses such as measles, whooping cough, polio, tetanus and influenza.
Because many vaccine-preventable diseases are now seen less often in everyday life, it can be easy to assume they are no longer much of a concern. In reality, immunisation remains an important part of routine healthcare for children and adults alike.
In Australia, many people have grown up with far less day-to-day exposure to illnesses that once caused significant sickness, hospitalisation and loss of life. That shift did not happen by accident. Vaccination has played an important role in changing what families now see as normal.
World Immunisation Week, held from 24 to 30 April, is a timely reminder that vaccines play an important role in protecting individuals, families and the wider community. At Sunstate Family Practice, immunisations are part of everyday care, from childhood vaccines and adult boosters to flu shots and travel vaccinations.
Why immunisation still matters
accines have changed everyday life in Australia. Diseases that once caused serious illness, disability or death are now far less common than they once were. That is one of the reasons immunisation can be easy to take for granted.
When a disease becomes less visible, it can seem as though the risk has disappeared altogether. Often, though, lower visibility is part of what vaccination has helped achieve. Protection still matters because infections can still spread through travel, seasonal illness, local exposure, and changing immunity over time.
Immunisation is not restricted to childhood. It remains relevant throughout adulthood and into older age, even though the vaccines or boosters that matter may change. That’s why it can be helpful to review your vaccination history from time to time rather than assume it is up-to-date.
How vaccines help protect the body
People often use the words vaccine, vaccination and immunisation interchangeably. Put simply, a vaccine is the product given, vaccination is the act of receiving it, and immunisation is the protection the body builds in response.
Vaccines work by helping the immune system recognise and respond to particular infections. They do not work by giving someone the disease itself. Instead, they help the body build a defence so that if exposure happens later, the immune system is better prepared to respond.
This can help prevent illness altogether or reduce how severe it becomes.
Why the flu vaccine comes up every year
Influenza is sometimes treated as though it is just a bad cold, but it can lead to significant illness. For older adults, young children, pregnant women and people with certain underlying health conditions, the effects can be more serious and may lead to complications, hospitalisation or a longer recovery. Even for otherwise healthy adults, the flu can cause days or weeks of disruption to work, family life and daily routine.
One reason the flu vaccine is discussed each year is that the virus changes. The vaccine is updated to better match the strains expected to circulate during flu season. That means last year’s flu vaccine is not the same as this year’s.
Why vaccine advice can change over time
Immunisation is not a one-off topic. What matters in early childhood may not be the same later in life.
For children, routine immunisations form part of the National Immunisation Program schedule. Later in life, vaccination can involve boosters, seasonal vaccines, or a review of what may be relevant based on health, work, travel or family circumstances. That can include situations such as planning overseas travel, spending time around a new baby, working in higher-exposure environments, or simply reaching a stage of life where certain
Common questions about vaccines
Do vaccines still matter if some diseases now seem rare?
Yes. In many cases, diseases become rare because vaccination rates have remained high. When that protection falls, some infections can return.
Can vaccines overwhelm the immune system?
For most people, vaccines are a small and controlled challenge for the body. Every day, the immune system deals with many germs and new substances through normal life.
Do adults still need vaccinations?
Yes. Some vaccines need boosters over time, some are recommended seasonally, and others become especially important at particular stages of life or in certain circumstances.
When a vaccination review may help
Many people are not completely sure which vaccines they have had, whether a booster may be due, or whether anything has changed since they last thought about vaccination. A vaccination review can help clarify immunisation history, identify any gaps worth discussing, and consider what may be relevant now.
World Immunisation Week is a useful reminder to revisit something that is easy to put aside when life is busy. At Sunstate Family Practice, patients in Victoria Point and surrounding areas can book an appointment to discuss their vaccination status with a GP.
