A short story (and some tips) about having routine #vaccines as an adult. I was very ill as a baby and knew that, with a strongly vaccine-hesitant parent, I may not have had all my routine jabs. With outbreaks of polio and measles in the UK, I thought I'd check to be sure. (1/7) 
To do this, I just had to submit an online admin query to my GP reception (takes 2 mins). The receptionists text or email you back with your vaccine record. To my slight horror (and embarrassment as a science/health communicator), I discovered that my record said... (2/7)
"Homeopathic vaccines only." Bloody hell. Other than my COVID vaccines, I hadn't been vaccinated for anything. My parents, not wanting to have me vaccinated but presumably feeling guilty about not protecting their child, had taken me to a local homeopath. (3/7)
I asked the receptionist what the next step was - they had no idea. They had to refer to a vaccine nurse in the surgery, who rang back later and added me to a list for missed vaccinations. A couple of weeks later I got an appointment for a catch-up clinic out at Sighthill (4/7)
As an adult, on your first visit they'll give you DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB, MMR, and MenACWY. Second visit, second doses of the same. Third visit, third dose of DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB only. You can find out more about the acronyms below (5/7) gov.uk/government/pub…
Almost-eradicated infectious diseases are making a comeback. I wonder how many pro-vaccine millennials like me, born to vaccine-hesitant parents, might not know their childhood vaccine status. I got my first set of routine vaccines today. (6/7)
Personally, from a public health perspective, I think it would be great to run routine vaccine campaigns for a missing generation of now-adults like me who didn't get vaccinated as children. Make it easy. The surgery clearly wasn't used to being asked about adult vaccines. (7/7)
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