I used to operate a Chipmunk from a major airport, so vortices were always a threat. ATC would say to me (holding on base, 1 mile out) "cleared to final behind the landing 737. Recommended spacing is 6 nautical miles". If I'd trundled downwind away from the airfield and then turned base to allow that 6 nautical miles spacing, I'd have lost my place in the queue to the next instrument inbound down the ILS.
Vortices are generated at the wingtips, while the wing is at a positive AoA. They move outwards and downwards (and of course move laterally with the surface wind). So, if you join final above the flight path of the 'heavy' (easy 'cause they are on a 3 degree glidepath and I can come in much steeper) and remain above their flightpath, and touch down after their touchdown point, you won't encounter vortex. So that's what we did. It often resulted in a 'land after clearance' on short final!