From the moment you’re born, your body is under attack from a plethora of microorganisms on a daily basis. With the help of immunizations and vaccinations, however, you can safeguard your health and combat the risks associated with preventable illnesses. Read on to discover the power of immunizations and vaccinations and how they play a key role in preventing diseases and keeping you healthy.
1. The Benefits of Immunization: Protecting Yourself and Your Community
Immunization is an effective and safe way to protect against a number of diseases that can be disabling or life-threatening. It has been estimated that vaccinations save 2 to 3 million lives every year, and recent technological advancements have made administering vaccines more efficient and cost-effective.
Advantages:
- It helps protect you and your community against contagious diseases, such as measles, whooping cough, influenza, and tetanus.
- It decreases disease transmission by reducing the number of people at risk.
- It reduces the time of exposure to infectious agents by shortening the period of outbreak.
- It helps build immunity and reduce the severity of symptoms in the event of exposure.
Immunizations don’t just help protect the individuals receiving them, but also benefit their immediate communities and society as a whole. Vaccinating children significantly reduces the risk of transmission by bringing down the number of people susceptible to the disease. Vaccinations can help slow or stop the spread of an outbreak, helping to protect the vulnerable from contracting an illness.
Furthermore, people who receive vaccinations generally experience fewer symptoms and recover faster from illnesses they may be exposed to. This means that people immunized are more productive and can get back to work sooner, reducing the economic cost of disease. Vaccines are equally important from an economic perspective, as they prevent the cost of health care associated with treating illnesses.
Immunizations offer a wide range of benefits, including the prevention of serious illnesses and spread of infections. They are essential in helping protect individuals from the harmful effects of diseases and in preventing the spread of disease in the community. Making sure you and your family are vaccinated is an important part of keeping yourself and your community safe.
2. Common Vaccines: What You Need to Know
Vaccines are a crucial part of our health, from protecting the individuals who receive them to reinforcing public health overall. Here is what you need to know when considering common vaccines.
Types of Vaccines
There are two main types of vaccines: live and inactive. Live vaccines are made up of weakened versions of viruses, such as the rotavirus vaccine, which is usually given to infants to protect against severe diarrhea. Inactive vaccines are made up of killed versions of viruses, such as polio and the flu vaccine.
Common Vaccines:
Here are some common vaccines you may need to consider:
- Hepatitis B
- Influenza (Flu)
- Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis (Td/Tdap)
- Varicella (Chickenpox)
- HPV (Human Papillomavirus)
- Meningococcal virus
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) keeps track of all the recommended vaccines. It can help you understand which vaccines are recommended for yourself or your family members by visiting CDC vaccine schedules.
Where to Get Vaccines
We all have different needs when it comes to getting vaccinated. For some, it’s a matter of convenience. For others, it’s about affordability. You may even have access to a work-sponsored plan that covers vaccinations. Consider all your options before scheduling your appointment, from a local pharmacy, a clinic, doctor’s office, or a major health care provider.
Adverse Effects
Vaccines are generally safe, but side effects can happen. Most side effects are mild and go away on their own, such as fever, soreness, or swelling around the area where the shot was given. Severe allergic reactions are very rare, but can happen. That is why it is important to discuss all potential risks with your doctor before receiving a vaccine, to determine if it is right for you.
3. Immunization Side Effects: What to Expect
Immunizations are a safe and effective way to protect yourself and loved ones against a variety of diseases. While side effects are rare, it is important to understand what to expect if you or your child have a reaction to a vaccine.
The most common side effect of immunizations is soreness at the site of the injection. This is usually mild and can be managed with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Other common side effects include:
- Low-grade fever
- Redness or swelling at the site of the injection
- Chills
These reactions are usually mild and temporary, disappearing within a few hours or days.
Reports of rare and severe reactions to immunizations are also widely circulated, and while it is important to be aware of the risks, it is important to consider the context. Adverse reactions are incredibly rare, with less than 5% of people experiences severe reactions post-vaccination. In most cases, these reactions are mild and temporary.
Though they are unlikely, it is important to be aware of more serious side effects that require medical attention. Some of these include:
- Difficulty breathing
- High fever over 104°F
- Changes in behavior, like crying more or severe drowsiness
If you experience any of the adverse reactions mentioned, consider consulting with your physician. They can assess the situation and provide the best treatment.
4. Vaccine Schedules: Staying Ahead of the Curve
As a parent, staying on top of vaccines is essential for our children’s wellness. With new discoveries and technology advancing, it’s important to make sure we keep our children up to date with their vaccine schedules so we can remain ahead of the curve. There are several recommended vaccines, at different stages of a child’s life, and here’s what to look for:
Infants – Birth to 2 years: During this stage, children need several vaccines in order to protect them from major illnesses. Vaccines such as the DTaP vaccine to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, the MMR to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella, the Hib vaccine to protect against Haemophilus Influenza type B, the Varicella vaccine to prevent chickenpox, the HepB vaccine to prevent hepatitis B infection, and the PCV to protect against pneumococcal infections are all recommended during infancy.
Preschoolers & School Age Children – 2 to 6 years:
During this stage, there are still several vaccines that children need as they grow and develop. Vaccines such as the DTaP vaccine, the MMR, the Varicella vaccine, and the PCV are all recommended at this stage to maintain protection against different illnesses. Additionally, the flu vaccine is also recommended for children ages 6 months and above.
Adolescents – 11 to 18 years: Adolescents, due to puberty and physical changes, need additional vaccines that they may not have had as children. Vaccines such as the HPV vaccine to protect against cancer-causing human papillomavirus, the Tdap to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, and the MenACWY to protect against meningococcal disease are all recommended during this stage. Additionally, a yearly flu vaccine is recommended for people between the ages of 6 months and 18 years.
Different Vaccines for Different Stages: As you can tell, there are several recommended vaccines at different stages of a child’s life. To make sure your child is staying on top of their vaccine schedule, it’s important to consult your doctor for the most up to date recommendation. Additionally, you can also keep track of the yearly flu vaccine and the booster doses of some of the other vaccines.
When it comes to our health, nothing is more important than taking proactive steps to prevent illness and disease. Vaccinations and immunization help us to do just that, protecting us from serious consequences. Whatever age you may be, it is always worthwhile to review your immunization schedule and staying up to date! With these steps, we can safeguard our own health, and the health of our families and communities.
