Vaccination teaches the body's immune system how to fight germs. It’s an essential tool, particularly in the preschool years before children turn 6. But vaccines aren’t just for little kids. Children 7 to 18 years old and adults 19 or older should keep up with vaccines, too.
Unfortunately, misconceptions about vaccines have existed for many years, leading to unfounded doubts about their safety and effectiveness. During the first year of the pandemic, we also saw a spike in missed appointments and a decrease in childhood vaccination rates. If you or your child aren’t up to date, it’s time to catch up on the necessary vaccines.
These six common questions and answers can assist you in making the most informed decision for you and your family.
Unlike medications that treat a condition, vaccines help prevent us from getting sick. In simple terms, vaccines work with your body’s natural defenses to help protect you against germs that can cause serious illnesses from childhood to adulthood.
When you get a vaccine, your immune system responds. It recognizes the virus or bacteria and produces antibodies to fight the disease. Better yet, it remembers the disease and how to fight it. That means your immune system will remember the virus or bacteria in the future and act to destroy it. This makes vaccines an excellent way to build protection without making you sick.
Vaccines undergo careful testing and clinical trials before being recommended for patients. They're also studied and reassessed regularly. Scientists are always keeping a close eye on potential risks associated with vaccines. Remember, you have a significantly greater chance of becoming ill from a vaccine-preventable disease than the vaccine itself. Vaccination is safe, and side effects from a vaccine are usually minor and temporary. The most common mild side effects are pain or swelling at the injection site, which typically goes away on their own.
Vaccines protect against several infections, some of which are contagious and spread easily. These diseases include cervical cancer, tetanus, hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough, influenza, polio, and COVID-19.
You may not need all available vaccines. Which vaccines you need may depend on whether you're traveling out of the country or working in certain high-risk industries like health care. Ask your doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner to create a vaccine schedule for you and your family.
Vaccination can help prevent more than 20 serious diseases. The vaccines recommended for your age are the most important vaccines. For instance, all adults should get the COVID-19 vaccines and the yearly flu shot, but older adults should also vaccinate against shingles and pneumonia.
If you delay vaccination, you could become severely ill from a preventable disease. But it's never too late to get vaccinated. Talk to your doctor if you or your child have missed vaccinations so your doctor can create a vaccine schedule to help you catch up.
There is no proof that vaccines cause autism. In fact, many studies have looked at their potential for such and determined that there’s no evidence linking the two. It’s essential for adults to share only credible information from reliable scientific sources to prevent the spread of misinformation.
Like any medicine or therapy, vaccines can cause side effects, but they’re usually mild. The most common side effect is pain or redness at the injection site. Some people may also experience a low-grade fever or feel sluggish, but those symptoms usually go away on their own within a few days.
Vaccines are also known as immunizations because they help prepare your body to fight off certain infections. Unlike medicines, vaccines help fight off infections before you get sick. Being up to date with your vaccines can protect you against vaccine-preventable diseases.
If you have questions about what vaccines to get and when, ask your CHI Saint Joseph Health provider at your next checkup.
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Spirit of Health magazine's print edition is distributed quarterly and focuses on topics related to our CHI Saint Joseph Health purpose and values.
