Vaccinations and Immunizations

Vaccinations, also called immunizations, are one of the most effective public health interventions, preventing millions of deaths worldwide each year. Vaccines work by training your immune system to recognize and fight specific diseases without having to get the disease first.

Getting vaccinated protects not only you but also those around you, especially people who cannot be vaccinated due to medical conditions. Staying up to date with recommended vaccinations is an important part of maintaining good health throughout life.

The Process:

1. Vaccine contains: Weakened, killed, or parts of disease-causing organism
2. Immune system responds: Creates antibodies
3. Memory cells created: Remember the disease
4. Future protection: If exposed, body quickly fights it off
5. Prevents illness: Or makes it much milder

Types of Vaccines:

• Live attenuated: Weakened form of virus/bacteria
• Inactivated: Killed virus/bacteria
• Subunit/conjugate: Parts of organism
• mRNA: Newer technology
• Toxoid: Inactivated toxins

Individual Benefits:

• Prevent serious diseases: Many diseases can be prevented
• Reduce severity: If you do get disease, usually milder
• Protect health: Especially important for vulnerable people
• Save money: Prevention costs less than treatment
• Peace of mind: Know you're protected

Community Benefits:

• Herd immunity: Protects those who can't be vaccinated
• Prevent outbreaks: Reduces spread of disease
• Protect vulnerable: Infants, elderly, immunocompromised
• Public health: Reduces burden on healthcare system

Children:

• Birth: Hepatitis B
• 2 months: Multiple vaccines
• 4 months: Boosters
• 6 months: More vaccines
• 12-15 months: MMR, varicella
• 4-6 years: School entry vaccines
• 11-12 years: Tdap, HPV, meningococcal
• Follow recommended schedule

Adults:

• Annual: Flu vaccine
• Every 10 years: Tdap or Td booster
• Age 50+: Shingles vaccine
• Age 65+: Pneumococcal vaccines
• HPV: Up to age 26 (some cases up to 45)
• Other vaccines: Based on risk factors

Older Adults:

• Annual flu: Important
• Pneumococcal: Recommended
• Shingles: Recommended
• Tdap/Td: Every 10 years
• Other: Based on health conditions

Childhood Vaccines:

• DTaP: Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis
• MMR: Measles, mumps, rubella
• Polio: Poliomyelitis
• Hib: Haemophilus influenzae type b
• Hepatitis B: Liver disease
• Varicella: Chickenpox
• PCV13: Pneumococcal
• Rotavirus: Diarrhea
• HPV: Human papillomavirus
• Meningococcal: Meningitis

Adult Vaccines:

• Flu: Annual
• Tdap/Td: Every 10 years
• Shingles: Age 50+
• Pneumococcal: Age 65+
• HPV: Up to age 26-45
• Hepatitis A/B: If at risk
• Meningococcal: If at risk
• Travel vaccines: As needed

Vaccines are Very Safe:

• Extensively tested: Before approval
• Ongoing monitoring: After approval
• Rigorous standards: Must meet safety requirements
• Benefits far outweigh risks: For recommended vaccines

Common Side Effects (usually mild):

• Soreness: At injection site
• Redness or swelling: At injection site
• Low-grade fever: Usually temporary
• Fatigue: Usually temporary
• Mild symptoms: Usually resolve quickly

Serious Side Effects (rare):

• Allergic reactions: Very rare
• Other serious reactions: Extremely rare
• Report any concerns: To healthcare provider

• Questions about vaccines
• Concerns about side effects
• Need to catch up on vaccines
• Questions about schedule
• Special circumstances
• Travel vaccines needed

• Following recommended schedule
• Getting vaccines as recommended
• No concerning reactions
• Regular check-ups

Pregnancy:

• Some vaccines safe and recommended
• Some vaccines should be avoided
• Flu and Tdap recommended during pregnancy
• Discuss with healthcare provider

Medical Conditions:

• Some conditions affect vaccine recommendations
• Immunocompromised: May need special consideration
• Chronic conditions: May need additional vaccines
• Discuss with healthcare provider

Allergies:

• Most people with allergies can be vaccinated
• Severe allergies: May need special precautions
• Discuss with healthcare provider

Stay Up to Date:

• Follow recommended schedule
• Keep vaccination records
• Get annual flu vaccine
• Get boosters as recommended
• Don't skip vaccines

For Children:

• Follow pediatrician's recommendations
• Keep vaccination records
• Don't delay vaccines
• School requirements

Yes. Vaccines are extensively tested and monitored. They are among the safest medical interventions available. Serious side effects are extremely rare.

For most vaccines, no. Live vaccines use weakened forms that cannot cause disease in healthy people. Inactivated vaccines cannot cause disease. Some people may have mild symptoms as the immune system responds, but this is not the disease.

Yes. Adults need vaccines too, including annual flu vaccine, tetanus boosters, and age-specific vaccines like shingles and pneumococcal vaccines.

It depends. Mild illnesses usually don't prevent vaccination, but moderate to severe illnesses may require waiting. Discuss with your healthcare provider.

You can catch up on vaccines. Talk to your healthcare provider about which vaccines you need and when to get them. It's never too late to get protected.