Importance of Immunization

Your body provides natural defenses against many different types of diseases. However, there are viruses and bacteria that the body cannot combat effectively. That’s why vaccines are created and administered to help stop the spread of life-threatening infectious diseases in children and adults.

Following the recommended immunization schedule starting from the time of birth protects children from diseases like polio, diphtheria, and measles. Immunizations also help ensure adults are protected from severe illnesses. We all have a responsibility to stay up to date with immunizations to help prevent any outbreak of diseases. Even though you receive some immunity after getting sick, it is best to prevent it by getting the vaccine rather than curing the disease itself.

What Are The Benefits Of Getting Vaccinated?

• Vaccines are used to strengthen your immune system against different kinds of life-threatening diseases by helping create antibodies.
• Immunization prevents outbreaks of infectious diseases in everyone from newborns to adults.
• It protects yourself, your family, your community, and future generations.
• It gives you an extra layer of protection from severe symptoms of certain diseases and keeps you from getting infected easily.

Types of Vaccines

• Live Virus (Attenuated) Vaccines

Use a weakened version of any germ or virus. Examples include measles, mumps, rubella, rotavirus, smallpox, chickenpox, and yellow fever vaccines.

• Killed (Inactivated) Vaccines

Use an inactivated strain of a virus or bacteria. Examples include hepatitis A, flu shot,

polio and rabies vaccines.

• Toxoid Vaccines

Use a toxin or harmful product from a virus or bacteria. Examples include diphtheria and tetanus vaccines.

• Biosynthetic Vaccines

Use man made substances that imitate the effects of the virus or germ. An example includes hepatitis B vaccine.

Immunization is essential to give everyone a healthy and safe environment to live in. It helps lower the number of hospitalizations and deaths due to different kinds of preventable diseases. Being updated with yearly shots like flu and pneumococcal vaccines already makes a big difference.

This National Immunization Awareness Month, know the list of vaccines you and your family should get.