If you could stop an infectious disease in its tracks, would you? That’s essentially what a vaccine does. In many cases, a vaccine will significantly reduce the risk of contracting a specific illness, preventing an infection entirely. Even if you are exposed and become infected, a vaccine can help ensure the disease doesn’t seriously harm or kill you.
So many infectious diseases today are preventable. Why not protect yourself and your loved ones with age-appropriate vaccinations? At FamilyCare of Kent, we follow the immunization guidelines set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
How Vaccines Work
Vaccines instruct your body on what to look for when it comes to certain infections and diseases. This way, should you encounter that bacteria, virus, or another pathogen, later on, your body will recognize it for what it is – potentially harmful to you – and mount an appropriate, effective immune system response.
There have been numerous advances in the field of immunization. For example, some of the most recent vaccines contain the blueprint of a particular antigen (the toxin or substance that triggers an immune response in the body), rather than a weakened or inactivated form of the antigen itself. This is the case with COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.
Are Vaccines Safe?
Vaccines are undoubtedly safe and effective. They have been widely used in the U.S. for more than 150 years, beginning with the smallpox vaccine. In fact, smallpox is the perfect illustration of the success of vaccines. Early on, an estimated 3 out of 10 people who became infected with smallpox died from the disease. In 1855, school-aged children in Massachusetts were the first to be regularly vaccinated against smallpox. Thanks to these efforts, routine smallpox vaccination was discontinued in the U.S. in 1972 because the disease had been eradicated.
Recommended Vaccines for Adults & Children
There are many vaccinations that offer protection against specific types of illnesses. Some vaccines are of the one-and-done variety (or may require a series of shots) before you are protected for life. This includes diseases that essentially remain the same year over year, such as polio.
Other vaccines offer shorter-lived benefits and require periodic boosters to maintain your protection against disease. The duration of protection offered will vary by vaccine and may also depend on the individual’s risk of contracting a particular disease.
Adult immune systems tend to weaken with age, so adults may need different formulations of vaccines than children do. On the other hand, children don’t develop properly working immune systems until they are about 2 years old, so vaccinating young children is critical to protecting them against numerous life-threatening diseases.
Here are some common vaccines and why they’re important:
- Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTaP)/ Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) – These vaccines are recommended for children and adults and require periodic boosters. Today, diphtheria (a bacterial infection that can make it difficult to breathe) and tetanus (lockjaw) are all but eliminated during childhood, thanks to vaccinations. Pertussis (whooping cough) is also on the decline.
- Flu shot – This seasonal vaccine is reformulated annually to protect against the most common strains of influenza expected to be in circulation each year.
- Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib) – Hib is a bacterial illness that is especially deadly for infants and children under 5 years old. It can cause meningitis and lead to a fatal brain infection.
- Hepatitis – Hep A and Hep B are viral infections that affect the liver. Both diseases can be caught from close personal contact with an infected person. Hep A is most commonly transmitted via the fecal-oral route (such as when a food preparer fails to properly wash their hands after a bowel movement and then touches food someone else consumes). Hep B may be transmitted from mother to child during childbirth or between sexual partners during unprotected sex. There is no vaccine currently for Hepatitis C.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) – An important anti-cancer vaccine, HPV immunization can protect against the most common cause of cervical cancer in women by preventing its No. 1 cause: an HPV infection. According to the CDC, practically everyone will get an HPV infection at some point in their lives. It is spread through close physical contact, including sex, and there are usually no noticeable signs of infection.
- Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) – These three serious viral diseases are highly contagious. Most people receive their MMR immunization during childhood and enjoy lifelong protection from measles, mumps, and rubella.
- Meningococcal vaccine (MCV4) – Usually given as a series of two shots, MCV4 is first given at about age 11 or 12, and the other shot in the mid-teen years. It protects against four types of meningitis that are most common in the U.S.
- Pneumococcal disease – The most common pneumococcal vaccine now protects against 20 different bacteria that can cause illnesses such as pneumonia, meningitis, and more. Children and adults over 65 have an increased risk of catching the serious pneumococcal disease.
- Polio – Polio is a contagious viral infection that affects the spinal cord and can lead to paralysis. There is no cure for polio, but thanks to vaccination efforts, it has mostly been eliminated in the U.S. The CDC recommends children continue to receive the polio vaccine.
- Rotavirus(RV)– This infection is typically spread through contaminated food or water. In infants and young children, it can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration.
- Shingles (herpes zoster)– A viral infection that causes a painful rash, shingles may develop in anyone who previously contracted chickenpox. This vaccine is recommended for adults over the age of 50.
- Varicella– Chickenpox creates itchy, blister-like rashes all over the skin. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and is extremely contagious. Chickenpox can be deadly for anyone with a weakened immune system. The varicella vaccine is recommended for children and adults who have never had chickenpox. As an added bonus, the varicella vaccine also protects against shingles later in life.
What Does the Future Hold for the COVID Vaccine?
COVID-19, which effectively put the world on pause in early 2020, is still out there, and the virus continues to mutate and infect (and reinfect) millions of adults and children each year. It also continues to be dangerous, especially for those with weakened immune systems. Since 2020 (and through early 2022), COVID has remained the third leading cause of death in the U.S., after heart disease and cancer.
Many healthcare professionals expect that the current form of the COVID vaccine may transition into a type of annual reformulated vaccine, similar to the seasonal flu shot.
Get the Immunizations You Need at FamilyCare of Kent in WA
You have the power to protect yourself and your loved ones from numerous infectious diseases by getting the recommended vaccinations. Not sure who in your family needs which vaccines? Don’t worry – we do. At FamilyCare of Kent, we follow the CDC guidelines on vaccinations and can help ensure you and everyone you care about are as protected as they can be against serious illness and disease.
Call FamilyCare of Kent at (253) 859-2273 (CARE) to find out more. You can also request an appointment online now. We look forward to seeing you at the office in Kent, Washington.