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Immunizations

Immunizations Q & A

What are immunizations?

Immunization refers to the process following vaccination in which patients are made resistant to an infectious disease by introducing a vaccine into the body. The vaccine stimulates your own immune system because it contains a safe and effective dosage of the weakened or killed bacteria or virus. This causes your immune system to produce antibodies to the specific disease and protect you from future infection by making you immune.

Three main reasons why infants, children, and adults should receive a vaccine include:

  • It protects against serious illness
  • It protects against preventable diseases
  • It reduces the chance of spreading disease

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most childhood vaccinations are 90-100% effective. Come into The Family Practice to see if you are up-to-date with your vaccinations.

What are the important immunizations I should know about?

There are many diseases that can be potentially prevented through immunization, so it’s important to understand which vaccines you need most.

Below are some important vaccines you should receive if you didn’t already as a child:

  • Hepatitis vaccinations
  • Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV)
  • Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR)
  • Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)
  • Diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine (DTaP)
  • Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (Hib)

Although the vaccines above are essential, there are other immunizations you should consider for your kids as well as yourself to stay healthy and not spread disease. Your need for immunizations continues all the way through adulthood to protect against serious diseases.

There are even specific vaccines you should receive yearly such as the influenza (flu) shot.

What should I expect after being vaccinated?

While side effects are rare, they may include fatigue and headaches, or pain, swelling, and redness at the injection site. These symptoms should subside within a few days following your injection. Nonetheless, the clinicians recommend you drinks lots of fluids and place a cool and wet washcloth on your injection site if you’re sore.

Staying up-to-date with the latest vaccines can save your life, so call The Family Practice today or schedule your appointment online.