When was the last time you checked to see if your immune system is up to date? This August, National Immunization Awareness Month raises awareness and encourages everyone to make sure they are current on the necessary vaccinations for potentially harmful diseases. Many diseases can be easily prevented by administering vaccines, protecting you from unseen viruses. Take the necessary precautions with a simple call to Community Health Connections and avoid potential harm while leading a healthier, happier life.
Immunizations are safe, effective and vital for protecting our families and communities
In recent years, there has been a ground swell in misinformation and myths about vaccines. Social media and well-intentioned but misinformed individuals have all contributed to the spread of potentially dangerous claims about vaccines’ safety, effectiveness and even their need.
The truth is, immunization is key to preventing disease. Vaccines help both the people who receive them and the unvaccinated people around them, because the vaccine stops disease from spreading. Immunizations also reduce the number of deaths and disability from illnesses like whooping cough and chicken pox.
Although children receive most of the vaccinations, adults also need to stay up-to-date on certain vaccinations, including tetanus and diphtheria. In addition, those adults who have never had chicken pox or measles during childhood and have not been vaccinated against these diseases should consider being vaccinated. Childhood illnesses such as mumps, measles and chicken pox can cause serious health problems in adults.
Vaccines do not cause the diseases they are meant to prevent and there is no research to support a link to autism or other developmental disorders. Most reactions are mild and can include a brief, low-grade fever or soreness where the shot was given. Some individuals, however, should not receive vaccines and serious reactions are rare but possible. But, for most people, the risks of catching the diseases are higher than the risks of having a reaction to the vaccines.
Outbreaks of preventable diseases occur when many parents decide not to vaccinate their children. Vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, mumps, and whooping cough, are still a threat. They continue to infect children in the United States, resulting in hospitalizations and deaths every year. Though vaccination has led to a dramatic decline in the number of U.S. cases of several infectious diseases, some diseases are making a comeback because of the anti-vaccine movement. A number of these diseases are common in other countries and are brought to the U.S. by international travelers. If children are not vaccinated, they could easily get one of these diseases from a traveler or while traveling themselves.
To learn more about the importance and effectiveness of vaccines, give us a call. Better yet, schedule an appointment to go over the immunization history of you and your family to ensure you’re all protected from the dangers of preventable illnesses.