August is National Immunization Month- Why Should You Get Immunized?
The month of August brings reminders and memories of back to school, meeting your fist college roommate or trying out for sports teams. It’s also a great month to check in with your physician to make sure your vaccines are up to date. The CDC has labeled August as National Immunization Awareness Month to raise the importance of vaccination not just in childhood, but through our entire lives.
Vaccination is one of the great victories in medicine in prevention of disease. In 1000 AD, the Chinese and Turks began the practice of inoculation with small pox to prevent disease. Edward Jenner didn’t bring vaccination to small pox into practice until 1796. Since, we’ve expanded our ability to protect infants, teens and adults against many preventable diseases that before were serious and often led to death.
Despite knowing this we aren't doing a great job vaccinating adults.
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Vaccination can cause autism
o
No. Vaccination does not cause autism.
o
Numerous studies have found no
link between vaccination and autism. In
2004, a groundbreaking study from the Institute of medicine found that
thimerosal (a preservative in vaccines) does not cause autism.
The month of August brings reminders and memories of back to school, meeting your fist college roommate or trying out for sports teams. It’s also a great month to check in with your physician to make sure your vaccines are up to date. The CDC has labeled August as National Immunization Awareness Month to raise the importance of vaccination not just in childhood, but through our entire lives.
Vaccination is one of the great victories in medicine in prevention of disease. In 1000 AD, the Chinese and Turks began the practice of inoculation with small pox to prevent disease. Edward Jenner didn’t bring vaccination to small pox into practice until 1796. Since, we’ve expanded our ability to protect infants, teens and adults against many preventable diseases that before were serious and often led to death.
Despite these advances, every year, thousands of children and adults in the US needlessly are sick and suffer and are hospitalized from diseases that could be prevented by vaccination.
What are A Few Reasons Why Vaccines Are So
Important?
·
They help protect
children, teens and adults against many serious and sometimes deadly diseases.
·
Vaccination to protect
against 15 diseases is available in the United States.
·
Through this program
many diseases such as measles, mumps rubella, influenza, and small pox that
used to wreak havoc on communities have now been brought under control.
·
They help prevent
disease such as measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, human papilloma virus, influenza,
shingles, pneumonia caused by pneumococcal bacteria, hepatitis, and whooping
cough
Despite knowing this we aren't doing a great job vaccinating adults.
According to CDC
data, in 2013:
· Only 17% of adults 19 years or older had
received the tetanus and whooping cough vaccine (Tdap)
· Only 24% of adults 60 years or older had
received shingles (herpes zoster) vaccination. – National Health Interview
Survey 2013
· Only 21% of adults 19 to 64 years at high
risk had received pneumococcal vaccination. – National Health Interview Survey
2013
· Only 42% of adults 18 years or older
received a flu vaccine during 2013-2014
vaccination.
– National Health Interview Survey 2013
·
The importance of vaccination
ends in childhood
o
Adults should continue
to receive vaccinations depending on their health age, and occupation
throughout their life
o
Common vaccines for
adults include: influenza, pneumonia (Pneumovax), shingles, hepatis B, and whooping
cough. Speak with your doctor to make
sure yours are up to date.
o
Check out the CDC's Vaccine Scheduele for Adults to see what
vaccines you should have received
·
I’m Egg Allergic
and Can’t Get the Flu Vaccine
o
Speak with your allergist regarding specific advice regarding vaccination for flu and egg
allergy.
·
Vaccination is
dangerous and can lead to disease
o
Vaccines are
thoroughly tested before licensing and carefully monitored even after they are
licensed to ensure that they are very safe
o
Side effects from
vaccines are usually mild and temporary.
o
Some people may have
allergic reactions to certain vaccines, but serious and long-term side effects
are rare.
·
Vaccination will
weaken my immune system
o
Vaccination will not
weaken your immune system. Vaccines act
like germs to stimulate the immune system against the virus or bacteria so it
will mount a response and offer protection against disease. Vaccines strengthen your body’s response
against these illnesses.
