If you’re like most people, you probably don’t enjoy getting shots. Yet, vaccinations can help prevent potential diseases in yourself and also help protect others.
While immunizations aren’t a new topic, the prevalence of COVID-19 in recent years might have overshadowed the significant importance of other types of immunizations.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), immunizations are one of the most effective and successful ways to protect against some of the world’s deadliest diseases. Between 2–3 million deaths are prevented every year because of immunizations for diseases such as tetanus, measles, influenza, and more.
Keep reading to learn what makes getting vaccinated so important and all the ways you can protect yourself and your loved ones with a variety of different vaccinations this season.
Take the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of how a vaccine can help. By getting vaccinated and boosted, the COVID vaccine has helped limit some illnesses and has reduced the severity of symptoms for those who get sick. Recently, the CDC found that adults who receive three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are 94% less likely to be put on a ventilator or pass away from COVID-19 than those who were not vaccinated.
The same rationale goes for other illnesses and diseases, such as measles, the flu, or tetanus.
You may not realize that there are a number of vaccine types available, each immunizing you against a different disease or multiple.
Let’s take a look at some of the essential vaccines that vybe offers.
Usually referred to as MMR or MMRV, this vaccine is designed to deliver three in one. All three of these diseases are dangerous, but measles and mumps can each be deadly on their own. The WHO estimates that 90,000 people alone passed from measles in 2016. That’s why the MMR vaccine is such an important part of the immunization schedule for kids.
This vaccination is part of a two-dose series with the first being administered around 12-15 months and the second around 4-5 years. The CDC’s 2022 adolescent immunization table has detailed information on when your child should receive this vaccine or how to catch up on this vaccination if your child is over 12 years. Or, please speak with your vybe urgent care provider for a recommendation and plan.
Like MMR, this vaccine is another combination of three vaccines. Typically referred to as Tdap, it protects against these three diseases that are potentially life-threatening. As part of the immunization schedule, Tdap is usually administered to children around the age of 11 or 12. That said, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that pregnant women also receive this vaccine during pregnancy to protect newborns from pertussis, also called whooping cough.
The CDC’s immunization table 2022 for both adults and adolescents lists the COVID-19 vaccine as a top priority. The CDC says that this vaccine, and its boosters, are crucial for ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone 5 years of age or older is now eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Anyone over the age of 12 is eligible to get boosters.
While the COVID-19 vaccine was developed quickly, research and development for vaccines like these have been underway for decades. Vaccines also always undergo three phases of clinical trials to test their safety and effectiveness. In the case of the COVID-19 vaccines, these three phases overlapped to speed up the process.
After 8 weeks of trial testing with no serious safety concerns among tens of thousands of volunteers across a variety of different ages, races, and ethnicities, the vaccine was approved by the FDA.
Since doctors added hepatitis B to the immunization schedule in 1991, the number of cases has dropped significantly. This very serious liver infection can be passed on via blood, semen, and other bodily fluids. The WHO strongly recommends that everyone gets this vaccine, especially anyone who has a high risk of coming into contact with bodily fluids, such as health care workers and those who are sexually active.
Meningococcal disease refers to any illness that’s caused by Neisseria meningitidis bacteria. Or, you may know these bacteria by the name’s meningitis and septicemia. These bacteria can result in a deadly infection of the spinal cord, brain, and bloodstream.
Meningitis:
Septicemia:
Young adults and teens seem to be even more susceptible to it. The CDC immunization schedule recommends that teens get this vaccine at the age of 11.
Varicella, better known as chickenpox, is an itchy, blister-like disease that isn’t life-threatening but is very contagious and spreads over the entire body. Later in life, this disease can also cause shingles, which is an extremely painful rash.
The CDC recommends two doses of the Varicella vaccine for children, teens, and adults who have not been immunized. This vaccination will help immunize against chickenpox and is also likely to work against shingles later on in life. However, even if you were vaccinated as a youth against Varicella, the CDC does recommend vaccination against shingles as well for those 50 years and older.
You’ve probably heard doctors suggest that you get flu shots. They’re referring to the flu vaccine, which can prevent you from getting the flu or make it less dangerous if you do get it. The immunization table 2022 still has the flu vaccine as a top priority. This is because the CDC says that flu activity is on the rise around the nation. This vaccine is one that you have to get every year as the main strain of the flu changes.
Are you unsure about which immunizations to get? Don’t worry. Our vybe urgent care team can evaluate your and your family’s needs and give you the information you need to make the right decisions about a vaccination schedule.
Like with any medication, vaccines can have side effects. Usually, the immunization side effects are mild and can include:
More serious immunization side effects occur if you have an allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing, a rash, and weakness. However, allergic reactions aren’t common. For every million doses, there is typically only one poor reaction.
Part of immunization awareness is to help people understand that vaccine administration locations, such as vybe urgent care, take safety seriously. In fact, one reason people resist getting vaccines is that they’re unaware of how safe the vaccines are.
As mentioned earlier in this article, every vaccine is required by the FDA to undergo three phases of clinical trials before being approved. And even after approving and licensing the vaccine, the FDA continues to oversee production to ensure safety. The FDA and CDC also co-sponsor a national vaccine safety surveillance program to collect and analyze information from reports on adverse side effects once administered.
If you’re afraid of needles, the administration of vaccines is usually painless. Every batch of vaccines is tested for purity and potency, so you can rest assured that you are in good hands when getting vaccinated at vybe.
Spreading immunization awareness has never been more crucial. Thankfully, you can get a number of immunization types at vybe urgent care 7 days a week.
Now is the perfect time to visit vybe and protect you and your family against deadly diseases. Walk into your local vybe urgent care for any of your vaccination needs.
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