Immunizations

No one looks forward to getting shots but enduring a slight amount of pain is much healthier than contracting an entirely preventable disease.  Vaccines (immunization shots) are extremely important for children, as well as adults.  The diseases that are prevented with these vaccinations can cause many irreversible conditions, such as paralysis or even death.  

The vaccinations regimen starts as early as 2 weeks of age and progress up to and through adulthood.  The vaccines protected against diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, polio, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough), and hepatitis-B.  

Vaccines are made of weakened or killed germs and given to a healthy person to trigger the immune system.   The vaccines work with your body by forming antibodies against germs that cause disease and creating an immunity to fight against the development of these diseases if or when exposed.  

Before the discovery of vaccines, the only way that people became immune to a disease was to actually contract the disease and survive it.  The odds of surviving without any adverse side effects are not great.  Getting vaccinations is a much easier way to develop immunity.  Vaccines have almost entirely eradicated polio and smallpox.  

To find out if you and your family are up to date with all of their immunizations, call the Family Medical Center to make appointments.