When it comes to your family’s health, vaccines and immunizations are some of the best tools you can have to protect them. Unfortunately, not all people know these life-saving measures’ importance.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the rate of vaccinated people has been on the rise in recent years. However, many people still do not get vaccinated, putting themselves and others at risk for disease.
Benefits of getting vaccinated
While it’s apparent that vaccines are essential to stop the spread of disease, they also come with other benefits. Here are some of the advantages of getting vaccinated:
Helps build immunity
Vaccines are one of the best ways to protect against getting sick. They work by injecting a person with a “dead” or “modified” form of a virus. As that person’s immune system fights off the “dead” virus, the immune system is also preparing to fight the live or actual virus. If you are ever exposed to the disease, your immune system is primed and ready to fight it off because it has done so before.
Vaccines not only protect the person who is vaccinated but also help to build “herd immunity.” Herd immunity is when a large percentage of a population is vaccinated and creates a barrier of protection around those who are not vaccinated (i.e., infants, cancer patients, and people with weakened immune systems). The more people who are vaccinated, the more protected people will be.
Reduces the spread of disease
Diseases come in different severities. Some may only cause a few days of discomfort, while others can be deadly. When people get vaccinated, they protect themselves from getting sick and help reduce the spread of disease to others.
This is especially important for those who cannot vaccinate, such as young children and the elderly. When enough people are vaccinated, it makes it difficult for a disease to spread. This is because there aren’t enough people for the disease to “jump” to and infect. There is no harm in taking your child to your trusted family clinic. Your doctor can explain more about the importance of vaccines and immunizations and how they can reduce your risk of getting sick.
Vaccines are safe and effective
Vaccines are among the safest and most effective medical products available. They protect children and adults from potentially deadly diseases, including polio, measles, and pertussis (whooping cough). Vaccines work by stimulating the body’s immune system to produce antibodies, which then provide protection against the disease.
Vaccine risks are minimal, and the benefits far outweigh any potential risks. Vaccines are rigorously tested for safety and effectiveness before being approved. Ongoing monitoring systems track any adverse effects that may occur after vaccination. In short, vaccines are safe, work, and save lives.
Saves lives
Vaccines are one of the most critical medical inventions in history. By protecting people from deadly diseases, they have saved millions of lives and helped to eradicate many others. Today, vaccines are available for a range of conditions, including polio, measles, and influenza. While some people worry that vaccines may cause harm, the fact is that they are safe and effective.
In fact, the risks posed by vaccines are far outweighed by the risks of disease. Vaccines work by exposing the body to a weakened form of a virus or bacteria. This helps your body build up immunity to the illness so that you are protected if you are ever exposed to the real thing. While no medical procedure is entirely risk-free, vaccines are one of the safest and most effective ways to protect yourself from disease.
Reduces the chance of hospitalization
Being hospitalized is not often a pleasant experience. It can be expensive and disruptive to your daily life. As a result, your career, education, and family life can all be impacted. It’s no surprise, then, that one of the benefits of vaccines is that it reduces the chance of hospitalization.
A study conducted by the CDC found that between 1994 and 2014, there was a 74% decrease in hospitalizations due to rotavirus (a common cause of severe diarrhea in young children) in the United States. This decrease was due to the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine in 2006. The vaccine has been so successful that it is estimated to have prevented more than 400,000 hospitalizations in young children between 2006 and 2014.
Final thoughts
So, as you can see, there are many good reasons to get vaccinated. Vaccines are safe, effective, and they save lives. When enough people are vaccinated, it protects all people from the spread of disease. So, if you haven’t been vaccinated, talk to your doctor about getting up to date on your shots. It’s important for you and for the community.
