National Immunization Week

CDC Vaccination Schedule

A big topic in the news right now is the development of a new vaccine to help protect us from COVID-19. But what even is a vaccine, and why do we need one? Well, with National Immunization Week beginning on April 24th, there is no better time to learn than now.

First, let's start by learning what a vaccine is. Vaccination is the administration of a vaccine to help the immune system develop protection from a disease. A vaccine contains a microorganism or virus in a weakened, live or killed state, or proteins or toxins from the organism. Basically, they are putting a tiny piece of the virus (that is completely safe) into your system to allow your body to start building its immunity against it so that when you come in contact with it in the real world your body has already developed the necessary antibodies to fight it off before it even affects you.

So why is it so important to get vaccinated? Well, being vaccinated does not just protect you. It protects society and the spread of some really dangerous diseases. If more people are vaccinated than not, it would be rare to even run into someone with that dangerous disease and it wouldn't be spread around as easily as COVID-19 is putting many people at risk. This is why so many doctors and scientists are working around the clock on a vaccine for COVID-19 to help protect us all from anything like this again.

Vaccinations are not just for kids. Every year in the United States, thousands of adults become seriously ill and are hospitalized because of diseases that vaccines can help prevent. These diseases can be deadly for many adults. Make sure you are vaccinated for the best protection!

While we are busy with work and taking care of our homes and children, we need to make sure we make our own health a priority. The need for vaccines does not go away with age. In fact, there are specific ages in your adult life when vaccinations are recommended. Also, protection from vaccines you received as a child can wear off over time, and there are more vaccines available now.

Take this time to reach out to your doctor or check out this vaccination schedule from the Centers for Disease Control to make sure you are all caught up on your vaccinations, and if you are not vaccinated at all talk to your doctor about ways to get started.