It’s an understatement to say we’re more aware—and appreciative—than ever of the importance of vaccines. While the Covid-19 vaccine is the one receiving the much deserved attention lately, a number of other immunizations are also critical to protecting people of all ages from an array of diseases, such as measles, mumps, tetanus, influenza, hepatitis A and B, polio, chickenpox, meningitis and many more. Here are some important facts to consider when it comes to immunizations.

 

What is a vaccine?

A vaccine is a substance that enters the body by injection, mouth or a nasal spray, and trains the immune system to fight certain germs and protect it from particular diseases. There are several different types of vaccines, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Some may use live or killed versions of a virus; others, such as mRNA vaccines, teach the body to make a certain protein that will help it fight a virus; still others use particular pieces of a germ or even the toxins produced by the germ to help the body develop immunity to that germ.

Why are vaccines important?

Looking back at 2020 and 2021, a number of facts became clear. For one, humans are vulnerable to disease, and we live in a global society where illness can pass from person-to-person and country-to-country very quickly, changing life as we know it. Covid-19 certainly wasn’t the world’s first pandemic, and it won’t be the last.

Vaccines are a safe and effective way to protect yourself from known diseases. In doing so, you’re saving yourself the stress and strain of missing out on work, school or family obligations, not to mention saving yourself from potentially hefty medical bills and avoiding illnesses that could forever change the way you live your life. Plus, vaccines can help keep you from spreading diseases to others who might be more vulnerable.

Busting the myths

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that vaccines save 3.5 to 5 million lives globally every year by protecting people from potentially deadly diseases. And yet, the anti-vaccine movement is real, and it’s growing. When researching health information, including information on vaccines, it’s important to seek out credible sources. Your own trusted health care professional should be your go-to. But if you’re doing your own online research, according to the National Institute on Aging, the sites of federal agencies, medical schools and large professional organizations or nonprofits are usually safe bets. When you see posts on social media, don’t assume they’re accurate, adds NIA. Check the source and run the content through a fact-checking website for clarity, to help determine whether it’s factual.

Keep in mind the following myths when it comes to vaccines.

  1. Vaccines can cause autism. According to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, this is simply untrue. The claim stems from a study that’s long since been discredited, which linked autism to the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. Hundreds of studies show that there is no connection between vaccines and autism.
  2. The Covid-19 vaccine can give you Covid-19. Many respected organizations dispute this myth, including the Mayo Clinic. However, it is true that some people may experience side effects from these kinds of vaccines, including fever, which indicates your body is working to protect you against a potential future infection. While we’re on the topic, allow us to also dispel a couple of other Covid myths: per the CDC, the Covid-19 vaccine does not contain microchips, it will not cause you to be magnetic, and it won’t alter your DNA.
  3. The vaccine schedule for children is too aggressive and should be spaced out. Many parents fear that their child’s immune system will be overwhelmed by the early vaccine schedule. Chicago’s Rush University states that when vaccines are given at a slower pace, it requires more office visits, which could result in higher costs—and it defies the evidence. “The immunization schedule is determined by decades of medical evidence showing there’s an optimal window of time when vaccines are most effective in preventing — and children are most vulnerable to—these diseases,” says the article “8 Myths about Vaccines and Kids.” 

Vaccines: what you need and when

Vaccines are important at every age, from new babies through your senior years. To view the immunization schedules at different stages of life, you can visit the following resources:

And remember, your healthcare provider is an excellent source of immunization information. Be sure to talk to them about the best ways to keep you and your family healthy.