What You Need to Know About Vaccines

In generations past, it was not at all uncommon for parents to have children who did not live to see adulthood.

Even as recently as 1950, one in four of every 10 children died before the age of five.

Most families a century ago would have experienced the indescribable sadness of losing one or more children to killers like diphtheria, mumps, rubella, pertussis (whooping cough), and measles. Other diseases, like polio, caused permanent disability for millions.

But in the past 100 years or so, the global death rate of children has plunged, from 40% to 4%. Most of us have never experienced those illnesses that claimed so many lives in the not-very-distant past. The reason? Vaccines.

Vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way of protecting you against harmful diseases before you come into contact with them. It uses your body’s natural defenses to build resistance to specific infections and makes your immune system stronger.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, which highlights the importance of getting recommended vaccines throughout your life. Keep reading for more reasons we should all be gratefully rolling up our sleeves for immunizations.

Who needs vaccines?

Everyone.

Infants and children need to get vaccinated to prevent diseases like hepatitis, measles, and pertussis. Although most children get recommended vaccines, some U.S. communities have low vaccination coverage that puts them at risk for outbreaks. Strategies to make sure more children get vaccinated — like requiring vaccination for children who are in school — are key to reducing rates of infectious diseases, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Vaccines aren’t just for kids, however. Adolescents, adults, and older adults also need vaccines. Older children and teenagers need an HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine to prevent more than 90% of HPV-attributable cancers.

Older adults need vaccines to help prevent COVID, pneumonia, and almost everyone age 6 months and older needs a yearly flu vaccine. Not sure what you need? The CDC has a handy adult vaccine schedule tool that can help you and your healthcare provider figure out what’s best.

How Do Vaccines Work?

Vaccines train your immune system to create antibodies, just as it does when it’s exposed to a disease. However, because vaccines contain only killed or weakened forms of germs like viruses or bacteria, they do not cause the disease or put you at risk of its complications.

The World Health Organization explains that vaccines trigger our immune system to:

• Recognize the invading germ, such as the virus or bacteria.
• Produce antibodies. Antibodies are proteins produced naturally by the immune system to fight disease.
• Remember the disease and how to fight it. If you are then exposed to the germ in the future, your immune system can quickly destroy it before you become unwell.

Are Vaccines Safe?

We’ve all heard theories about vaccines safety. People may have many opinions, but science is clearly on the side of immunization. The U.S. has the safest vaccine supply in its history, according to the CDC.

Before a vaccine can be approved, scientists and doctors evaluate the results of studies on the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine, and inspect vaccine manufacturing sites. These evaluations follow extensive testing by a vaccine’s manufacturer.

The Food and Drug Administration also requires that vaccines undergo three phases of clinical trials with human subjects before they can be licensed for use. After the vaccine is licensed, the FDA and CDC continue monitoring it for safety.

Because of their safety and effectiveness, every scientific authority recommends routine vaccination, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Practitioners, the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, plus every state health department and all children’s hospitals.

It’s Our Best Shot

Getting vaccines on time is the best way to avoid serious illness. Disease rates will remain low only if we maintain high levels of vaccination.

According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, community immunity—sometimes called “herd” immunity—occurs when a large percentage of a population is immune to a disease, making it unlikely to spread. This is particularly important for infants who are too young to be fully vaccinated, or for people with weak or failing immune systems (like people with HIV/AIDS or cancer) who may not be able to get many of the vaccines that protect us from serious diseases.

By vaccinating infants and children, parents not only help protect their own children but also contribute to community immunity, helping to protect vulnerable individuals who may not be able to get vaccinated. Do everyone a favor and keep yourself and family members current on immunizations.