Notice October 25, 2024: The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) phone system has returned to normal operations. Community members can contact SMCHD at 301-475-4330.

Vaccines are your Best Shot at Good Health

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, reminding us to celebrate the benefits of vaccination and highlighting the importance of immunizing people of all ages! Immunizations represent one of the greatest public health accomplishments of the 20th century.

Vaccines protect against serious disease and help prevent outbreaks that still do occur. Vaccines are safe!  All vaccines used in the United States require extensive safety testing before they are licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Vaccines are thoroughly tested before licensing and carefully monitored after they are licensed to ensure safety. The long-standing vaccine safety system in the U.S. ensures that vaccine is as safe as possible.

Immunizations protect future generations. Vaccines have reduced and, in some cases, eliminated many diseases that killed or severely disabled people just a few generations ago. By vaccinating according to schedule, parents may be able to trust that some diseases of today will no longer be around to harm their children in the future.

Babies and Young Children:

Vaccines have been proven to protect children from 14 serious diseases before they turn two years old. Vaccinate your children according to the recommended schedule to protect them from potentially deadly diseases such as measles and whooping cough (pertussis). Vaccines don’t just protect your child – they also protect other children and others who may not be able to be vaccinated, especially babies who are too young to be vaccinated themselves.

Many young parents have never seen the devastating effects that diseases like measles or whooping cough can have on a child or a community, but these diseases still exist.

Many vaccine-preventable diseases are still common in many parts of the world, and outbreaks can occur when an unvaccinated traveler becomes infected while visiting other countries.

Recommended vaccines for children from birth through six years of age include:

Talk to your child’s health care provider about when your child should be vaccinated to ensure that they are on schedule.

School-Age Children, Pre-teens and Teens:

Many vaccine-preventable diseases can easily spread in child care and school settings. Child care facilities, preschool, and school programs are prone to outbreaks of infectious disease. Children in these settings can easily spread illness to one another due to poor handwashing, not covering coughs, and other interactions in crowded environments. When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk for disease and can spread disease to others, including babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated or people with weakened immune systems.  Additionally, most schools require children to be vaccinated against certain diseases before enrollment to protect the health of all students. Keep in mind that some vaccines require a booster dose for the best protection, so adhering to the vaccine schedule will ensure that your child does not miss a dose.

Vaccinations for school-age children, pre-teens and teens include:

Check with your child’s health care provider about when these vaccinations should be given to your child.

Pregnant Women and their Partners:

When you are pregnant, you share everything with your baby. That means when you get vaccines, you aren’t just protecting yourself – you are giving your baby some early protection, too.  Some vaccines, such as MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), should be given a month or more before your pregnancy.

Pregnant women should receive Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) during the third trimester of each pregnancy to pass short-term protection from whooping cough along to the baby. Fathers-to-be, grandparents-to-be, and anyone who will be caring for your child should also be current with Tdap vaccinations to prevent spreading disease to the new baby.

The flu is more likely to cause severe illness in pregnant women than in women who are not pregnant. The flu shot given during pregnancy has been shown to protect both mother and baby from flu for several months after birth.

Adults:

Even healthy adults can become seriously ill and pass diseases along to others. All adults should have their needs assessed by their health care provider to determine which vaccinations they need. Certain vaccines are recommended based on a person’s age, occupation, or health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease).

Vaccination is important because it protects the person receiving the vaccine as well as those who are most vulnerable to serious complications but unable to be vaccinated (such as infants and young children, those with chronic conditions, and those with weakened immune systems).

Recommended vaccinations for adults include:

  • Flu (annually)
  • Tdap (if not received as a teen)
  • Td (tetanus, diphtheria – booster every 10 years after Tdap vaccine)
  • Shingles (for adults 60 and over)
  • Pneumococcal (for adults 65 and over or with high-risk conditions)
  • Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, HPV (depending on age, occupation, travel, medical conditions, vaccinations they have received, or other considerations.)

For more information about immunizations and an easy-to-read vaccination schedule, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Filed Under: Community Health Matters
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