Immunizations Q & A

What are immunizations?

Immunizations are a defense against certain diseases. When a virus or other organism enters your body, your immune system detects the threat and goes into action. Your white blood cells develop antibodies that seek out and destroy the invading organisms, so your body can recover from the infection.

After creating the antibodies you need for a particular infection, your immune system stores the blueprint for future use. If you should come into contact with the same organism again your body recognizes it and destroys it quickly. This is how you build up an immunity to disease.

How do immunizations work?

Immunizations use your immune system’s abilities to create antibodies to fight diseases you haven’t had. They use safe forms of the organisms to get your immune system to make the antibodies you need.

The vaccines used to immunize you are either dead samples of the organism or safe, weakened versions. Some vaccines contain an inactive sample of a toxin the organism makes. In each case, your body responds to the vaccine by creating antibodies that will recognize these organisms and kill them should you ever encounter a live version.

What immunizations do I need?

You should get most of the immunizations you need as a child, including vaccination against:

• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Chickenpox
• Rotavirus
• Pneumococcal infection
• Whooping cough (pertussis)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• Polio

Some of these vaccines last you for the rest of your life. Others need boosters to maintain your immunity. You may have missed out on having some of your childhood vaccinations, or the vaccines might not have been available to you when you were a child.

With age, immunity can decline, making you more vulnerable again. You might also have a role in life that increases your risk of getting sick, like working in health care. The Sunstate Medical Associates team can identify which immunizations you might need and prepare an immunization schedule for you as an adult.

Hepatitis B immunizations might be advisable if you work in a high-risk environment or your partner has the disease. If you haven’t had the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine, you can now have it up to the age of 45. HPV is the primary cause of cervical cancer.

If you haven’t got immunity to chickenpox, the varicella vaccine can prevent you from getting shingles, a painful and distressing condition caused by the chickenpox virus. Other immunizations like measles, mumps, and rubella might benefit you depending on your age and other risk factors. An annual flu shot can also protect you against the type of flu that’s likely to be around that year.

The Sunstate Medical Associates team can advise you on which immunizations you need for optimal protection. Call them today to arrange an immunization review or book an appointment online.