Vaccines across the lifespan

In this last of our three-part series on vaccines, we would like to address the vaccines themselves. How do they work, myths and when should we receive immunizations. Let’s start with what are vaccines and how do vaccines work?

Vaccines take advantage of your body’s natural ability to learn how to eliminate almost any disease-causing germ, or microbe, that it attacks. Even better, your body “remembers” how to protect itself from the microbes it has encountered before. This system is called the immune system and without it, even the simplest illness could quickly turn deadly. Certain microbes are very powerful, or virulent, and can overwhelm the body’s natural defenses. In this situation vaccines can make all the difference!

The World Health Organization defines vaccine as a “biological preparation that improves immunity to a particular disease. “The vaccine usually contains a prepared agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism, and is weakened or killed so they don’t cause disease. When your immune system is presented with these harmless versions of germs, it quickly clears from your body. In other words, vaccines trick your immune system while at the same time teaching your body important lessons about how to defeat its deadly disease opponent.

Vaccines that prevent diseases such as: polio, measles, diphtheria, mumps, Hepatitis A and B, Pertussis, Chickenpox, Shingles and Rubella to name a few, have greatly increased the quality of life during childhood and prevented hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths. Now that vaccines have virtually eliminated many once-feared diseases, some people are questioning the vaccine versus the diseases that vaccines prevent. Most parents today have not seen a case of diphtheria or measles, and some wonder why their children must receive so many shots. Rumors and misinformation about vaccine safety abound. For example, many parents are concerned that multiple vaccines may weaken or overwhelm an infant’s immune system, or that certain vaccines may cause autism, multiple sclerosis or diabetes.

Despite rigorous vaccine safety systems in place in the U.S., many remain concerned about the safety of childhood vaccines and immunization schedules. Vaccines are held to the highest standard of safety. The U.S. currently has the safest, most effective vaccine supply in history. Vaccines contain many ingredients that make them safer and more effective; including aluminum salts which assist in creating a better immune response to vaccines, Thimerosal, a mercury-containing preservative was used as prevention against bacterial contamination of vials. Because some people believed that thimerosal was harmful the American Academy of Pediatrics, and vaccine manufacturers eliminated thimerosal from childhood vaccines. Since 2001, with the exception of influenza vaccine, thimerosal is not used as a preservative, yet Autism rates have not gone down and other ingredients such as sterile water, saline and some fluids that contain protein are also used.

Some adults believe that the vaccines they received as children will protect them for the rest of their lives, but that’s not always the case. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend vaccinations from birth through adulthood for lifetime protection against many diseases and infections. Healthy, active adults need to be vaccinated for personal protection against infection as well as associated health benefits (ability to maintain their daily activities). Immunization also reduces the risk of an individual transmitting infection to others, thereby conferring protection to his or her entire community. In the United States, influenza and pertussis (Tdap) vaccines are recommended for every adult. There are other important vaccines for adults: the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for every adult female aged up to 26 years, shingles vaccine is recommended for all adults aged 60 years or older, and pneumococcal vaccine is recommended based on age (all adults aged 65 years and over) and risk factors. Hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and meningococcal vaccines are recommended for adults with certain risk factors or conditions that increase their risk for serious complications (there are no age-based recommendations for these vaccines in adults). Catch-up vaccination is also recommended for adults who have no evidence or proof of immunity to selected, traditionally childhood infections (ie, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella). Adults should talk with their health care provider about adult vaccinations to prevent shingles, Pneumococcal disease, Hepatitis A and B, Tetanus/Diphtheria/Pertussis and Influenza. There are 10 different vaccines recommended for adults ages 20 and over.

Immunizations are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. As parents are enrolling their children in school, students are entering college, and healthcare workers are preparing for the upcoming flu season, August is an ideal time to catch up on immunizations.

Immunizations are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. As parents are enrolling their children in school, and students are entering college, August is an ideal time to catch up on immunizations. Contact your Public Health Center at 352-6600 and make an appointment. Ensuring you and your family are up-to-date on immunizations is critical to protecting yourselves, your loved ones and your communities from disease.