1. Immunize to Go to School
Immunizations are widespread for a host of childhood diseases. Most children have them before they even begin school. Many schools now require current immunization records before admitting a child for the new school year. It is important for you to keep records of the vaccines that you and your children have had and the date of the vaccination. Some vaccinations require a series of inoculations at certain intervals, so even adults may need a booster.
2. Fight Diseases With a Shot
Vaccines expose our bodies to the diseases they have been designed to help us fight against. The idea is to introduce a dead or very weak strain of an infection into the body to stimulate it to produce the antibodies that will fight against the disease if exposure to the same disease occurs in the future. By teaching the body to develop antibodies against a disease, it develops a method of dealing with an attack by this disease and protects us from contracting and becoming ill from that specific disease.
3. Diseases are Worldwide
The old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is the idea behind vaccinations. To avoid getting sick when traveling abroad, check the recommended vaccinations for the areas you plan to visit. You take the preventative step necessary to stop the hazards of contracting the disease itself by getting vaccinated.
4. Effectiveness in Question
Although highly effective, vaccines aren't guaranteed to always prevent us from catching the diseases they were built to prevent. An example of when a vaccine failed to do its job is the flu vaccine. These vaccines are produced each year based on the prediction of which of the many strains of this illness will be most prevalent in the country in any given year. This is a best guess. Unfortunately, a different strain sometimes turns out to be the biggest threat, which means that the flu shot you received is absolutely useless. There isn't any added benefit by taking a vaccine to avoid the flu during these years.
5. Is it Really Safe?
Each vaccine has the potential to cause side effects in the patient. For example, the flu shot includes common and mild side effects such as soreness at the injection site, low-grade fever and a general feeling of achiness. People with a severe allergy to chicken eggs or who have previously experienced severe reactions to flu vaccinations may notice more extreme side effects and should not take the vaccine. Though rare, life-threatening allergic reactions have occurred including breathing problems, hives, weakness, elevated heartbeat and dizziness. Each vaccine has its own list of potential hazards. Always weigh the risks involved prior to taking any injection.
