Immunizations are important for children as well as adults. They may hurt a little but the disease they prevent can be a lot worse. They protect against diseases like measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, polio, tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (whooping cough).
Immunization is the process through which a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease typically by the administration of a vaccine. Vaccines stimulate the body’s own immune system to protect the person against subsequent infection or disease. Before vaccines people became immune by getting the disease and surviving it, then the immune system remembers the germ and can fight it again. Immunizations makes this process easier and less risky way to become immune.
Immunization schedule may vary from location, your child’s health, type of vaccine and the vaccines availability. Some vaccines may be given as part of a combination so that fewer shots are given. Talk with your doctor about which vaccines you and your children need. For a complete recommended schedule of dates for immunizations go to:
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/index.html
Written by LaVella Head