The spread of the coronavirus and the race to develop a vaccine may lead to the erroneous belief that as long as you don’t have COVID-19 you’re protected, and there’s nothing more you need to do to stay healthy.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
While a vaccine against COVID-19 is not yet available, the truth is that we already have many safe, effective vaccines that have protected us for years against other dangerous diseases.
Most Americans are familiar with vaccine regimens for children, which are required for them to attend school. But vaccines aren’t for children only. The CDC and other medical authorities base their recommendations on the latest vaccine research. Their guidelines cover children, teens and adults based on factors such as age, health conditions, lifestyle, travel, even jobs.
The goal is to protect those who are most vulnerable to illness—infants, the elderly, and those with chronic conditions and weakened immune systems.
SAFE, EFFECTIVE VACCINES ARE KEEPING US HEALTHY
It’s a hard fact that tens of thousands of Americans get sick from diseases that could be prevented by vaccination. Instead, when enough people ignore vaccination guidelines issued by medical and public health officials, a sudden outbreak of disease will grip a community, leading to illness, hospitalization, and in some cases, death.
Immunization is our best protection against a wide variety of diseases that can and do still happen in America. For example, measles was declared to be eradicated in 2000, yet unvaccinated travelers have contracted measles while visiting countries where the disease is still active. These unwitting “carriers” have brought measles back to the U.S., leading to several deadly outbreaks in recent years.
A report from the CDC showed that during the months when most families and individuals were staying home to avoid contact with others who might be infected with COVID-19, the number of routine pediatric vaccinations dropped significantly.
Why is this a problem? For the past 50 years, routine childhood vaccinations have helped to greatly lessen the incidence of diseases that once were considered unavoidable. Polio, diphtheria and pertussis, measles, mumps, and chickenpox killed or sickened millions during the last century but are rarely seen in the U.S. today.
When we start taking this immunity for granted and either stop or fall behind in routine vaccinations, those all-but-unknown diseases usually stage a comeback. Before long we might expect to see epidemics of diseases that we haven’t seen in decades. The result would be more children and adults would sicken and some would die.
VACCINES FOR ADULTS
Every year, thousands of adults in the United States are hospitalized from vaccine-preventable diseases. Some vaccines prevent conditions that only occur in adults, such as shingles. Protection from childhood vaccines wears off in adulthood, leaving us vulnerable when outbreaks occur, such as pertussis or measles in recent years.
Vaccines not only help you stay healthy, they also help keep diseases from spreading to those without such protection, like newborns and people with compromised immune systems. Some viruses, like the flu, change year to year, and new vaccines are introduced after rigorous FDA testing. Depending on if and where you travel, some vaccines are required for entry.
If you find yourself in one of the categories below, consider getting vaccinated according to the recommendations by the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services.
People with Health Conditions
Chronic health conditions such as COPD, heart disease or diabetes can make it harder for you to fight off infections. Other conditions such as cardiovascular disease, HIV, liver or lung disease (including asthma), kidney disease or a weakened immune system can compromise your health as well. Talk to your doctor. He or she will review your health history and other factors to determine which, if any, vaccines would be right for you.
If You’re Planning to Travel
While traveling to foreign countries is less common since the start of the pandemic, many people still need to travel for business or family reasons. Depending on where you travel, you may find yourself in an area where people become ill from diseases that are rare in the United States, such as malaria. Your doctor can tell you which vaccines you need and can help you get them.
If You’re Pregnant or Planning to Be
Vaccines can help protect you and your baby from disease. The body of a vaccinated pregnant woman produces antibodies can be passed to the baby, protecting them for the first few months of life until they are old enough for their own vaccine regimen.
Rubella during pregnancy can cause miscarriage or birth defects, so it’s important to get vaccinated before you get pregnant. Other diseases, such as Hepatitis B, pertussis, and MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) can be passed to your baby during birth. Such vaccines may be safely administered during pregnancy or before you leave the hospital after giving birth.
If You’re Over 65
Our immune systems weaken as we age, making it more difficult to fight off infections and leaving us more vulnerable to infectious diseases and their complications. Every adult should have an annual flu shot, whatever their age or health status. A vaccine against pneumonia is also recommended for most older adults, as is the herpes zoster vaccine. Check with your doctor about any additional vaccines you might need, depending on your situation.
WORKS CITED
Growing Up with Vaccines: What Should Parents Know? CDC https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/growing/images/global/CDC-Growing-Up-with-Vaccines.pdf
Six Things You Need to Know About Vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Page last reviewed: May 16, 2018. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/vaxwithme.html
Vaccines: Who and When? U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Last reviewed March 2020. https://www.vaccines.gov/who_and_when
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