The question of why vaccines matter doesn’t only come up when we become parents. Throughout our lives, this question can arise more than once, and we may even find ourselves looking into vaccines for adults.
Vaccines are designed to help the immune system fight infections by triggering an immune response against viruses or bacteria that cause various diseases.
How Are Vaccines Classified?There are several ways to classify vaccines. In terms of microbiological classification, this refers to whether a vaccine is bacterial or viral, that is, whether it protects against a bacterium or a virus.
There are also four main types of vaccines:
- Live attenuated vaccines. These use a weakened form of the germ that causes the disease.
- Inactivated vaccines. These use a killed version of the germ that causes the disease.
- Recombinant vaccines. These use only specific parts of the germ, such as a protein, a capsule, or its sugar coating.
- Toxoid vaccines. These create protection using a toxin derived from the germ.
You can ask at the health center where vaccines are administered to find out which classification a particular vaccine falls under.
Which Diseases Do Vaccines Prevent?Vaccines help protect against diseases that can be serious or even fatal.
There’s a wide range of vaccines available, but among the main diseases people can protect themselves against are:
- Diphtheria
- Pneumococcal disease
- Hepatitis B
- Influenza
- Mumps
- Polio
- Rotavirus
- Rubella
- Measles
- Tetanus
- Whooping cough (pertussis)
- Tuberculosis
- Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Vaccine Schedules by AgeToday, vaccination schedules help people keep track of their vaccines.
The vaccination process can be broken down into several life stages. At birth, several vaccines are given, such as those for hepatitis B, tuberculosis, and tetanus.
Afterward, over the following years and up until reaching adulthood, a booster schedule is followed for the necessary vaccines.
In adulthood, everyone should get annual vaccines such as the flu shot or the COVID-19 vaccine.
It’s recommended to keep proper track of vaccinations using vaccination records and by staying in contact with your treating physician.
If you still have questions about why vaccines are important, visit the Pediatrics Center at ABC Medical Center to learn more about the benefits of vaccinating children, or the Preventive Medicine area to learn more about adult vaccination, we can provide you with specialized care. Contact us!
