August is national immunization awareness month.

Protecting your health with immunizations

Immunizations, also known as vaccines, help protect people of all ages from serious diseases. They’re especially important for children, whose immune systems are still developing, and for adults, since some vaccines wear off over time and some diseases can become more serious when you’re an adult. Vaccines also help keep everyone healthy because, when more people are vaccinated, it's harder for diseases to spread. This is called "herd immunity."

Some of the diseases that vaccines help prevent include:

• Measles is very contagious and can cause a rash, high fever, and even brain damage.
• Polio can cause paralysis (unable to move parts of the body).
• Chickenpox causes itchy rashes and can lead to serious problems, like pneumonia.

Recommended vaccines for children

Children need several vaccines at different ages. It’s important to follow the recommended schedule for these and other vaccines, so children stay protected:

• DTaP (for diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough)
• MMR (for measles, mumps, and rubella)
• Polio vaccine
• Flu shots (every year!)

Immunizations for adults

Adults may need the measles vaccine, as well as shots for seasonal flu, pneumonia, and shingles.

Vaccines for pregnant patients and babies

Vaccines are especially important for pregnant women because they help protect both mother and baby from serious infections that can cause complications during pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

Certain vaccines, like the Tdap vaccine, are recommended during pregnancy because the mother’s antibodies pass to the baby, helping protect the newborn in their first few months before they can get vaccinated themselves.

Vaccines are safe!

Vaccines are carefully tested for safety. Side effects are usually mild, like a sore arm or fever. The good news is that the benefits of vaccines are much greater than the small risks.

How to stay on track with vaccines

Keep a list of the vaccines you’ve gotten, and make sure you follow the schedule for recommended vaccines. If you’re not sure if you or your child have had all the right vaccines, talk to your doctor. They can help you make sure you’re on track to stay healthy!

Resources

These resources provide information on vaccine safety, recommended immunization schedules, and more:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vaccines and Immunizations
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
• World Health Organization (WHO) Vaccines
• National Institutes of Health (NIH) Vaccine Information
• Pediatric Health & Martin's Point  

Looking for details on which vaccines are covered? Visit our Drug and Vaccine Coverage page to see what’s included in your plan.