By Kate Cohen
In consultation with Dr. Ronald Ryan, MD CPE
June 26, 2025
Protecting yourself and your family from deadly diseases is easier than you may think.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month. At Rosen Medical Center, we’re sharing a basic guide to the importance of immunizations, or vaccines.
Vaccines prevent an estimated 5 million disease-related deaths per year.
While most vaccinations are simple injections, or shots, they can also be taken by mouth, nose, or as a spray.
Here’s a look at why immunizations are important, how they work, and which ones you may need to stay healthy and strong.
Table of Contents
Myths About Vaccines
It’s important to talk about several immunization myths that have been proven false through scientific research.
For example, vaccines do not cause the diseases they are supposed to prevent.
They also do not cause autism.
Vaccines available to the public have been proven effective in preventing diseases and even saving lives.
If you are worried about getting an immunization, your healthcare provider can talk to you and give you the research-based information you need.
How Vaccines Work
Getting a vaccine helps your immune system learn how to fight off specific germs from common and dangerous illnesses.
The ingredients in a vaccine work with your body’s natural defenses to build protection.
By pretending to be an infection, an immunization helps train your body to defend you against the disease.
Some immunizations are so powerful, you only need to receive them once for a lifetime of defense against an illness. Others may need boosters to keep your body up to date.
The Safety Behind Vaccines
There is a lot of research that goes into vaccine safety before any treatment is available to the public.
It can take years for an immunization to be ready. They are only ever ready for the public after long, in-depth clinical trials.
Once an immunization has been released, it is constantly monitored by trusted health groups like the FDA, CDC, and NIH.
Some vaccines are updated to help protect against new strains of disease. These updates are also carefully researched to make sure they are safe for the public.
Why You Should Vaccinate Your Child
As a parent, keeping your child safe is very important.
One way you can protect them is by vaccinating them against a variety of childhood diseases, some of which can be deadly.
There has recently been a re-emergence of certain childhood illnesses because of a drop in childhood immunization rates.
Illnesses like measles, whooping cough, and polio were almost completely gone in the United States thanks to the effect of immunizations.
However, lower immunization rates are leading to the return of certain diseases, targeting children and individuals who have not been vaccinated.
It is incredibly important to protect your children against these serious and preventable diseases by having them vaccinated.
When it comes to these serious diseases, it is always better to prevent them than to treat them. Immunizations help protect your child by keeping harmful illnesses away.
Health organizations like the CDC have worked hard to create immunization schedules for children. These schedules outline when vaccines should safely be given to children, depending on their age.
Following this schedule with help from your child’s pediatrician can be a matter of life and death.
If you have questions or concerns about vaccinating your child, please consult your pediatrician.
Minimal Side Effects of Vaccinations
Getting a vaccine usually has little to no side effects.
It’s common to have redness, swelling, and soreness at the injection site. You may also feel tired and achy or have a slight fever.
Many people don’t experience any side effects after receiving an immunization.
Vaccinations You Should Consider
As an adult, there are several vaccines you should make sure you receive to stay healthy and safe.
The COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine can prevent dangerous illness. You should get yours every year to make sure your immune system is up to date.
In fact, the CDC recommends that anyone over the age of 17 receive a COVID-19 shot and a flu shot each year. Children aged six months to 17 may get a COVID-19 shot if you and your child’s pediatrician agree it’s a good idea.
Diphtheria (DTaP, Td, or Tdap) vaccines are also recommended for everyone as early as two months old. These important vaccinations protect against diseases including diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough.
The CDR recommends adults receive the Tdap vaccine at least every ten years. Pregnant women should get a Tdap shot with every pregnancy. This helps protect their unborn baby from whooping cough.
Your doctor may recommend extra immunizations depending on your age, health conditions, and travel.
For example, the CDC highly recommends that adults over the age of 50 receive a shingles vaccination and a pneumococcal vaccination.
Be sure to talk with your doctor about which immunizations you should get to support a healthy lifestyle.
Protect Yourself at Your Next Visit to Rosen Medical Center
Ready to focus on your health and protect your family?
Schedule an appointment with your doctor at Rosen Medical Center to talk about which vaccines you need to stay healthy and strong.
Don’t wait to protect yourself and your loved ones.
