We’ve all missed out on a lot over the past few years due to the pandemic. And now, with the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, many of us are catching up with the activities we enjoy and the people we love.
But there’s something else that you may have missed — routine vaccinations. No matter your age, we all need to ensure that our routine vaccinations are up to date to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases in communities.
Routine immunizations reduce illness, death, and the spread of disease. Despite this, vaccine-preventable diseases can still pose a threat. For example, measles is a disease that can spread very easily from person to person if not enough people are fully immunized. In addition, many of these diseases can cause severe complications and harm, especially for those who cannot get immunized due to medical conditions.
Children who get vaccinated on time receive the protection they need as early as possible. Vaccines strengthen their immune systems and prepare their bodies to fight disease before being exposed to a vaccine-preventable disease.
As you get older, there are other vaccines available to protect you from diseases such as influenza, pneumonia, shingles, and tetanus.
If you’re living with a chronic condition like diabetes or COPD, staying healthy is especially important. Keeping up to date with vaccines is one easy thing you can do to protect your health and the health of those around you.
Immunizations are an essential part of your health record. Therefore, keeping a copy of your immunization record and those of your children in a safe place is important. Suppose you cannot locate your immunization record. In that case, contact previous health-care providers, local public health offices, and close family members who may have your record in old papers such as baby books or school or camp forms.
There’s a lot to catch up on, and no one wants to sit on the sidelines. So if you’ve missed any vaccines, now is the time to catch up. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or local public health office about the vaccines you need to stay healthy.
