Vaccinations

What conditions can vaccinations prevent?

Some of the conditions vaccines prevent include:

• Shingles and chickenpox (varicella)
• Tetanus
• Diphtheria
• Pertussis (whooping cough)
• Measles
• Polio 
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Meningitis 
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Hepatitis A and B
• Pneumonia
• Seasonal flu
• COVID-19 

Vaccinations mainly occur in childhood, but it’s not too late to benefit from most vaccines as an adult. At the offices of Dawei Zheng, MD, ABFM, the team can advise you on your necessary vaccines. Some are combined into one vaccine, like tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (TdaP). 

Many vaccines last a lifetime, while others require booster shots to ensure they stay effective. In most cases, you won’t get a disease after proper vaccination. Those conditions where vaccines don’t eliminate the risk are typically milder following immunization.

How do vaccinations work?

Vaccines use substances derived from harmful pathogens. This might be a dead or weakened virus, toxins released by a pathogen and made safe in the lab, or genetic material. When these substances enter your body, your immune system identifies them and mounts a defense.

It creates antibodies to attack and kill the invading cells, then stores a copy of the antibody. If you are exposed to the same disease again, your immune system immediately produces the right antibodies to prevent you from getting sick. 

Some infections, like seasonal flu, require annual boosters because there are so many different flu viruses. Each antibody can only kill the exact invader it was created to attack, so if you have a flu shot for one strain but a different one infects you, you won’t be immune. 

At the offices of Dawei Zheng, MD, ABFM, the team uses vaccines recommended by infectious disease experts who predict which strains will be around each year.

Are vaccinations safe?

Extensive research shows vaccinations are very safe, and the effects of contracting a disease that vaccination can prevent are significantly more dangerous. 

The substances used in vaccines can’t make you sick. You might experience a reaction after some vaccinations, such as a sore arm at the injection site or flu-like symptoms. However, this means that your body has recognized the substance, and your immune system is reacting.

If you have any concerns about vaccination, your provider will be happy to put your mind at rest.

Call the offices of Dawei Zheng, MD, ABFM, to ensure your vaccinations are current, or schedule a consultation online today.