Immunizations

IMMUNIZATIONS: First of all, what do we mean by “immunization”? Here are some definitions:

Immunization: The process by which a person or animal becomes protected against a disease. This term is often used interchangeably with vaccination or inoculation.

Vaccination: Injection of a killed or weakened infectious organism in order to prevent the disease.

Vaccine: A product that produces immunity therefore protecting the body from the disease. Vaccines are administered through needle injections, by mouth and by aerosol.

A vaccine stimulates your immune system to produce antibodies, exactly like it would if you were exposed to the disease. After getting vaccinated, you develop immunity to that disease, without having to get the disease first.
This is what makes vaccines such powerful medicine. Unlike most medicines, which treat or cure diseases, vaccines prevent them.

We don’t vaccinate just to protect our children. We also vaccinate to protect our grandchildren and their grandchildren. With one disease, smallpox, we “stopped the leak” in the boat by eradicating the disease. Our children don’t have to get smallpox shots any more because the disease no longer exists. If we keep vaccinating now, parents in the future may be able to trust that diseases like polio and meningitis won’t infect, cripple, or kill children. Vaccinations are one of the best ways to put an end to the serious effects of certain diseases.

In addition, vaccines aren’t just for kids. Far too many adults become ill, are disabled, and die each year from diseases that could easily have been prevented by vaccines. Thus everyone from young adults to senior citizens can benefit from immunizations. Especially important vaccinations are herpes zoster (shingles), tetanus (lockjaw), influenza (flu), diphtheria, and pneumococcal.

At HCHD, immunizations are offered for children and adults every Tuesday from 9:00-11:00am and 1:00-4:00 pm

For more information on vaccinations, please see:

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/default.htm

OR

Oregon Health Authority : Vaccines and Immunization : Vaccines and Immunization : State of Oregon

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