Vaccines are medications that help protect people from certain diseases. They contain weakened or killed forms of bacteria or viruses that cause a particular disease. When a person receives a vaccine, the body produces antibodies to fight off the virus or bacteria, providing protection from the disease.
Common side effects of vaccines include pain or redness at the injection site, mild fever, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. More serious side effects are rare but can occur, such as an allergic reaction, severe swelling, and difficulty breathing.
If you are concerned about the safety of a vaccine, it is important to speak with your healthcare provider. They can answer any questions you may have and discuss any potential risks.
Vaccine shots are biological preparations that improve one’s immunity to a disease. Usually, a vaccine involves injecting an agent resembling a disease-causing microorganism into the body’s immune system. This agent, usually constructed from weakened or dead forms of the microorganism, causes the immune system to recognize the agent as foreign and attack it. Because the immune system has encountered a form of the particular disease or sickness in the past, it will have an easier time recognizing and killing the disease-causing microbes if they appear again, in a larger or more lethal quantity. Vaccines may be used to prevent future infections or to help with an existing illness.
Virtually every immunization comes with vaccine side effects. Currently the four most popular vaccinations for adults include the flu vaccine, the Hepatitis B vaccine, the HPV vaccine, and the Tdap Booster. Possible side-effects of the flu, Hepatitis B, and Tdap Booster vaccines include running a low grade fever; experiencing soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site if the vaccine was given as a shot; and general body aches. The HPV vaccine may cause pain, swelling, or redness in the injection area; fever, nausea, or diarrhea; dizziness; vomiting; cough; toothaches; joint pain; a general ill feeling; trouble sleeping; or a stuffy nose. Rarer side effects may include headaches; gastroenteritis; appendicitis; pelvic inflammatory disease ; asthma or bronchospams; blood clots in the legs or lungs; seizures; or Guillain-Barre syndrome. As with any medication, all of these vaccinations pose the risk of allergic reactions. If a patient experiences difficulty breathing; wheezing; an unusual skin rash; itching; or hives, he or she should recognize that these may be signs of an allergic reaction and should contact his or her doctor immediately. Vaccines have the ability to save lives, and vaccine side effects and vaccine dangers, which are rare, should not be a reason for not getting vaccinated.
Today, there are dozens of vaccines available. There are vaccines for Anthrax, Swine Flu, Lyme Disease, Mumps, Monkeypox, Rabies, Rubella, Shingles, Tetanus, Tuberculosis, Chicken Pox, and others. The Flu Vaccine prevents the common flu and is reccommended for use by everyone 6 months of age or older, especially those who are pregnant, under the age of 19, age 50 or older, health care workers, or live with any of these high-risk individuals. The Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for any sexually-active adult not in a monogomaus relationship or who is unsure if his or her partner has Hepatitis-B. It is also commonly given to children. The HPV vaccinereduces the chances of women developing cervical cancer and genital warts by 70 to 80 percent and is reccomended for girls ages 9 to 26. Even if one is infected with HPV, the vaccine may help prevent some of its complications and risks,. Finally, the Tdap booster protects against Tetanus, Diptheria, and Whooping Cough. All adults from the ages of 19 to 64, except those who are pregnant, are encouraged to have the Tdap Booster.
Vaccinations are necessary for maintaining good health and warding off prevalent illnesses. All vaccines carry side effects and a possibility of allergic reaction, but this is rare. There are vaccinations available for many illnesses, and individuals should speak with their doctors to determine which vaccine shots he or she should receive.