Vaccines

Vaccines prevent infection from diseases that can cause severe illness and even be fatal. The team at CHAP Med in Sherman Oaks, California, offer a comprehensive range of vaccines. They can advise you on what shots you need, including preparing for overseas trips. Call CHAP Med or book an appointment online today to check what vaccines you and your family need.

What are vaccines?

Vaccines are the most effective way of preventing you and your family from developing a range of harmful and potentially fatal diseases. Conditions for which you can receive vaccines in the United States include:

• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Chickenpox
• Rotavirus
• Pneumococcal infection
• Whooping cough (pertussis)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
• Hepatitis A and B
• Polio
• Flu

These illnesses used to affect millions of people. However, after many years of immunization programs in place, the diseases on this list are no longer such a threat. Some conditions, like smallpox, have been virtually eradicated by immunization programs.

How do vaccines work?

Vaccines work by triggering a reaction in your immune system. The immune system’s job is to look out for invading bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms and foreign particles that enter your body.

From childhood, your immune system targets the germs you encounter and creates antibodies to fight and kill them. Once your body fights off an infection, it stores the blueprint for the antibodies that destroyed the threat. It can then put them straight to work if you encounter the same substance again.

Vaccines do much the same thing: introduce an infection into your body so that your immune system develops the right antibodies to fight it. The difference is that the vaccine contains a modified form of the infection. There’s enough DNA for your immune system to create antibodies, but it’s in a harmless state that, in most cases, won’t make you sick.

Are vaccines always effective?

Vaccines, in most cases, are highly effective. This means that once you’ve had the course of shots required to ensure your body creates the right antibodies, you need never worry again about having that particular disease.

Some vaccines are life-long, while others, like tetanus, require a booster injection to maintain their effectiveness. In the case of influenza (flu), you need an annual flu shot because there are many different flu viruses. Even if you’ve had the flu already, it’s only the specific form of flu you had that you’re immune from.

Based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the CHAP Med team can immunize you and your family against the flu virus strains most likely to be around in the current year.

Call CHAP Med or book an appointment online today to learn what vaccines you need or arrange for you and your family to have flu shots.