Immunizations are a vital component of pediatric medicine. At Commonwealth Pediatrics, we believe that vaccines (or immunizations) are a safe and highly effective way to protect children from a wide range of preventable infectious diseases. The recommended immunization schedule is carefully designed to provide optimal protection at various stages of a child’s development. Immunizations, starting from birth, can protect infants when they are most vulnerable to infections. Booster shots are administered later to reinforce immunity and ensure long-lasting protection.
What Are Immunizations And How Do They Work?
Immunizations, also known as vaccinations, are preventive medical interventions designed to protect individuals from infectious diseases caused by bacteria or viruses. It involves the administration of vaccines, or shots, which contain either weakened or inactivated viruses or bacteria of a particular disease. Many parents may wonder how immunizations work. Here is an overview of how vaccines work to protect people from communicable diseases:
Immunizations have been successful in reducing the incidence of many life-threatening diseases and have saved thousands of lives worldwide. Routine vaccinations are essential for maintaining good health and creating herd immunity, which protects those who cannot be vaccinated, such as people with certain medical conditions or compromised immune systems.
The Importance Of Immunizations
Commonwealth Pediatrics of Richmond and Midlothian, VA considers immunizations to be one of the most important and effective ways to protect your child’s health from preventable diseases within the community. Immunizations are designed to activate the body’s natural immune system to protect against diseases that can have life-altering consequences.
Regularly scheduled immunizations, administered from infancy through adolescence, stimulate the body’s immune system to produce antibodies that fight off specific viruses and bacteria like:
Pediatric immunizations not only shield the vaccinated child from potential illness, but also help establish herd immunity within the community, dramatically reducing the incidence of the disease. When a large part of the community population has been vaccinated, it helps to protect the most vulnerable who may be unable to receive vaccinations.
Are Immunizations Safe?
Immunizations are considered safe and highly effective in preventing a wide range of infectious diseases. Extensive research, rigorous testing and continuous monitoring are conducted by healthcare authorities and scientific organizations to ensure the safety of vaccines before they are approved for use. Vaccines undergo multiple stages of clinical trials involving thousands of participants to assess their safety and efficacy. Any potential side effects are closely evaluated, and the benefits of vaccination are consistently found to far outweigh the risks.
Like any medical intervention, vaccines may cause mild side effects in some individuals, such as soreness at the injection site, low-grade fever or mild headache and fatigue. These reactions are generally short-lived and resolve on their own. Severe adverse reactions are rare and occur in a very small percentage of cases. The most severe reactions are closely monitored and reported to health agencies to continually assess vaccine safety.
Most Common Side Effects Of Immunizations
For every immunization your child receives, Commonwealth Pediatrics will provide literature on what to expect in regards to the most common side effects post-vaccination. Usually, the side effects of vaccines are generally mild and short-lived. These reactions are the body’s natural response to the vaccine, as the immune system mounts a defense against the introduced antigens to develop immunity. Common side effects include:
It’s important to note that severe allergic reactions to vaccines are extremely rare but can occur. Signs of a severe allergic reaction include difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, rapid heartbeat and dizziness. If any of these symptoms occur after receiving a vaccine, you should seek immediate medical attention.
Is Your Child Up To Date With Their Immunizations?
At Commonwealth Pediatrics, we believe that the benefits of vaccination in preventing potentially serious and life-threatening diseases far outweigh the risks of these common and generally mild side effects. The vast majority of individuals experience no adverse reactions. To request an appointment for your child at one of our three locations, fill out our online form. We look forward to helping your child live their happiest, healthiest lives!
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