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Just when you thought you’d heard enough about vaccines . . . we have a little more to say. Vaccines, with their ability to polarize a room, bring relief from the worry of getting sick, and bring about endless rounds of conversations, have certainly taken the limelight over the past 2 ½ years. And regardless of how you feel about certain kinds, it’s important to be aware of all kinds of vaccines and what value they can have for you. As we wrap up Vaccine Awareness Month, we thought we’d try to shed a fresh light on the importance of keeping up to date with your vaccinations with the top 10 things that might surprise you about vaccines.

1. Vaccines are natural! Vaccines contain a weakened or dead virus, or else a protein from a bacterium, which cause your body to naturally start producing antibodies.
2. This process of using weakened viruses has proven to be very successful in eliminating the unwanted virus. One example of this is with the measles vaccine. At one time, measles was a prevalent and frightening disease that caused over 2 million infections and 500 deaths in the US every year. And now, thanks to the prevalence of measles vaccines, we’ve practically eradicated this disease.
3. The immunizations adults should get include tdap (protection against whooping cough, tetanus, and diptheria), human papillomavirus (HPV), shingles (over age 50), pneumococcal (over age 65). And, of course, we recommend that adults and kids get the flu shot every year.
4. If you think you’re due for one of these important vaccinations, Fountain Hills Medical Center can help. We’re your source for vaccinations in Fountain Hills. We have information about which immunizations might be right for you, potential side effects, and how often you need each one. 
5. The first vaccination occurred before viruses were even discovered! In 1796 a scientist used a cowpox protein to try and prevent smallpox.
6. In the 1950s a polio outbreak lead to nationwide closures of swimming pools and movie theaters (sound familiar?). Polio was since eliminated in our part of the world by the vaccine developed by Joseph Salk. He used a dead polio virus as the antigen, and now the Western Hemisphere is polio-free.
7. There’s no link between vaccines and autism. This idea started with a flawed study in 1998, and has no scientific backing.
8. Combined vaccines are safe, practical, and economical. In fact, these have no negative effects on a child’s immune system. 
9. Kids come in contact with more antigens associated with the common cold than they get from vaccines.
10. Last, and perhaps the most sobering: If we stop getting our recommended immunizations, deadly diseases could make a comeback.

We understand how vaccines can be a hot-button topic – after all, it can be unsettling to think about a foreign substance being injected into your or your child’s body. However, the scientific facts that prove the value, worth, and success rate of many vaccinations speak volumes about their safety and importance.

Your expert medical team at Fountain Hills Medical Center is ready to help you with any vaccine need or questions.

We’re proud to be your source for top-ranked medical care in Fountain Hills. If you haven’t met us yet, come by to meet our staff, see our beautiful facilities, and become familiar with the care, information, and peace of mind we provide the Fountain Hills community.

Sources:

• World Health Organization (who.int)
• MayoClinic.org