Pharmacies will start offering flu shots soon. Dr. Rietze recommends that everyone get a flu shot!
But has anyone ever really talked to you about how vaccines work?
Vaccines are made from weakened or inactive forms of the disease-causing agent. As a result, they cannot cause actual illness.
These weakened or inactive forms of the disease boost your immune system (by creating antibodies) to recognize and more effectively fight off the illness if you are exposed to it.
Booster shots are given in order to continue to boost your body's immune system and maintain immunity to that disease.
Vaccines are especially important for children whose immune systems are still developing and for vulnerable adults such as older patients and those with weakened immune systems, who may be at higher risk for severe infection.
Of course it is important for health care workers to be immunized so that we can help to prevent the spread of diseases to patients and the community.
We hope this helps your understanding of the importance of vaccines!
