August is National Immunization Awareness Month. We take this time every year to remember how vaccines help prevent illnesses.

Vaccines For Children and Adolescents

You have the power to protect your children against serious diseases like measles, cancers caused by HPV, and whooping cough.

Preteens and teens need four vaccines to protect against serious diseases. These include:

• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine to protect against meningitis and bloodstream infections
• HPV vaccine to protect against cancers caused by HPV
• Tdap vaccine to protect against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough
• A yearly flu vaccine to protect against seasonal flu

For Mother and Baby

If you are pregnant, you have the power to protect yourself and your baby. During each pregnancy, vaccines offer protection from serious diseases like whooping cough and flu.

If you are pregnant, getting vaccinated can help protect your baby after birth by passing on antibodies.  These antibodies can give your baby short-term protection from flu and whooping cough until it is time for their own vaccines.

For Adults

Both men and women have the power to protect themselves against serious diseases like shingles, pneumonia and flu.

Why Vaccines are Safe

• Vaccines work with your body’s natural defenses to help safely develop protection from diseases.
• Vaccines are tested before licensing and carefully monitored afterwards to ensure their safety. Like all medical products, vaccines can cause side effects. The most common side effects are mild and go away quickly.

It is especially important for patients with chronic health conditions to be up to date on recommended vaccinations. This is because they are at increased risk for complications from certain vaccine-preventable diseases.

Ask your doctor about vaccines you may need for your age, health conditions, job, or lifestyle.

If you don’t have a doctor and would like help finding one, contact Health Care Coordination to make an appointment.

About the Health Information Center

This Healthy Tip is provided by the Health Information Center at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

If you have questions about vaccines or any other health topic, contact the Health Information Center. The Health Information Center is a library staffed by medical librarians and certified health information specialists. The health information service provides reliable, easy to understand information on any health topic.