Vaccines are powerful tools in modern medicine. They help prevent infectious diseases and protect people of all ages. 

One of the most common vaccines is the flu shot. With flu season fast approaching, the flu shot will be on many people’s to-do list. 

Learn the basics on vaccines and the flu shot and why you should make sure you and your family members are up to date on your vaccines. 

What are vaccines? 

Vaccines protect you and your family. They also protect the community. Vaccines stimulate a person’s immune system to combat a specific disease. 

Vaccines prevent illnesses that can cause death or potential long-term effects. 

Typically, they are administered through an injection, but some are given by mouth or sprayed into the nose. 

Why are they important? 

Vaccines protect people from diseases. They also help with “herd immunity.” That is when enough people in a community have established immunity to a particular disease. 

Herd immunity decreases the risk of spread. If someone should come into the community with the disease, you have enough people with immunity that it doesn’t spread.

Thinking about it in terms of populations, you prevent those who may not be immune to the disease from contracting it because it doesn’t spread as it would without the immunity.

Vaccines are one of the most important discoveries in medicine in the last century. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that vaccines will prevent* millions of hospitalizations and thousands of deaths among children.

The diseases that vaccines are meant to prevent are devastating and have high mortality rates. Measles, for example, can be serious* for children younger than 5, and it is highly contagious. 

Are vaccines safe? 

Vaccines are safe for most people*. While vaccines are continually monitored for safety, there can be side effects. They are generally mild, such as low-grade fever or soreness and redness at the injection site.  

Talk with your doctor about which vaccines are recommended for you. 

Do vaccines cause autism? 

No reputable scientific studies have found an association between vaccines and autism, according to the CDC*. 

While you may find other information online, no evidence-based scientific studies conclude that vaccines cause or contribute to autism.

Which vaccines should you get?  

The CDC’s recommendations for vaccines are based on age. Parents should talk with their child’s pediatrician about the schedule for childhood vaccines*. These start at birth. 

Adults over the age of 18 should get a flu shot every year and a Tdap vaccine. The CDC also recommends adults should get an updated COVID-19 vaccine. Adults over 65 should get two doses. 

Other vaccines* may be recommended based on your age, health conditions, job, lifestyle and travel habits. 

Who should not get a vaccine? 

Some vaccines are not recommended* for those of a certain age or with a certain health condition. Talk with your doctor before getting a vaccine. 

Why are vaccines given to infants and children? 

Some vaccines are given to children and infants because the diseases they fight are particularly devastating to young children. 

For example, Haemophilus influenzae type B* (Hib) was the leading cause of bacterial meningitis as well as other diseases. It can be lethal for young children and infants. Before the vaccine for this disease, there was a 4 percent mortality rate, with 15 – 30 percent of those surviving with permanent hearing and neurologic impairments. Now, we don’t even see the disease. Doctors give the vaccine for Hib at ages 2, 4, 6, and 15 – 18 months. 

Pertussis*, or whooping cough, is still circulating. It comes mainly from adults and older teenagers whose immunity has waned. But the worst effect from pertussis is in newborns and infants. 

The CDC recommends the DTaP vaccine* for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis in five doses beginning at the age of 2 months. The Tdap vaccine* is recommended for adults and children over 7. It should be renewed every 10 years. 

Fortunately, we don’t see a lot of these diseases anymore. That is because we have the vaccines to prevent them. 

Flu Shot

Why should I get a flu shot? 

The flu shot* protects you from the flu and its potential effects. The flu can cause pneumonia and other secondary infections. It can also be more complicated for people with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease and in older people and infants. 

When should I get a flu shot? 

The flu shot takes about two weeks to become effective. Generally, the flu shot provides immunity for about six months. That is why you need to get a shot every year. To cover the full span of the flu season, you should get your flu shot in September or October. 

Who should get a flu shot? 

Most people should get a yearly flu shot*, according to the CDC. It can be especially important for people over 65. The flu shot is generally safe for everyone over the age of 6 months.

Does the flu shot cause the flu? 

No. The flu shot does not cause the flu. You can have flu-like symptoms, such as mild fever, achiness or redness at the site of injection. This is not unusual for any vaccine. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is an independent organization that provides health information you may find helpful.

*This link leads to a third-party website. That organization is responsible for the content and privacy policy on its site.