By Joy Pierce Mathews for Summit Medical Group

Although the incidence of diseases that can be prevented with immunization is low in the United States, many people still become sick and die from unnecessary infections. For this reason, Summit Medical Group encourages people of all ages to be immunized or update their immunizations as the school year approaches.

Depending on your age and immunization history, important immunizations include those for:

• Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTaP)
• Hepatitis A and B
• Human papilloma virus
• Influenza
• Measles
• Mumps
• Pneumococcal disease (pneumonia)
• Poliomyelitis
• Rubella
• Varicella (chickenpox)
• Zoster (shingles)

About Immunity
Many people who are exposed to and become sick with bacterial or viral infections build resistance or naturally acquired immunity to the disease. A benefit of naturally acquired immunity is being able to fight the disease if you are exposed to it again. Disadvantages include complications, injury, and death associated with the illness. In addition, people who are sick with naturally acquired disease can easily spread their infection to others. This is especially true early in the course of a disease before there are symptoms to confirm you are sick.

Immunizations, which prevent a disease from making you sick, provide artificially acquired immunity.

How Immunization Works
Immunizations introduce a weakened form of a disease into your body. Your body then responds by making antibodies to fight the condition. The antibodies remain in your body and fight the disease if you are ever exposed to it again.

Most people receive immunizations in the first 5 to 6 years of life; however, resistance from some immunizations can subside and require boosters to increase your ability to fight the illness.

Because people almost never get sick with the disease for which they are immunized, vaccinations provide a safe, effective way to prevent illness. In addition, immunizations cost less than treating a disease, they eliminate the discomfort and worry associated with illness, and in many cases, they significantly reduce the spread of disease.

Why Immunizations are Important for Everyone
The more people in a community who receive immunizations, the greater the odds that few or no people in the group will get sick with diseases for which they are immunized. When people do not receive vaccinations or boosters, disease rates increase. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted a low measles immunization rate in 1989 that resulted in 55,000 measles cases and 136 related deaths.

Misconceptions About Immunizations
Despite data supporting the benefits of immunization, some people do not understand their value. For example, some people believe:

• Immunizations cause harmful side effects, illness, and death
• Many immunization-preventable diseases are no longer a risk in the United States
• Many people who become ill have been immunized
• Some diseases would be eliminated even without immunizations
• Multiple immunizations, especially when given simultaneously, increase the risk of harmful side effects
• Certain immunization lots are associated with complications and death

Research shows that people are more likely to be seriously injured or die as a result of disease compared with any immunization.

If you have questions or concerns about immunizations, your primary care physician or Summit Medical Group Family Practice physician at 908-277-8602 can explain how immunizations can help you.

For more information about immunizations for your child or adolescent, please contact Summit Medical Group Pediatrics at 908-273-4300.

For an adult immunization schedule, please contact the Summit Medical Group Preventive Medicine Program at 973-277-8800 or visit the Preventive Health Guidelines for Women and the Preventive Health Guidelines for Men.

If you need immunizations for traveling outside the United States, please contact Summit Medical Group Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease at 908-277-8654.

About Summit Medical Group