Why vaccines are important

Most states will not let your child start school without a complete immunization record. Sometimes a vaccination is missed when a child is sick.

If your child has missed an immunization, you don't have to go back and start over for most vaccines. The previous immunizations are still good. Your doctor will just resume the immunization schedule. If, for any reason, your child receives additional doses of a vaccine, this is also not a concern, although your child will still need any future doses according to the recommended schedule.

Four vaccinations for Haemophilus influenza Hib , a common upper respiratory infection that can also cause meningitis. Every year thousands of adults in the U. Many adults even die from these diseases. By getting vaccinated, you can help protect yourself from much of this unnecessary suffering.

Even if you received the vaccines you needed as a child, the protection from some vaccines can wear off. You may also be at risk for other diseases due to your job, lifestyle, travel, or health conditions. Find out what vaccines you may need based on different risk factors.

Top of Page. Vaccines can lower your chance of getting certain diseases. When you skip vaccines, you leave yourself vulnerable to illnesses such as shingles, pneumococcal disease, flu, and HPV and hepatitis B, both leading causes of cancer. Vaccines are as important to your overall health as diet and exercise Like eating healthy foods, exercising, and getting regular check-ups, vaccines play a vital role in keeping you healthy.

Vaccines are one of the most convenient and safest preventive care measures available. Vaccination can mean the difference between life and death Vaccine-preventable infections can be deadly. Yes, they are considered safe.

Human serum albumin used in vaccines comes from screened blood donors. The manufacturing process ensures there is no risk of transmitting any diseases. Human serum albumin is a substance from human blood. It's used to stabilise a chickenpox vaccine called Varilix and maintain its quality during storage. Recombinant albumin is produced by cells, such as yeast cells, that have had the gene for human albumin inserted into them.

The cells are then able to generate large quantities of human serum albumin without any need to extract it from human blood. Children and adults with a severe egg allergy can safely receive the MMR vaccine.

The live nasal spray flu vaccine given to children has a very low egg protein content. It can be safely given to children with an egg allergy. Children and adults who have previously had a very severe allergic reaction to eggs may be advised to have their flu vaccine in a hospital. There are 2 vaccines in the UK routine schedule that contain small amounts of egg protein:.

Formaldehyde can be found naturally in our bloodstream at levels far higher than we would be exposed to in vaccines. Although formaldehyde can be harmful in high concentrations, there are no health concerns about the small amounts found in vaccines. Formaldehyde is a chemical also used in the production of killed vaccines. It's used very early in the manufacturing process to kill or inactivate the toxins from bacteria or viruses.

Once the antigens are inactivated, the formaldehyde is diluted out. It's possible that trace amounts may remain in the final vaccine. If you know you're allergic to neomycin or any other antibiotic, speak to your doctor or practice nurse before having a vaccine. Antibiotics known to cause allergic reactions, such as penicillin, are generally not used in vaccines.

But tiny amounts of an antibiotic called neomycin, which is capable of triggering an allergic reaction, are found in:. Antibiotics are added to some vaccines to prevent the growth of bacteria during the production and storage of the vaccine.

A full list of any vaccine's ingredients is available on the electronic medicines compendium emc website. Read more about specific vaccine ingredients on the Oxford University Vaccine Knowledge Project website. Page last reviewed: 30 July Next review due: 30 July Why vaccination is safe and important.

Video: vaccines - are they safe for my child? In this video, a GP reassures a parent about vaccinations for her child.