Not long ago, diseases like measles, mumps, and whooping cough were a frightening part of everyday life. Parents lived in fear, knowing these illnesses could lead to serious complications – or worse. But thanks to vaccines, those once-common threats have largely faded from view.

Still, vaccines aren’t just history – they’re our defense today and our protection for tomorrow. That’s why in August, during National Immunization Awareness Month, we shine a light on the lifesaving power of vaccines. Whether you’re a parent, teen, or grandparent, staying up to date with vaccinations helps keep you – and your community – safe.

What Are Vaccines, and How Do They Work?

You might wonder how exactly vaccines protect us from illness. Imagine your immune systemas a highly skilled security team guarding your body. Every day, your body encounters countless germs, but most of the time, your immune system recognizes the harmless ones or fights off invaders quickly. However, when it comes to certain dangerous germs, the immune system needs help learning who the real threats are.

This is where vaccines come in: Vaccines give your immune system a safe “preview” of a harmful germ, showing it just enough information – called an antigen – to recognize the invader. This training happens without causing disease. After this preparation, if your body encounters the real germ later, your immune system is ready to attack it quickly and effectively, preventing illness or making it much milder.

This protection doesn’t happen instantly. It usually takes a few weeks for your immune system to build strong defenses after vaccination. But once it’s trained, the protection can last for years, sometimes even a lifetime!

Some vaccines require you to prepare your body for it. One such example is the COVID-19 vaccine. To gain more insight into how one can prepare yourself for vaccines, like those for COVID-19,  check out our article: “How to Prepare for the COVID Vaccine”.

Why Babies and Young Children Need Vaccines

Babies are born with immune systems that can fight many germs, but some dangerous bacteria and viruses are just too strong for them to handle early in life. While most germs don’t cause serious problems, some can lead to dangerous illnesses in young children.

For example, measles can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, brain swelling (encephalitis), and even death, especially in young children. Diseases such as whooping coughcause violent coughing spells that can make it hard for babies to breathe or eat, while meningitis is a frightening infection that causes swelling of the tissues around the brain and spinal cord, potentially leading to brain damage or death.

Diphtheria can block airways, making breathing difficult. Vaccines protect children from these illnesses by helping their immune systems build defenses early – long before they are exposed to the germs in everyday life.

Vaccines Protect More Than Just Individuals: The Power of Community Immunity

Vaccination isn’t just about protecting yourself or your children; it’s also about protecting those around you. This is where the concept of herd immunity, or community immunity, comes into play.

Herd immunity helps protect those who cannot be vaccinated because it stops the spread of disease. When enough people are vaccinated, it becomes very difficult for a disease to find new hosts and spread through the community. This stops outbreaks before they can start.

Not Just for Kids: Why Adults Need Vaccines Too

Vaccination is often associated with childhood, but adults need vaccines just as much. Some diseases, like pneumococcal pneumonia, a serious lung infection, and shingles, a painful rash caused by the chickenpox virus, mainly affect adults. Vaccines help reduce the risk of these and other illnesses by boosting adult immune defenses.

Adults may also need booster shots to renew protection from earlier vaccines or get new vaccines recommended for their age or health status. Staying vaccinated helps adults avoid serious illness and protect the vulnerable people around them, including babies and older adults.

The Return of Old Foes: Why Staying On Schedule Matters

Thanks to vaccines, diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, whooping cough, and diphtheria are no longer common. However, when vaccination rates drop, these diseases can come back quickly, causing outbreaks that put many people at risk.

Even though these diseases seem like distant memories, recent outbreaks have reminded us how quickly they can return if we become complacent. Keeping up with vaccinations is the best way to keep these dangerous illnesses at bay.

Combination Vaccines: Making Protection Easier for Families

No one likes getting multiple shots, especially little kids who are often scared of needles. Fortunately, combination vaccines make it easier to protect children with fewer shots. These vaccines combine protection against several diseases into a single injection, reducing pain, stress, and the number of doctor visits.

For example, the DTaP vaccine covers three serious diseases – diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough – in just one shot. The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. There are even vaccines like Pediarix that protect against five diseases in one injection, and ProQuad, which combines protection against MMR plus varicella (chickenpox).

Combination vaccines are thoroughly tested to ensure they are just as safe and effective as giving the vaccines separately. For parents, this means fewer appointments and less worry. For children, fewer shots mean less pain and anxiety. It’s a win-win situation!

The CDC’s “Let’s Keep It That Way” Campaign: A Powerful Reminder

Remember when diseases like diphtheria, mumps, and rubella were major threats to kids? Thankfully, for most of us, those days are long gone. The  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “Let’s Keep It That Way” campaign is here to remind us why!

This campaign highlights a simple, powerful truth: we don’t hear about these serious childhood diseases anymore because of vaccines.

But here’s the crucial part: while these diseases might feel like ancient history, they’re not extinct. The campaign gently nudges us that if we drop our guard and stop vaccinating, these illnesses can and will return, as recent outbreaks have shown. So, “Let’s Keep It That Way” isn’t just a nostalgic look back; it’s an active call to action. It encourages parents to stay informed, talk to their child’s doctor, and ensure their kids are up-to-date on all recommended shots.

National Immunization Awareness Month: A Time to Act and Reflect

Every August, National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) reminds us how vital vaccines are for everyone, from kids to adults. It’s a key moment to check your family’s vaccination status, catch up on any missed shots, and talk to your healthcare provider. Vaccines offer powerful control over diseases that once caused widespread illness, saving lives and protecting our communities when we all do our part.