What if I’m Not Up-to-Date on My Vaccinations?

In the last few years, one of the most prevalent vaccines was developed to protect the world from getting COVID-19, or from enduring its worst consequences. However, you need many more vaccines to protect yourself from harmful diseases.

You get your first few vaccines as a child but must continue them into adulthood for optimal protection. But what happens when you must catch up on this crucial aspect of your wellness?

If you’re overdue for vaccines, the team at Prudent Medical Providers is here to help. We have three nurse practitioners who specialize in family medicine, including providing essential vaccines to you and your family.

Understanding vaccines

Vaccines are shots that protect your body from harmful viruses and bacteria. They also come in pills and nasal sprays.

When it’s injected, a vaccine alerts your immune system to that specific disease, so your immune system recognizes it in the future and fights it off to keep you safe. There are various vaccines available, including:

• COVID-19
• The flu
• Shingles
• Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis)
• Chickenpox
• MMR (Measles, mumps, rubella)
• Hepatitis B
• Meningococcal

Each vaccine is crucial at different times. You get your first several vaccines when you're a baby and continue to receive them for your entire life to keep you safe.

Why are vaccines necessary?

Vaccines are critical because deadly diseases still exist in our world. At one point, some conditions, such as polio, were eradicated because almost everyone was vaccinated against them.

However, as more and more people have decided not to vaccinate themselves or their children, some previously dormant diseases have returned, causing outbreaks worldwide.

Vaccines are an essential component to not only your health but the health of everyone around you. Although many dangerous diseases aren't common in the United States, they're still prevalent in other areas of the world.

People choose not to get vaccinated for many reasons, but knowing the facts is the best way to stay up-to-date on your health. There are just a few of the reasons you should stay current with your vaccines:

• They're completely safe
• They keep you healthy
• You can get sick even if you're healthy
• Others are at risk

Vaccination is just as vital to your health as eating healthy and participating in physical activity. Vaccines are an essential aspect of your preventive care, along with regular medical check-ups and eating your vegetables.

Another myth is that vaccines can lead to the diseases they're supposed to prevent. It's false, so you don't need to put off your vaccines due to worry and fear.

Staying up-to-date is crucial

If you find yourself behind on your vaccinations, it's not the end of the world, but don’t put them off much longer. It's crucial to your health, and your family's, that you come in to see our team as soon as possible.

Letting your vaccinations lapse for long periods has inevitable consequences. A few of the problems that follow unvaccinated people include:

• You're at risk for severe illness
• You can get your family sick, too
• You may cause an outbreak
• Treating disease is expensive
• Your quality of life is compromised

When you stay up-to-date on your vaccines, you're protecting not only your health but the health of millions of others. Vaccines are a core preventive measure for controlling infectious diseases and keeping them dormant in the United States.

If you're planning to travel out of the country, you should check what varying infectious diseases you can encounter. We have the vaccines you may need to keep you safe.

Call Prudent Medical Providers at our convenient offices in Federal Way and Tacoma, Washington, to schedule your vaccines today. You may also schedule an appointment online or message the team on the website.