Which Vaccinations Are Right for Me?
Vaccinations serve as a tool to protect your health and wellness. Vaccination reduces your risk of developing specific health conditions, including many contagious illnesses, often by a significant amount.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccinating just those born between 1994-2018 has prevented 419 million illnesses. When you’re up-to-date on your vaccinations, you can live your life to the fullest without worries about many potential health risks.
At CareFast Urgent Care in Burbank, California, our team offers vaccinations to patients of all ages. If you need to catch up on vaccinations, or if you have plans that require vaccination, our clinic team can determine the best vaccination schedule for you.
Understanding vaccination
Vaccination works by introducing your natural immune system to a specific pathogen so it builds immunity to that pathogen. Vaccines can use mRNA, dead viruses, live viruses, and other medical innovations to safely expose your immune system to a pathogen without getting you infected or making you ill.
After vaccination, your body can recognize the target pathogen and rapidly mount an immune response. That means you’re less likely to become sick and less likely to experience severe or life-threatening symptoms if you do experience an infection.
Getting a vaccination
Vaccinations can be administered through injections or nasal sprays. Some vaccinations need multiple doses or boosters to maximize their effectiveness. Some vaccines, like the flu vaccine, need to be taken each year for optimal protection against various strains of an illness.
You might have mild reactions to some vaccines, and our team at CareFast Urgent Care monitors you after vaccination for any signs of an allergic reaction. On the whole, vaccines offer a highly safe and effective way to protect your health and reduce the spread of communicable illness in your community.
Vaccination needs for all ages
People of all ages can benefit from vaccination. While many vaccines are typically administered in childhood, it’s never too late to benefit from vaccination and protection from illness and disease.
Babies need a lot of vaccines in the first few years to help build immunity. Well-child visits often include vaccines for diphtheria, chickenpox, Hepatitis A and B, human papillomavirus (HPV), measles, mumps, rubella, rotavirus, whooping cough, and polio.
Babies and young children are more vulnerable to complications from the flu, so regular flu shots are a must. For seniors 65 and up, increased flu risks also make flu shots a yearly necessity.
If you’re in your 50s and had chickenpox in the past, doctors recommend getting a shingles vaccine. If you’ve been exposed — or might be due to traveling to a new area — to tetanus, tropical insects, or COVID-19, vaccinations can safely and effectively protect your health.
Vaccination and you
Depending on your age, vaccination history, and health care needs, various vaccinations could be useful to support your health. Our providers can let you know which ones are right for you. If you’ve missed needed vaccines or if you require vaccination for travel or college, we can set up a schedule to get you vaccinated to protect your health.
CareFast Urgent Care offers walk-in appointments for your vaccination-related needs. We’re open seven days a week and ready to diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries that need prompt care.