Getting vaccinated is important. Here’s why. | hioscar Blog | Oscar
Getting vaccinated is important. Here’s why.
Learn how vaccines prevent you from getting sick, and how they also prevent you from spreading disease to others.
Family Health Oscar Health Insurance
4 min read
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Vaccination has been in the news lately. Between localized outbreaks of the measles virus and a number of outspoken celebrity “anti-vaxers,” there’s a lot of information—and misinformation—circulating the web. That’s why we want to set the record straight.
Vaccines work by stimulating the production of antibodies in your immune system. Your body learns to recognize the disease, and you become immune. This immunization process means you’ll be less likely to get sick, and if you do get sick it will be less severe. You usually get vaccines with a hypodermic needle (aka shots) but some can be taken orally or by nasal spray.
Herd immunity
Vaccines prevent you from getting sick, but they also prevent you from spreading disease to others. To understand how vaccines protect those around you, it’s important to first explain the concept of herd immunity (opens in new tab).
“When a certain number of people in a community get a vaccine, it protects those who cannot get the vaccine, or are at higher risk of getting the disease,” explains Dr. Esposito. “These vulnerable populations include young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and the immunocompromised. People with weaker immune systems due to cancer, chemotherapy, organ transplant, HIV and other illnesses may not be able to get vaccinated. But if the majority of the population gets vaccinated, it will protect the weakest of the ‘herd,’ and the disease will not spread widely.”
When the majority of a community is not vaccinated, herd immunity fails, and diseases that were previously under control can become an epidemic. This is why getting a basic flu shot every year is important—you may not be too worried about getting the flu, but you could pass it onto someone whose immune system couldn’t handle it.
“You’re really protecting your grandmother by getting that flu shot!” adds Dr. Esposito.
The benefits vs. the risks of childhood vaccination
One of the biggest concerns people have about vaccinating their children is the side effects they may experience. But these side effects are mild and go away within a couple of days, and according to the CDC (opens in new tab), children have a 1 in a million chance of having a serious reaction to a vaccine, and autism is not caused by vaccines.
“Immunity absolutely outweighs the risk, or I wouldn't get vaccines or give them to my kids or my patients,” says Dr. Esposito. “The most common reactions are fever and swelling/redness at the injection site. This is normal and shouldn’t stop children from getting additional doses of the same vaccine in the future.”
Parents can treat any redness and swelling with a cool compress. If your child becomes too uncomfortable, you can ask your doctor if you should give them a non-aspirin pain reliever. However, Dr. Esposito cautions against giving your child pain relievers before they go to get shots, as this can dampen the immune response to the vaccine.
Schedule of vaccinations
Following the CDC’s recommended immunization schedule (opens in new tab) is the best way to protect children from potentially deadly diseases. The schedule was created based on how a child’s immune system responds to different vaccines at different ages. Delaying this schedule or not getting all of the recommended doses can result in illness and complications, or less immunity to that disease.
“The reason babies get a lot of vaccines at the same time is that it actually strengthens their immune response,” explains Dr. Esposito. “Their immune system responds to these antigens, and it helps stop the risk of infection.”
Babies start their vaccination schedule as young as 1 or 2 months old. “Parents see their kids get 6 vaccines at the same time and get scared, but the schedule has been studied extensively by the CDC and FDA.”
Not sure if you’re still immune to measles/chicken pox/polio? You can see your doctor to get your titers checked. This blood test checks if your immunization is still active—if your antibody levels are low, it’s a good idea to get a booster to keep you immune if you’re traveling, you are a health care professional, or if there’s a disease outbreak in your state.
Pro tip from Dr. Esposito: It’s a good idea to get a measles, mumps, and rubella booster (MMR vaccine (opens in new tab)) around age 35, since immunity to those diseases tends to lessen around then, even if you were vaccinated as a child. The NYC Department of Health recommends getting your MMR titers checked or getting another MMR vaccine whether or not you live in a high risk area.
If you have any questions about your immunization benefits or where to get your preventive vaccinations, give your Concierge team a call at 855-672-2755 or message them in the Oscar App (opens in new tab). We’re here to help!
