Listed here below are quick descriptions of the Vaccine Preventable Diseases. It is so crucial to follow the CDC schedule to ensure that these diseases are easily prevented.
Measles: The measles virus is a serious respiratory disease that is especially dangerous for infants and young children. It is very contagious and can cause a rash and fever. After being infected with measles, that individual will be immunocompromised for 2-3 years. In severe cases it can results in death.
Mumps: Mumps is a virus known to cause fever, head and muscle aches, swollen jaw, and puffy cheeks. It is important to note that there is no treatment for mumps and can be easily prevented with a vaccine. Mumps can results in long term health problems, for example before the vaccine mumps was known to cause deafness and meningitis.
Rubella: Rubella is a virus known to cause a mild fever and rash and extremely dangerous for pregnant women. This is why herd immunity is so important and the importance of getting vaccinated to protect those around you. If a pregnant woman gets infected with rubella, it can lead to miscarriage or birth defects.
Rotavirus: Rotavirus results in severe vomiting and diarrhea and is especially dangerous for infants and young children and when not treated can result in death due to dehydration.
Varicella: Varicella, also known as chickenpox, is known to cause fever and an itchy rash that can spread over the whole body. This disease can be deadly especially for the populations at high risk. Getting infected with chickenpox also leads to a greater risk of getting shingles in the future.
Influenza: Influenza, also known as the flu, is a respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that spreads easily and can cause serious illness. It is a seasonal illness and is why we refer to it as “flu season” during certain parts of the year. The flu consists of different strains each year which is why it is crucial to get a flu vaccine every year to prevent getting sick or serious illness. The flu kills thousands each year and is especially dangerous to at risk populations.
Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the Hepatitis A virus and can lead to very severe illness. Typically, individuals are asymptomatic and easily spread the disease to the people around them. There is no specific treatment for Hepatitis A.
Polio: Polio is a very serious disease where the virus can lead the person to be disabled and is life threatening. It can also infect the spinal cord which can lead to paralysis. This is a very serious disease that is very contagious.
Tetanus: Tetanus is a very dangerous disease that is caused by toxin producing bacteria. Tetanus is also known as “lockjaw” and does not spread from person to person but more so is found in soil. It has a mortality rate of about 50% and even if one does survive tetanus, they do not gain an immunity to it in the case of reinfection.
Diphtheria: Diphtheria is caused by a toxin producing bacteria and can be very serious. It causes a thick coating in the back of nose and throat which can make it hard to breathe and swallow. For children it is especially dangerous and around 1 out of 5 children die from infection.
Haemophilus Influenzae B (Hib): Hib is a disease caused by the bacteria Haemophilus influenzae type b. Children under the age of 5 are at the highest risk for sever infection. This disease can have lifelong impairments and can also be deadly.
Meningococcal disease: Meningococcal disease is any type of disease that it caused by the bacteria Nesseria meningitidis. The course of this disease usually results in meningitis which is inflammation of the lining on the brain and spinal cord and/or blood infections. These disease is very severe and when infected it happens quick typically resulting in limb amputations or death.
The National Meningitis Association advocates heavily for the meningitis vaccines and shares individuals stories who were affected by this disease. The videos they share are very powerful. Here is a link to their website and survivors and/or their family members sharing their stories:
https://www.youtube.com/@nmaus2/videos
Pneumococcal disease: Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacteria pneumococcus and causes infections in the ears, lungs, blood, and brain. It is a very serious disease that may result in death or lifelong impairments. There are thousands of cases in the United States every year.
Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is a very contagious liver disease caused by a virus. It is cruicial to vaccinate your newborn against Hepatitis B to prevent them from developing chronic Hepatitis B if they were ever to be infected. This disease is very serious and can cause severe illness for long periods of time.
HPV: Human Papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted infection that is very common and infects around 13 million people each year. That doesn’t mean it is not that bad of a disease, HPV infections are known to cause certain types of cancer in individuals. One example is causing cervical cancer in women.
Pertussis: Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a very serious respiratory disease that is especially dangerous for babies and young children. It results in uncontrollable and dangerous coughing fits and can be deadly.
All of these sound quite serious, Influenza included. I wish more people would take yearly flu shots more seriously.
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