National Immunization Month: Five Important Reasons to Get Immunized

For decades, immunizations, also called vaccinations, have been protecting people from getting seriously ill from common contagious diseases. It’s one of the most important tools you have for preventing illness.

At MS Family Medicine Health Care PC, with New York offices in Rosedale and Garden City, our primary care experts, led by our medical director Michele Reed, DO, FAAFP, consider wellness and preventative care a top priority. 

Since August is National Immunization Awareness Month, we want to share with you some of the reasons you should get immunized.

1. Prevent illness

Vaccines may prevent you from getting sick. Vaccines contain substances that imitate an illness. When given a vaccine, your immune system reacts by creating antibodies to fight off that illness. This all happens without you ever getting sick.

When you come in contact with that germ later on, your immune system has the defense mechanism it needs to fight it off, so you don’t get sick. If you do happen to get sick, your symptoms may be more mild. 

Everyone responds to germs differently, and having a defense system ready to go is the best way to protect your health. 

2. Boost your immune health

Good nutrition is important for immune health. However, eating certain foods or taking nutritional supplements can’t boost your immune health quite like a vaccine can. Vaccines trigger your immune system to create mechanisms (antibodies) that truly boost your immune health and protect you from disease. 

3. Keep you healthy

We consider immunizations an important part of your wellness and preventive care plan. Like diet and exercise, getting your vaccines is one of the best things you can do to stay healthy. 

Immunizations are especially important if you have a chronic health condition that already puts you at risk of developing more serious symptoms, such as diabetes or heart disease.

4. Protect those around you

Not everyone can get immunized, and some people need to wait to get certain vaccines because of their age or an underlying health condition. Getting vaccinated may prevent you from getting sick and passing on an illness to those who are unable to get a vaccine.

5. Save time and money

Life is busy, and when you take time off, you want to spend it doing things that bring you joy, not nursing an illness. Getting immunized can help keep you from getting sick, so you can reserve your time off for things you enjoy. Furthermore, immunizations can also help keep you from developing symptoms that require emergency medical care or hospitalization.

Are your immunizations up-to-date? Let us help you figure it out, so you can protect your health and wellness. Book an appointment online or over the phone with MS Family Medicine Health Care PC today.