What is a vaccine and why do you need it? Vaccines are given to individuals to help protect the body’s immune system to fight against viruses and illnesses. The immune system of the body is responsible for fighting diseases from developing but there are times that the pathogens which cause infections can beat the immune system.

Vaccines are the foremost prevention of the body from such illnesses

What are some of the diseases that vaccines can prevent?

• Measles
• Polio
• Tetanus
• Whooping Cough

How does it work?

As said above, the immune system protects the body from an organism. It eliminates pathogens which cause infections but it has to be familiar with the danger. It has to recognize that it’s a virus. By getting vaccine shots, the immune system is being introduced to many kinds of pathogens. Through vaccine, the body is familiarized to a ‘safer version’ of an illness which are in the forms of:

• Inactive forms of pathogens
• Weakened pathogen
• Toxin composed of toxoid from a pathogen

A vaccine helps the body to build an ‘adaptive immune response’ so it can combat the onset of any infection. The usual form of vaccines is an injection. It has two parts; antigen and adjuvant.

Are Vaccines Safe

Vaccines undergo strict examinations before being pronounced safe. In general, vaccines are safe to use. It was explained that the risk of getting a disease is higher if an individual didn’t get a vaccine shot. The Pros of Vaccines:

• Can prevent dangerous diseases which can kill
• Vaccines are tested before they come out to the public
• It protects everyone

Vaccine Side Effects

Most side effects are mild and other individuals don’t feel any side effects at all. Serious ill-effects are rare.

• Swelling of the injection site
• Joint pain near the location of the injection site
• Weakness of the muscle
• Fever
• Sleeping problems
• Fatigue
• Loss of memory
• Muscle paralysis
• Vision of hearing loss
• Seizures

Risk Factors of Vaccines

• Weak immune system
• Getting a vaccine shot while being sick
• When there’s history of allergic reactions to vaccine shots

What are vaccines made of

Currently, there are four types of vaccines out to the public. These are:

• Inactivated vaccines – made from dead virus or bacterium
• Live virus vaccines – made from a weakened version of a virus or bacterium
• Toxoid vaccines – made from a toxin which come from bacteria or viruses.
• Subunit, polysaccharide, conjugate, and recombinant vaccines – made from the structural component of a virus or bacterium. It trains the immune system to attach this part of the gem.
• Other ingredients of vaccines include suspending fluid, enhancers, stabilizers, preservatives, and antibiotics..

Cost of getting vaccine shots

Vaccine shots are usually included in health insurance plans. In case it isn’t covered, community health organizations, Vaccines for Children Program, and state health departments are the places to go for free or low-cost vaccine shots. Getting vaccine shots can help the immune system fight diseases. Consult your doctor regarding the process for sick-free body.

For complete and affordable vaccination, contact (02) 814.8488 or visit us at the 6th Floor, Angelus Plaza, 104 V. A. Rufino St. Legaspi Village Makati City Philippines to get vaccinated now.