(Family Features) As health needs evolve throughout life, it can be easy to forget how crucial vaccinations can be for protecting against preventable diseases. Many associate vaccines with childhood, remembering the series of shots received during early school years. However, vaccination importance extends far beyond adolescence.
Vaccines are not just for children attending elementary school and college students returning to campuses – they should be incorporated into a lifelong commitment to health and wellness. Whether required or recommended, vaccinations can play a pivotal role in safeguarding individual health and promoting community well-being. That’s why now is an excellent time to check in and make sure your family members are protected from infectious diseases at every stage of life.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccines help create protective antibodies that fight infections. The experts at the CDC state childhood vaccinations, such as MMR (measles, mumps and rubeola), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) and HPV, are known to prevent around 4 million global deaths annually . However, only 1 in 5 adults are up to date on their vaccines , highlighting a critical gap in public health awareness and readiness.
Vaccines work by training immune systems to recognize and combat harmful viruses or bacteria. The immune system’s efficiency can decrease while aging, making people more susceptible to diseases. That’s why staying .