What's a vaccine?
The topic of vaccines always seems to be relevant — and may sometimes be a subject of misinformation. Before vaccines, infectious diseases like smallpox, polio and measles ran rampant.1 But thanks to medical advances, there are available vaccines to help protect us. A vaccine is a small dose of germs that’s meant to mimic a certain illness. This helps your body remember and recognize that infection and helps create antibodies to fight it off — keeping you healthy.2
A vaccine works kind of like it's “practice” for your immune system. Each time you get a vaccine, your body may get better and better at fighting off that particular strain of illness. Until one day, your immune system spots that illness and the antibodies go into action. Depending on the illness, you may need a different number of vaccines and timing to prevent illness.
What’s the difference between vaccine and immunization?
There’s a lot of medical terminology out there. And many terms may mean the same thing, which is the case here. A vaccine is something that may fire up your immune system so it can produce immunity to a specific illness. It’s usually given through an injection (like your annual flu shot). A vaccination or immunization (often used interchangeably) is simply the act of giving a vaccine. And once you have immunity to a specific illness, you may be protected from getting it even if exposed.2
How does herd immunity work?
Herd immunity is used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to describe when enough people within a single community become immune to an infectious disease through vaccination or from previous illness. This may slow the spread of disease and even might make it unlikely to spread at all.3 The percentage of people who may need to have protection in order to achieve herd immunity may vary by disease.
Common vaccines and when to get them
There are a several vaccines for infectious diseases or illnesses you may be familiar with. It’s recommended by the CDC that certain vaccines are given at certain ages, or for unique circumstances (like traveling abroad). Here’s a list of common vaccines:4
-
Chickenpox
-
COVID-19
-
Hepatitis A and B
-
Human Papillomavirus
-
Flu
-
Measles
-
Mumps
-
Polio
-
Shingles
-
Smallpox
-
Tetanus
-
Whooping Cough
You likely already got the majority of common vaccines when you were younger (like chickenpox, measles and mumps). As you get older, your doctor may let you know when it’s time for your next one. And before you take a trip out of the country, ask your doctor if there are recommended vaccines based on your travel destinations. You may want to keep track of what vaccines you have received and when you need your next dose to complete a series.
Child vaccines
Did you know child vaccines help protect against 16 diseases?5 It’s important to stay on top of your little one’s vaccines, ask any questions you may have and know where to go for more information. Be sure to schedule regular child well visits starting at birth to keep your child up-to-date on immunizations.
Flu shots
It's recommended to get a flu shot every year to protect you and your family.6 If you have a UnitedHealthcare health plan, you can get a flu shot at more than 50,000 locations.
Pneumonia vaccines
It’s recommended that kids younger than 2, adults older than 65 and some individuals with certain underlying health conditions get the pneumonia vaccine. Learn more about the pneumonia vaccine and find out how to get it if you or a loved one may need it.
COVID-19 vaccines
COVID-19 vaccines are an important step in slowing the spread of the disease. Review the current information to help you stay informed on COVID-19 vaccines and discuss any questions you may have with your health care provider.
What kind of doctor should I see for my vaccines?
Vaccines can be administered by doctors, nurses and pharmacists. Typically, when you visit your primary care provider for your yearly exam, your doctor will check your chart to make sure you’re up-to-date on any regularly scheduled vaccines. You may also need to catch up on any doses you may have missed between now and your last visit. Making a special trip for flu season? Many walk-in clinics, pharmacies, or even schools will likely offer flu vaccines.7 If you’ve got that next international trip planned, be sure to talk with your doctor about where you’re headed in case you may need a few more vaccines before you travel.