Immunization Clinic in Suffern NY and Monroe NY

Immunization means the action of offering an animal or person immunity to infection, typically by inoculation.

When it comes to vaccines, there are a number of different types of vaccines which are created, and they fall into these categories:

Inactivated vaccines
Inactivated vaccines are the version where the germ is killed that causes the disease before it is injected. While inactivated vaccines do not provide as strong of immunity protection as live vaccines, it does help. However, with inactivated vaccines, you will need booster shots in order to receive ongoing immunity. Inactivated vaccines include:
– Hepatitis A
– Flu
– Polio
– Rabies

Live-attenuated vaccines
Live-attenuated vaccines are a weakened form of the germ which causes a disease. Due to the vaccine being so similar to the natural infection agent, it can create a strong and even long-lasting immune response for the individual being vaccinated. Live vaccines include:
– Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
– Rotavirus
– Smallpox
– Chickenpox
– Yellow fever

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines
mRNA vaccines create proteins in order to trigger an immune system response. mRNA vaccines have many benefits, specifically compared to other types of vaccines, like shorter manufacturing time, they do not contain a live virus, no risk of causing the disease to the individual being vaccinated, etc.

mRNA vaccines include:
– COVID-19

Subunit, recombinant, polysaccharide, and conjugate vaccines
Subunit, recombinant, polysaccharide, and conjugate vaccines use specific parts of the germ, which may include protein, sugar, or capsid. Due to these types of vaccines only using specific parts of the germ, they provide strong immune system responses to target certain pieces of the germ. The best thing about these specific vaccines is almost anyone can get them. The only limitation is you may need a booster with these.

Subunit, recombinant, polysaccharide, and conjugate vaccines include:
– Hib disease
– Hepatitis B
– HPV
– Whooping Cough
– Pneumococcal disease
– Meningococcal disease
– Shingles

Toxoid vaccines
Toxoid vaccines use a toxin made from the germ which causes the disease. They build immunity to the parts of the germ which cause the disease, instead of the actual germ itself. This means the immune system response is targeting the toxin instead of the entire germ.

Toxoid vaccines include:
– Diphtheria
– Tetanus

Viral vector vaccines
Viral vector vaccines are a modified version of a different virus, it uses the vector to deliver the protection. Viral vector vaccines have been used most recently for the Ebola outbreak, and other infectious diseases like Zika, HIV, and the flu.

Most recently viral vector vaccines include:
– COVID-19

There are germs that are consistently surrounding us within our homes, workplaces, and other environments, as well as our bodies. When any harmful germs end up coming into contact with our bodies, the germs can lead to infectious diseases, or worse.

Our bodies are brilliant as they are able to perform many duties, we don’t know it is even happening, like defending us from harmful pathogens by creating physical barriers to prevent the pathogens from entering the body. However, there are times the barriers cannot prevent all pathogens. If these pathogens end up getting through the barriers that were set up and infect our body, our immune systems will become triggered and the pathogens will become attacked and destroyed or overwhelmed.

While our bodies are incredible and can do so much for us, they cannot do everything alone. Vaccines are one way to help our immune system figure out the composition of the pathogen and provide a map to create defenses against these pathogens. Vaccines do take time to allow this, which is why when vaccines are introduced to our bodies, it provides a weakened or inactive state of the antigen to trigger the immune system to respond. The weakened version of the vaccine will not cause the disease to occur within the individual, but it will prompt a then natural immune response to start fighting it as if it would with a normal first reaction.

Vaccines are available to activate our immune system without having us go through the illness first, and without making us sick. Many dangerous and even deadly infectious diseases can easily be prevented with an effective vaccine. This is one of the main reasons why being immunized is so important.

Even from when we are born, we are continuously exposed to many different viruses, microbes, and bacteria. While many may not be harmful to us, there are many which are and these are the ones that cause disease.

Our body’s immune system functions to help protect us against infectious diseases and infections. Once exposed to these infections, our immune systems are triggered and begin a sequence of events to neutralize the microbes to limit the harmful effects they can have on our bodies.

Immunization clinics are available for patients to obtain immunity without the risk of getting the disease in the first place. When we are immunized, our bodies are able to activate the immune system “memory bank” which stores away crucial information about the components of the infection, so if we do ever come into contact with the disease in the future, we will understand what it is, and how to fight it.

Allergy and Asthma Care Rockland offers immunization appointments for patients who are looking for immunizations against infectious diseases and other common seasonal illnesses. Contact us today to learn more about what vaccines we provide, and to book an appointment. We serve patients from Suffern NY, Monroe NY, New City NY, Spring Valley NY, Monsey NY, Airmont NY and Mahwah NJ.