What Types of Immunizations are There?

What kind of immunizations are there? Frankly, there are a lot more than in past years and a lot for parents and caregivers to know about. At Mundelein Pedicatrics in Grayslake, IL, our pediatricians ask families to know all they can about the "shots" that prevent the spread of devastating communicable diseases and their many complications. They also urge parents to stay current with immunization schedules to ensure optimal health for their loved ones.

The human body is a fighter

Every day, we contact germs, disease-causing antigens. Strep, staph, the common cold virus and countless more invade our bodies through the skin, eyes, mouth and respiratory system. Some of these attacking microorganisms are airborne, some are caught through respiratory droplets from a sneeze or cough, and some are ingested. What they all have in common is this: they sicken you if your body has inadequate immune system defenses (as is the case with infants, the elderly and very ill people) or if your body has insufficient time to produce antibodies.

Enter immunizations. Developed in response to widespread diseases such as polio, vaccines arm the body's defenses against many potentially deadly and definitely harmful conditions. Your pediatrician administers a large number of vaccines to children, teens and young adults, keeping in mind the benefits these medicines provide.

To optimize the body's immunity, the pediatricians at Mundelein Pediatrics administer vaccines, and boosters, according to a regular schedule. They assist families in keeping shot records and in ensuring immunizations are up to date.

The types of immunizations in Grayslake

Currently, physicians immunize their patients against 16 different diseases, says the American Academy of Pediatrics. They confer immunity against:

• Pneumonia
• Flu
• Polio
• Chicken pox
• Measles, mumps and rubella
• Tetanus (lockjaw), diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough)
• Hepatitis B and A
• Meningitis

How they work

Whatever the vaccine, the way they work is basically the same. They trigger the body's immune response. Some immunizations use live but weakened, viruses. Others use killed viruses and others, just a specific part of, or antigen in, the microorgranism responsible for triggering immunity.

Other vaccines contain a treated form of the toxin which the bacteria secretes, and some immunizations break through the outer coating of the germ cell. These strategies allow the body's defenses to work quickly and efficiently.

Are yours up to date?

Contact Mundelein Pediatrics in Grayslake, IL about this question or any others you have regarding immunizations. The doctors and staff will be happy to give you the information you need about this important preventive care. Call (847) 548-7337 today.