Immunizations

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Reduce the Risk of Infectious Diseases

Vaccinations are an essential part of your regular care. They protect you from serious diseases and keep you healthy.

You need vaccinations throughout your life. They can offer protection from diseases such as:

  • COVID-19
  • Flu
  • Measles
  • Mumps
  • Pneumococcal infections
  • Tetanus

During a wellness visit, your provider will make sure you have the recommended vaccinations based on your age and lifestyle.

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Sanford Health offers the annual flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine at events and locations near you.

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Reasons to Vaccinate

Immunizations are also called vaccines, shots or vaccinations. They can protect people of all ages from dangerous, life-threatening diseases.

When should children get vaccinated? Children should get vaccinated early, including right after birth. Vaccinations help keep them from getting sick with serious diseases, including:

  • Haemophilus influenza, a common upper respiratory infection that can also cause meningitis
  • Pneumococcal disease, a common cause of ear infections and pneumonia
  • Chickenpox
  • Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis
  • Hepatitis B
  • Measles, mumps and rubella
  • Polio
  • Rotavirus

If you feel hesitant about vaccine safety, talk to your child’s doctor. Physicians are your first source of reliable information.

Learn more: What every parent should know about vaccines.


How Vaccines Work

Many vaccines work by injecting weakened or killed bacteria or viruses into the body. They show your body’s immune system how to fight the disease and produce antibodies without getting you sick.

Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines don’t include any viruses or bacteria. They work by delivering a message to your cells that teaches them how to recognize a disease and fight it off.

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Vaccine Schedule: Birth to 10 Years

Today, most parents have never seen the devastating consequences of vaccine-preventable diseases first-hand. Though not common in the U.S., these diseases persist around the world. Vaccine-preventable diseases can cause serious illness, may require hospitalization and can be deadly - especially in infants and young children. Continuing to protect children through vaccination is an important step to prevent outbreaks. See the currently recommended immunizations for children.

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Quiz: Vaccines for Ages 11-26

Thanks to vaccines, most U.S. children are protected against serious diseases such as measles, mumps, diphtheria, polio and chickenpox. But what happens to that protection when a child becomes a teen? A teen who missed a vaccine or booster as a child may need to be immunized. Learn more about which vaccines teens need by taking this quiz.

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Quiz: Vaccine Schedule for Ages 26+

As we age, immunity from childhood vaccinations begins to wear off, resulting in adults being at risk for serious, potentially life-threatening diseases. In fact, every year approximately 50,000 adults in the United States die from vaccine-preventable diseases. Staying up-to-date on immunizations is the most effective protection to keep safe from these dangerous illnesses.

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Protect Your Baby

Infants are too young to be vaccinated themselves. When a pregnant mother gets vaccinated, she often passes on antibodies to her child. Maternal vaccination gives babies early, life-saving protection.

Recommended immunizations during pregnancy:

  • Seasonal influenza (flu). Flu vaccines are recommended during any trimester of pregnancy to prevent influenza-related complications, which can lead to premature labor and preterm birth.
  • Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis). Experts recommend a Tdap vaccination between 27 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. During pertussis outbreaks, infants are at the highest risk of illness, complications and death.
  • COVID-19. Pregnant women are at an increased risk of serious illness, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. A COVID-19 vaccine can protect you and your baby. The CDC recommends vaccination to people who are pregnant, breastfeeding or plan to become pregnant.

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