Why should I stay up to date with vaccinations?

Staying up to date on your immunizations doesn’t just keep you healthy: it keeps your family and community healthy. Vaccines prevent serious illnesses and diseases, and they lower your healthcare costs by reducing your need for emergency visits and missed work due to illness. And when enough people are vaccinated, people who can’t be vaccinated are protected through herd immunity.

Beyond preventing disease, vaccines can even eradicate disease: smallpox has been eradicated thanks to vaccination, and polio is nearly gone worldwide. Immunization is the path we can take to eradicate other diseases in the future.

With the misinformation and myths around vaccines and immunizations reaching dramatic heights on social media and in the news, it’s more important now than ever to understand the facts about vaccines and immunization, and to call out these myths when we hear them.

Have you heard these vaccine myths in action? How can you help fight misinformation and keep our communities healthy by encouraging the people in your life to stay up to date on their immunizations?

MYTH: vaccines cause autism.

FACT: there’s no link between vaccines and autism.

MYTH: natural immunity is better.

FACT: vaccines create safe immunity without the risk of severe illness.

MYTH: vaccines aren’t necessary if diseases are rare.

FACT: low disease rates are due to vaccination. Stopping vaccines can bring diseases back.

MYTH: too many vaccines can overwhelm the immune system.

FACT: children are exposed to more antigens from a cold than from all vaccines combined.

MYTH: healthy adults don’t need vaccines.

FACT: immunity can wear off. Adults need booster shots and protection against evolving threats like flu and COVID-19.

How do I stay up to date on my vaccinations?

Staying up to date is easy – just go to your primary care check-up appointment each year! Vaccines aren’t just for children – your provider will keep you on track with any vaccines you need throughout your life.

Besides that, make sure to stay up to date on vaccines that prevent seasonal illnesses each year, like your flu and COVID vaccines. It’s not just for you, it’s for your community.

Still need to schedule your annual check-up for 2025? Contact us through your Patient Portal or call us at 716.847.2441 (option 5) to schedule today.