It is important that everyone gets vaccinated per the immunization schedule recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—not only for their own health but for the health of others.
Hepatitis B Vaccine
Hepatitis B is a viral disease that causes liver inflammation and damage. Over time, chronic hepatitis B infection can cause cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.
In the United States, 1.25 million people are chronically infected with HBV, of whom 36% are infected during childhood. Up to 25% of those infected as infants will die as a result of liver disease in later years—which is why it is important to prevent infection by vaccinating at birth.
There are three HBV vaccines licensed for use in the United States, each of which is delivered by intramuscular injection (IM).
Pertussis (“whooping cough”) is a highly contagious bacteria that causes respiratory illness lasting two or more weeks, typically with a cough that sounds like a whoop. Pertussis in infants can lead to pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and death. Diphtheria is a bacteria that causes sore throat, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and weakness. In some cases, diphtheria can lead to organ damage due to toxins produced by the bacteria. Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, causes muscular contractions that it make difficult to open the mouth, swallow, and breathe. Around 11% of tetanus cases are fatal.
There are two DTaP vaccines approved for use in the United States.
Tdap vaccination is currently recommended for:
Children between 7 and 10 years who were not fully vaccinated with other whooping cough vaccines, like DTaP. Children between 11 and 18 years, preferably between the ages of 11 and 12. Adults 19 years and older as a one-time dose, followed by a Td or Tdap booster every 10 years. Pregnant people between 27 and 36 weeks of each pregnancy. People 65 years and older if they are going to be in close contact with a newborn or an infant younger than 12 months.
There are two Tdap vaccines approved for use in the United States.
There are three Hib vaccines approved for use in the United States.
There are four pneumococcal vaccines approved for use in the United States:
There is one polio vaccine approved for use in the United States, called Ipol, that is made with an inactivated (dead) virus.
Prior to the development of a rotavirus vaccine, an estimated three million cases occurred in the United States every year.
There are two rotavirus vaccines licensed for use, each of which are delivered orally (by mouth).
Measles is a viral disease spread by respiratory droplets or airborne transmission that causes a widespread rash and can lead to encephalopathy (brain damage). Mumps is a viral disease that causes the painful inflammation of the salivary glands and can also affect the pancreas, testicles, and brain. Rubella (German measles) is a viral disease that affects the skin, lymph nodes, and joints. It can cause birth defects in babies if an infection occurs during pregnancy.
There are two MMR vaccines approved for use in the United States.
There is one varicella vaccine, called Varivax, approved for use in the United States.
There are two hepatitis A vaccines approved for use in the United States.
Because the virus mutates quickly, annual vaccination is needed to avoid infection.
While most flu vaccines are given by injection, there is one that is delivered by nasal spray (FluMist) and another that can be administered with a jet injector (Afluria) for people aged 18 to 64. Three of the vaccines (Fluad Quadrivalent, Flublok Quadrivalent, and Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent) are specifically recommended for people ages 65 and older, who tend to have a less robust immune response to traditional flu vaccines.
Annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older. There are nine different flu vaccines approved for use in the United States.
Some meningococcal vaccines (called meningococcal conjugate vaccines) protect against common forms of the bacteria, namely serogroups A, C, W, and Y. Others protect against serogroup B bacteria, the most frequent cause of meningococcal disease in adolescents and young adults in the United States.
There are five meningococcal vaccines currently licensed for use.
The CDC currently recommends vaccination in adolescents between 11 and 12 years of age. Vaccination can be started as early as age 9. The vaccine is also recommended for people through age 26 years who have not been adequately vaccinated. Adults 27 to 45 may also be vaccinated based on a shared decision with their doctor.
There is one HPV vaccine, called Gardasil-9, approved for use in the United States.
The HZV vaccine is given to adults 50 and older who are at a high risk of shingles. There is only one shingles vaccine available in the United States, called Shingrix.
Since the pandemic began, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency use authorization (EUA) or FDA approval to four COVID-19 vaccines.
In 2021 the FDA gave full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in people ages 16 and older. Since the vaccine was approved, it has been marketed under the name Comirnaty. The FDA approved the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for use in adults 18 and older in 2022. It is marketed under the name Spikevax.
Rabies Vaccine
Rabies is a serious viral illness transmitted by the saliva of infected animals. It can take weeks, months, or years for symptoms to appear, but once they do, rabies almost always leads to death. Rabies is rare in the United States and other parts of the developed world. The greatest number of cases are seen in India, China, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Even so, people in the United States who are at risk of exposure (including veterinarians, animal handlers, spelunkers, or rabies laboratory workers) may be offered the vaccine as a precaution. The same applies to travelers to parts of the world where rabies is widespread.
Similarly, people who are bitten by animals, including domestic ones, are routinely given rabies shots as a precaution. Bats are the most common source of rabies in the United States, although raccoons, foxes, and skunks can also be carriers.
There are two rabies vaccines available for use in the United States.
Cholera Vaccine
Cholera is a gastrointestinal illness caused by the Vibrio cholera bacteria. Cholera causes watery diarrhea that can run the gamut from mild to life-threatening. The infection is transmitted through contaminated water in areas with poor sanitation.
Cholera is rare in the United States and not a disease for which American residents are routinely vaccinated. The vaccine is used for people traveling to (or living in) tropical areas where the disease is widespread. Some countries will require proof of vaccination before you are allowed to enter.
There is one FDA-approved cholera vaccine, called Vaxchora, that is given as a single dose at least 10 days before travel to an endemic region.
There is one JEV vaccine licensed for use in the United States, called Ixiaro, that is given in two doses and completed at least one week before travel to an endemic region.
Yellow fever vaccination is indicated for adults traveling to endemic regions. There is one yellow fever vaccine, called YF-Vax, given as a single dose at least 10 days before travel.
Typhoid is prevalent in parts of the world with poor sanitation, including parts of Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and the Middle East.
There are two typhoid vaccines available for use in the United States, both of which are given before travel to an endemic region.
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