Immunizations

Immunizations are a straightforward and highly effective way of preventing infection from diseases that could cause serious illness and even be fatal. At Genesis Personal Healthcare Medicine in New York City, their team offers a comprehensive range of immunizations to suit all members of your family. Their team specializes in providing family health care services and helping prevent illness wherever possible. To schedule a telehealth immunization consultation, call Genesis Personal Healthcare Medicine or request an appointment online today. 

What are immunizations?

Immunizations are an effective way of preventing you and your family from developing a range of harmful and potentially fatal diseases. Some of the conditions for which you can receive immunizations in the United States include:

• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Chickenpox
• Rotavirus
• Pneumococcal infection
• Whooping cough (pertussis)
• Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
• Hepatitis A and B
• Polio
• Flu

These illnesses used to affect millions of people, but after many years of having immunization programs in place, the diseases on this list are no longer such a threat. Some conditions, like smallpox, have been virtually eradicated by immunization programs.

How do immunizations work?

Immunizations work by triggering a reaction in your immune system. The immune system’s job is to look out for invading bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms and foreign particles that enter your body.

From when you’re a child, your immune system targets the germs you come in contact with and creates antibodies to fight and destroy the invading cells. 

Once your body fights off an infection, it stores the blueprint for the antibodies that destroyed the threat. It can then put them straight to work if you come into contact with the same substance again.

Immunizations do the same thing – introduce an infection into your body so your immune system can develop the right antibodies to fight it. The difference is that the vaccination you receive contains a dead or weakened form of the infection. 

There’s enough of the DNA present for your body to create antibodies, but it’s in a harmless state that won’t make you sick.

Are immunizations always effective?

Immunizations, in most cases, are highly effective. That means once you’ve had the course of vaccinations required to ensure your body creates the right antibodies, you need never worry about having that particular disease again.

Some immunizations are lifelong, while others, like tetanus, require a booster injection to maintain their effectiveness. In the case of influenza (flu), you need an annual flu shot because there are numerous different flu viruses. Even if you’ve had the flu already, it’s only the specific form of flu you had that you’re immune to.

The team at Genesis Personal Healthcare Medicine consults with you via telehealth and helps you determine how to immunize you and your family against the strain of the flu virus most likely to affect people this year, based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Find out what immunizations you need or arrange for you and your family to have flu shots by calling Genesis Personal Healthcare Medicine or requesting an appointment online today.