We do not reside in fear of becoming polio, in which paralysis of both the legs and lungs are unavoidable. Nor do we have intense outbreaks of measles. Healthcare providers, and our country's inhabitants, have worked together to decrease and isolate outbreaks of highly contagious, deadly diseases over decades of diligence and development of preventative measures.
Vaccines would be the lifesaving tool, you're the consumer that makes it happen. In case you're anything like us, your own curiosity and desire for knowledge about this kind of preventative medication is powerful, which is precisely why we decided to talk about a few common vaccines, what they do, and the reason why we receive them.
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B, also called HBV, is an infection that attacks the liver. It can cause sudden start or recurring liver disease. What makes this virus so dangerous is its ability to survive outside the body for up to seven days, and that it's transferred through bodily fluids. When we say physiological fluidswe mean something as simple as mucous or saliva, which are generated during a cough and disperse into the air/surrounding objects. It can also be transferred from a mother to her child during birth.
What's the big deal?
Your liver is responsible for many functions in the body. It synthesizes proteins your body requires, detoxes your blood, converts the sugars you eat into energy your body can use, stores minerals and vitamins for later usage, and also makes angiotensinogen (a hormone that your kidneys ask to raise your blood pressure and enhance renal filtration). That is not a complete list of liver function, either.
According to Medical News Daily, your liver does somewhere around 500 unique things for your body! When it malfunctions, it affects all your other systems. It may affect your general health in a very serious way. Obtaining the Hepatitis B vaccine protects you by an extremely infectious disease that is notorious for disrupting your liver procedures (all 500 of them). That is the reason you get this specific vaccine.
When can you get it?
The first is given at birth, the second and third are given between the first month and 15 months old. If you are thinking this sounds awfully young to be given a vaccine, then know this: according to the World Health Organization, 80-90% of infants who are infected with Hepatitis B within their first period of life may suffer chronic liver infections for the remainder of their lifetime.
Polio
Polio, also called Poliomyelitis attacks your spinal cord, destroying nerve cells and blocking communication from the brain to the rest of the physique. Infants and pregnant women are susceptible to the virus, and there's absolutely no cure. Transmission is most common through feces, generally throughout the fecal-oral route.
What's the big deal?
Even though the World Health Organization has made leaps and bounds in trying to eliminate polio from our planet, it exists. The vaccine bottles is indeed powerful, 99 out of 100 kids who complete their schooling program for polio are protected from it. That is why we use this vaccine.
When can you get it?
The initial dose is given at two months old, with the following second and third doses given between the 4th month and 15 months old.

MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)


Measles
Measles is a disease spread through the air when a person coughs or sneezes. It is so infectious, if a person has it, then 9 out of 10 people about them will probably become infected if they aren't vaccinated.
As stated by the CDC, one of every four people in the U.S. who contract measles will probably be hospitalized. On account of this vaccination program in the United States, measles was tagged as removed from our country. However, this does not really mean fully eliminated. It simply means there's no longer a continuous presence of the disease. It may still make its way here through travelers that aren't vaccinated.
Mumps
Mumps is a disease that attacks the salivary glands, located under your tongue and also in front of the ears. It can result in extreme swelling of these glands, and even hearing loss (though the latter is less common). It's very contagious and there is no cure, but there's a vaccine! Mumps is still within the USA, hence why taking preventative measures is really important.
Rubella
Also known as the German Measles, Rubella is a viral disease that poses the greatest risk to pregnant women. If a pregnant woman contracts Rubella, the fetus is at risk for congenital defects and sometimes, death.
What's the big deal?
These three viruses are highly infectious, and target children. In some cases, kids can bounce back fairly nicely. In others, the effects are observed throughout their lives. As these are viruses, there isn't any simple antibiotic therapy they could get. The best defense is a good offense.
When do you receive it?
This vaccine comes in two installments. The initial is given between 12 and 15 months, the next administered between 6 and 4 decades of age.

Diphtheria is a bacterial disease which affects your respiratory system. The germs binds to your tissue, and starts releasing toxins which kill the veins. The end state is a thick coating of tissue mucus, bacteria, and toxins on your nose and throat making it difficult to breathe and absorb.
It's spread by something as simple as coughing. There's treatment available as it's a bacteria. Compounds and antitoxin medication are administered, and the patient is kept in isolation until they are not infectious.
Tetanus
Tetanus is a disease from bacteria known as Clostridium tetani. It may be found nearly everywhere as spores (even dust and soil), and develops into bacteria when it finds a home in your body. It enters your body through a break in your skin like a little cut, a puncture, or a hangnail that shattered skin.

There is a particular antibiotic for tetanus, as this particular infection is dangerous. It needs immediate hospital care, effective and comprehensive wound attention from the entry point, close observation for dangerous complications such as pulmonary embolisms, along with extra antibiotics.
Pertussis
Pertussis is better called Whooping Cough. It's caused by the bacteria Bordatella pertussis, and it attacks the lymph system. It's called Whooping Cough because the affected individual will have coughing spells so strong and violent they are gasping for air, which makes a whooping sound.
It is highly contagious, and spread through saliva droplets from the air which are expelled during coughing. There's limited therapy, and it's effective primarily in the beginning stages prior to the coughing begins. Once the coughing begins, antibiotics can kill the germs but there is already damage done to your respiratory system.
What's the big deal?
All three of these bacteria have harmful effects on the body, especially to infants and kids. When the disease begins, it can be difficult to diagnose early, which allows additional time to get permanent damage and/or severe complications to happen. That is precisely why we use the DTaP vaccine.
When can you get it?
The DTaP vaccine is administered in four installations. The initial is given at 2 months old, the next 3 are administered all of the way through 15 months old. A booster is recommended every 10 years, even for adults.
This information isn't intended to frighten you in getting a vaccination. Our purpose is to show you why they're relevant, significant, and crucial to our health and the health of our kids.
If you'd like to explore some more resources on the recommended time-frames for receiving them, check out the CDC's Immunization Schedule. It covers 0 months to 18 years old, and lists what vaccines are recommended for that which age range.