Vaccination Status
Rationale & Instructions
Vaccinations are one of
the most effective ways to prevent infectious diseases and protect public
health1,2. Vaccines work by stimulating the body’s immune system to produce
antibodies that can fight off specific pathogens, such as viruses or bacteria.
By getting vaccinated, people can reduce their risk of getting sick, being
hospitalized, or dying from diseases that vaccines can help prevent. Vaccines
also benefit the community by creating herd immunity, which means that when
enough people are immune to a disease, it becomes harder for the disease to
spread among the population. This can protect those who are not vaccinated or
have weakened immune systems.
Vaccinations are
especially important in preventing pandemics, which are large-scale outbreaks
of infectious diseases that affect many people across different regions or
countries. Pandemics can cause severe illness, death, social disruption, and
economic losses. Some examples of pandemics in history are the 1918 influenza
pandemic, the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines
can help prevent pandemics by stopping the transmission of new or emerging
pathogens before they become widespread and cause a global health crisis.
One of the challenges in
preventing pandemics is that vaccines need to be developed and distributed
quickly and equitably to respond to a new or unknown threat. This requires
scientific innovation, global collaboration, and strong health systems. For example, with COVID-19, several organizations and initiatives, such
as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the COVAX
Facility, have worked together to accelerate the development, approval, and
delivery of safe and effective vaccines for COVID-193,4.
However, there are still gaps and barriers in vaccine access and availability,
especially in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, more efforts are
needed to increase and diversify vaccine production, improve supply chains and
logistics, and ensure fair and affordable distribution of vaccines to all
people who need them.
In conclusion,
vaccinations are a vital tool for maintaining health and safeguarding
communities from pandemics. Vaccines can save lives, reduce suffering, and
protect the most vulnerable from infectious diseases. However, vaccines alone
are not enough to prevent pandemics. We also need to improve other preventive measures, such as surveillance,
testing, contact tracing, isolation, quarantine, hygiene, ventilation, and
social distancing5,6. Moreover, we
need to address the root causes of pandemics, such as environmental
degradation, wildlife trade, deforestation, urbanization, and human-animal
interactions7,8.
By working together and acting now, we can build a safer and healthier future
for ourselves and generations to come.
1 Reasons for Adults to be
Vaccinated | CDC
2 Five Important Reasons to Vaccinate Your Child | HHS.gov
3 Berkley, S.
(2021) How to Prevent the Next Pandemic
- Scientific American
4 Pandemics Overview (worldbank.org)
5 How to Protect Yourself and
Others | CDC
6 Pandemics: Definition,
Prevention, and Preparation (webmd.com)
7 Pandemic
prevention - Wikipedia
8 Benefits of Getting A COVID-19 Vaccine | CDC
Vaccination against viral infections
|
CDC Recommendations and
Schedules |
Score |
|
0 if on schedule, or if
vaccine is not recommended, otherwise 1 |
|
Viruses |
|
|
Chicken pox
(Varicella-Zoster virus) |
Ideally 1 dose each at 1-2
year and 4-6 year. By default, 2 doses in teen or adult life. |
|
Dengue (DENV 1-4) |
Recommended only for 9-16
year with prior exposure to disease and living in endemic areas: Single dose. |
|
Flu (Influenza viruses) |
Yearly after 6 months |
|
Hepatitis A (HAV) |
Single dose (2 shots 6 months
apart) for children between 12-23 month, or as catch-up for those
unvaccinated between 2-18 year, or at-risk population. |
|
Hepatitis B (HBV) |
3 doses scheduled at 0,1
and 6 months, for all age groups |
|
Human papilloma virus (HPV) |
2 doses scheduled 6 to 12
months apart for age group 9-15 year, 3 doses needed if started later (15-26
year), not recommended after 26 years. |
|
Measles (Morbillivirus) |
2 doses (as part of MMR vaccine)
in children, first at 12-15 month, then 2nd follow-up at 4-6 year.
Unvaccinated teens and adults should catch up. |
|
Mumps (Paramyxovirus) |
2 doses (as part of MMR
vaccine) in children, first at 12-15 month, then 2nd follow-up at 4-6 year.
Unvaccinated teens and adults should catch up. |
|
Polio virus (Inactivated
Polio Vaccine, IPV) |
4 doses scheduled at
2,4,6-18 month, then at 4-6 year. |
|
Rotavirus |
3-dose formulation (RotaTeq® (RV5) is given in 3 doses at ages 2 months, 4
months, and 6 months) or 2-dose (Rotarix® (RV1) is given in 2 doses at ages 2
months and 4 months) |
|
Rubella (Rubivirus) |
2 doses (as part of MMR
vaccine) in children, first at 12-15 month, then 2nd follow-up at 4-6 year.
Unvaccinated teens and adults should catch up. |
|
Respiratory syncytial virus
(RSV) |
Single dose of either Arexvy or Abrysvo indicated for
adults 60 year of age or older, and for pregnant women (Abrysvo
only). New vaccines! |
|
Shingles (Herpes zoster) |
2 doses (Shingrix)
separated by 2 to 6 months, for all adults 50 year or older, and for all 19
year or older who have weakened immune system. |
|
Japanese encephalitis (JE
virus) |
Recommended only when
traveling to endemic areas: 2 doses (IXIARO) scheduled 28 days apart. Vaccine approved for
2-month-old and older. 18–65-year-old could opt for 2nd dose after 7 days. |
|
Rabies virus |
Recommended only to special
groups or travelers at risk: 4 doses (HDCV or PCEC administered IM) scheduled on day
0,3,7,14. |
|
Smallpox (Variola virus) |
Recommended only for special
groups or when an outbreak is evident. ACAM2000® is administered as a single dose by the
percutaneous route using the multiple puncture technique. |
|
Yellow fever virus |
Recommended only when
traveling to endemic areas. Single dose of live attenuated virus. Booster recommended for
selected group. Available at special vaccination sites only. |
|
Covid 19 |
Recommended for all age
groups older than 6 months, using Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech latest vaccine
and schedules. |
|
Overall score |
|
|
Reminder:
Accumulated score of zero requires no further action. The user is encouraged to
discuss with a healthcare provider any line items scored as 1 and proceed with
remedial actions as appropriate. Save or print the table. All forms will reset
to blank state once the user exits the website.
"Prevention is better than cure" Desiderius
Erasmus
Vaccination against bacterial infections
|
CDC Recommendations and Schedules |
Score |
|
0 if on schedule, or if vaccine is not recommended, otherwise 1 |
|
Bacteria |
|
|
Diphtheria (Corynebacterium diphtheriae) |
Babies and children: 3 shots of DTaP at 2,4,6 month, then 2
boosters at 15-18 month and 4-6 year, respectively. Preteens and teens:
booster as Tdap. Adults: booster with Tdap every 10 years. Pregnant women:
Tdap in early trimester. |
|
Hemophilus influenza type b |
3 doses (PedvaxHIB) or 4 doses (ActHIB or Hiberix) scheduled
between 2-15 month, usually at 2,4,6 month if 3 doses, and an additional one
between 12-15 month if 4 doses. |
|
Meningococcal diseases (Neisseria meningitidis) |
MenACWY routine for 11-12 years, followed by a booster at 16
years. Also recommended for children and adults at increased risk. MenB also available for all 10 year or older at increased
risk. |
|
Pneumococcal diseases (Streptococcus pneumoniae) |
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV 13,15, 20) recommended for
all children younger than 5-year, 5-64 year at increased risk, and 65 year
and over. Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) recommended for 2-18
year with certain medical conditions, and for 18 year and older who had
PCV15. |
|
Tetanus (Clostridium tetani) |
Babies and children: 3 shots of DTaP at 2,4,6 month, then 2
boosters at 15-18 month and 4-6 year, respectively. Preteens and teens:
booster as Tdap. Adults: booster with Tdap every 10 years. Pregnant women:
Tdap in early trimester. |
|
Whooping cough (Bordetella pertussis) |
Babies and children: 3 shots of DTaP at 2,4,6 month, then 2
boosters at 15-18 month and 4-6 year, respectively. Preteens and teens:
booster as Tdap. Adults: booster with Tdap every 10 years. Pregnant women:
Tdap in early trimester. |
|
Tuberculosis (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) |
BCG recommended only for special cases. |
|
Typhoid fever (Salmonella typhi) |
Recommended only when traveling to endemic areas. |
|
Overall score |
|
|
Reminder:
Accumulated score of zero requires no further action. The user is encouraged to
discuss with a healthcare provider any line items scored as 1 and proceed with
remedial actions as appropriate. Save or print the table. All forms will reset
to blank state once the user exits the website.
"Prevention is better than cure" Desiderius
Erasmus
|
Preventive medicine plays a crucial role in enhancing public health by focusing on proactive measures to avoid illness. By promoting healthy lifestyles, vaccinations, and early screenings, it significantly reduces the burden on healthcare systems and improves overall quality of life. It empowers individuals to take charge of their well-being and fosters a healthier, more sustainable society.
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