Immunization Schedules for the Whole Family

Unlike most medicines, which are designed to treat or cure disease, immunizations were created to prevent and decrease the threat posed by diseases.

Vaccines can help protect infants, children, and teens from many life-threatening diseases before they might be exposed to them. Following the recommended immunization schedules below ensures your children are protected from illnesses and are given a healthy start in life through their teenage years:A common misconception is that only infants and children need immunizations. However, adults need different immunizations too, especially when you factor in age, location, job, lifestyle, travel schedule, health conditions or previous immunizations. Which immunizations are right for you depend on many factors. Below is a schedule of common immunizations for adults:

Vaccines play an important part in lowering transmission rates, as most vaccine-preventable diseases are spread from person to person. If one person in a community gets an infectious disease, they can spread it to others who are not immune. But a person who is immune to a disease because she has been vaccinated can’t get the disease and can’t spread it to others. The more people who are vaccinated, the fewer opportunities a disease has to spread.

The safety of vaccines is often a topic of media stories and blog postings. This attention may make you wonder, “How do I know vaccines are safe?” Before a vaccine is ever given to people, the Food and Drug Administration oversees extensive lab testing of the vaccine that can take several years to make sure it is safe and effective. After the lab, testing in people begins, and it can take several more years before the clinical studies are complete and the vaccine is licensed.

There are many benefits to vaccines. Below are 5 benefits to getting immunizations: 

1. Immunizations can save your child’s life. 
2. Vaccination is safe and effective. 
3. Immunization protects others you care about. 
4. Immunizations can save your family time and money.
5. Immunization protects future generations.

At Healthcare Highways, you have preventive services available at no cost to you as a health plan member. We encourage you to take full advantage of your preventive care benefits and other available wellness resources. If you have questions about your benefits or what’s covered, our Customer Experience Advocates team is here to help!