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Vaccinations can help protect you, your children, and the health of your community by working with your immune system to prevent contagious disease. Fernando Porter, MD, of Capital City Primary and Immediate Care in Silver Spring, Maryland, offers vaccinations to children and adults as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To schedule vaccinations for you or your child, call the office or book an appointment online today.
Vaccinations are a way to develop immunity for common, contagious diseases. Vaccinations introduce the body to a small amount of a virus or bacteria to trigger your immune system. The immune response naturally responds to the controlled exposure by creating antibodies that recognize and protect against potentially life-threatening diseases.
Once you have been vaccinated and have immunity, your body can effectively fight if you’re exposed to that specific virus. By introducing the immune system in a controlled way to a germ before you have direct exposure, you have a better chance of having few, if any, symptoms.
Different vaccinations work slightly differently depending on the virus or bacteria. All vaccinations expose the body to small amounts of an illness, but each germ (virus or bacteria) must be introduced in a specific way to achieve immunization.
Some ways vaccinations introduce an illness include exposure to:
The immune system responds to each of these as if it was the germ itself and immediately begins creating a defense against it, which can last a lifetime in some cases.
According to the CDC, children should begin receiving vaccinations at birth before they run the risk of exposure to certain contagious illnesses. Capital City Primary and Immediate Care adheres to the CDC recommendations for scheduling childhood vaccinations.
Some vaccinations require multiple doses for complete immunization, and some need booster doses after several years. Dr. Porter recommends every child receive the full course of each vaccination starting at birth.
The CDC recommends children receive vaccinations for:
Adults also need vaccinations to lower their health risks as they age, before they travel to some countries, or as new viruses emerge. Depending on your health history and health risks, Dr. Porter may recommend you receive vaccinations, including flu, pneumonia, COVID-19, and shingles.
To schedule vaccinations or discuss any concerns you may have about them, call the office or book an appointment online at Capital City Primary and Immediate Care today.