Vaccines seem to always be in the news at this time of year. Especially now amid the Covid-19 Pandemic. Here is a quick look to help you make an informed decision for you or a loved one.

A vaccine stimulates a person’s immune system to develop antibodies to a disease. This prevents the disease by developing an immunity to the disease and spreading the disease to others. Some examples of vaccines are chicken pox, meningitis, flu, and more recently COVID-19.

There are side effects associated with vaccines and are mild and typically go away within a few days. Side effects can be treated with over-the-counter products such a Tylenol and ibuprofen. Some examples are tenderness or redness at the injection site, pain, and fever. People commonly think this is the illness. In fact, this is your body reacting to the vaccine and doing its job creating the antibodies needed to develop immunity.

The FDA tests and licenses all vaccines here in the United States prior to use. Together the CDC and FDA track all vaccines for safety.