Top 5 Reasons to Use a Vaccine Planner for Your Family’s Health

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Vaccines help to prevent or, at the very least, reduce the symptom severity of serious illnesses. While vaccines are often associated with kids, there are several vaccines that are recommended for adults as well. Some vaccines, such as the flu vaccine, need to be taken annually, while others, such as tetanus, need to be taken as booster shots every 10 years. It can be difficult to figure out what vaccines you need to take, which is where a vaccine planner comes in.

5 Reasons to Use a Vaccine Planner for Your Family’s Health

A vaccine planner allows you to input your age, medical conditions, risk factors (such as smoking or drinking) and other details to find out what vaccines you need. You can use this planner for every member in your family, as it will provide a different list for each individual based on their specific needs. You can discuss these personalized lists of vaccines with your healthcare provider to come up with a vaccine plan for you and your family. Here are 5 reasons why you should use a vaccine planner:

1. Protect your Child’s Health

Your child’s immune system is not fully developed, which is why vaccines are particularly important for this age group. Some parents worry that multiple vaccines will overload their child’s immune system. However, UNICEF assures parents that this is not the case as vaccines put less of a burn on your child’s immune system than a common cold or sore throat. Delaying your child’s vaccines increases their vulnerability to disease. Using a vaccine planner will ensure that your child receives all the recommended vaccines on time.

2. Prevent Seasonal Illnesses

Parents are advised to get their children vaccinated in the fall before flu season to reduce the risk of their children falling ill. However, many parents believe that the flu is similar to the common cold and that their children can manage without these shots. The flu is far more dangerous than the common cold as it can lead to pneumonia, other serious health complications and in some cases, it can even be fatal. Studies show that among flu-related deaths in children, approximately 80% occurred in kids who were not fully vaccinated. A vaccine planner will help you stay on top of annual shots that will keep your family safe from seasonal illnesses.

3. Stay Up to Date with Booster Shots

It’s not easy to keep track of booster shots that each child requires, especially if you have multiple kids. Furthermore, some parents feel that the vaccine is “enough” and that their child doesn’t really need a booster shot. The original vaccine dose primes the immune system to recognize the virus as a threat, while booster shots act as a reminder, which is why skipping a booster can lower immunity to the virus. Use a vaccine planner to know which booster shots your family needs to take.

4. Reduce the Risk of Outbreaks

There are several diseases, such as polio, that have no cure but are preventable with vaccines. Unfortunately, the rates of polio vaccination have declined in recent years, and researchers say that this decline can threaten a potential polio outbreak. When enough people are immunized against a specific disease, we get “herd immunity”. This means that so many people are immunized that the disease cannot spread from person to person, which reduces the risk of an outbreak.

5. Protect Vulnerable Family Members

Vaccines not only protect the individual but also the rest of the family. For instance, vaccinating your older kids will ensure that they do not contract illnesses that they can spread to vulnerable family members such as babies, elderly family members or those who are immunocompromised.