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Vaccinations

Primary Care Practice located in Fishkill, Hopewell Junction, Poughkeepsie, and Wappinger Falls, NY

woman getting vaccine shot

Vaccinations services offered in Hopewell Junction, Poughkeepsie, Fishkill and Wappingers Falls, NY

Vaccinations protect you and your loved ones against communicable diseases and infections. The primary care specialists at Northern Medical Group, Primary Care Division, in Fishkill, Hopewell Junction, Poughkeepsie, and Wappinger Falls, New York, understand the importance of maintaining every patient’s vaccine schedule for community health and safety. Call the nearest office or schedule an appointment online today to learn more about vaccinations.

What are vaccinations?

Vaccines are substances that help protect against infectious diseases and illnesses. A vaccine contains a small amount of a dead or weakened virus. When introduced into the body, the vaccine triggers your immune response. The immune system is the body’s natural defender. Once the immune system recognizes a specific virus, it can fight off infection in the future.

Are there different types of vaccinations?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that most children and adults follow a vaccine schedule, which typically includes:

  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis B
  • Flu (influenza)
  • Chickenpox (varicella)
  • Diphtheria
  • Polio (poliomyelitis)
  • Rotavirus
  • HPV (human papillomavirus)
  • Measles
  • Meningococcal
  • Whooping cough (pertussis)
  • Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)
  • Mumps
  • Pneumococcal
  • Rubella
  • Shingles (herpes zoster)
  • Tetanus

Depending on your age and medical history, the team may also recommend the COVID-19 vaccine.

Why are vaccinations important?

Vaccines save millions of lives each year. They prevent infectious viruses and diseases from spreading from person to person. Along with protecting, they stop you from spreading infectious diseases to others. The more people seek vaccinations, the less likely infectious diseases are to spread throughout communities.

Certain diseases that once contributed to widespread death in the United States no longer exist thanks to vaccines. 

For example, smallpox has killed around 300 million people since 1900 alone. In 1798, the smallpox vaccine became widely available to the public. Once the majority of the population became vaccinated, government officials officially declared smallpox eradicated in 1979. 

Today, the smallpox vaccine is no longer part of the CDC’s routine schedule because there hasn’t been a natural case in more than 40 years.

What are the side effects of vaccinations?

Vaccinations rarely cause side effects, and most are mild. Swelling, redness, and bruising at the injection site are common. Some vaccines can also cause flu-like symptoms that typically resolve within a day or two.

Are vaccinations safe?

Vaccinations are safe and effective at preventing disease. The benefits of immunizations far outweigh their risks. Vaccines undergo rigorous testing in the United States before becoming available to the public, ensuring the highest level of safety and efficacy.

Call Northern Medical Group, Primary Care Division, today or schedule an appointment online to learn more about vaccinations.

Northern Medical Group