1. Protect Your Family’s Health With Immunizations
Note to Presenter: This is the first section of the “Protect Your Family’s Health with Immunizations” PowerPoint presentation series.
Role of Immunizations in Protecting Your Health and Your Child’s Health (General Information)
Immunizations for Children and Teens
Immunizations for Adults
Get the Flu Shot… NOT the Flu!
August is National Immunization Awareness month:
Consider offering this presentation to your clientele to increase awareness about immunizations across the life span as parents and children prepare to return to school and the health community begins preparations for the up-coming flu season.
To obtain a free copy of the NIAM Promotional kit/or download campaign materials, visit this web site: and or
This kit provides community educators with suggested activities, recommendations and immunization information involving parents/caregivers, public health professionals, employers, and health care providers.
Role of Immunizations in Protecting Your Health and Your Child’s Health
Developed By: Barbara (Bobbi) P. Clarke, PhD, RD
Professor & Extension Health Specialist , Co-Director for The University of Tennessee Center for Community Health Literacy
~ Updated 8/2012 ~

2. Ways We Protect Our Health
Using seat belts
Washing hands
Brushing our teeth
Eating nutritious food
Being active
Using sunscreen
Getting adequate rest
Other ways?
There are many ways we protect our family’s health. The list can be very long. But did any of you think about immunizations as a way to protect your health and your child’s health?

3. Immunizations Protect Our Health
The easiest and most powerful health tool ever developed
Yet people often forget how important immunizations are to preventing infectious and deadly diseases
People use different terms for the immunizations. Some call them “shots” and others call them “vaccinations.” All of these terms refer to the same thing.

4. Why Are Immunizations Important?
Protect you and your family from harmful diseases and even death!
Make many diseases rare today.
Keep you, your children and your community healthy.
The best way to ensure your family’s good health is to try to avoid illness before it starts.
The widespread availability and acceptance of immunizations in our country has prevented a huge burden of disease, complications and even death from serious diseases such as measles, mumps, meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, rubella (German measles), influenza (flu), tetanus (lockjaw), pneumonia, tuberculosis and chickenpox. Immunizations provide the protection against these diseases.
Smallpox has been eradicated, polio has been eliminated from the Western hemisphere, and measles was almost eliminated in the United States (before vaccination rates decreased).
Immunizations help control the spread of infectious diseases within communities called epidemics (large outbreak of disease), with many people getting sick and some dying.

5. What Will We Discuss in This Program?
What immunizations are and how they work
Tips for keeping-up with your immunizations and those for your family
Which immunizations are important at different ages
Need for the annual flu shot for family members
Are there other issues you would like addressed in this program?

6. What is a Vaccine?
A medicine that is given to help your body fight disease.
It helps your immune system do its work!

7. How Does Immunity Work? Protects you from germs—future infections
Builds antibodies
Antibodies destroy germs that are making you sick and help you get well.
Antibodies also destroy the germs before they make you sick.
You get sick when your body is invaded by certain germs. When the measles virus enters your body it gives you measles. Whooping cough bacteria causes whooping cough. It is the job of your immune system to protect you from these germs.
This is how it works: Germs enter your body and start to reproduce. Your immune system recognizes the germs as invaders from outside your body and responds by making antibodies to fight the germs.
Antibodies have two jobs:
They help destroy germs that have invaded your body and made you sick. Because the germs have a head start, you will already be sick by the time your immune system has produced enough antibodies to destroy them. But by eliminating the attacking germs, antibodies help you to get well.
They remain in your bloodstream to guard against future infections. If the same germs ever try to infect you again, these antibodies will destroy the germs before they have a chance to make you sick.
When a child is immunized with the measles vaccine, the body produces antibodies against measles. These antibodies protect the child against this infectious disease should he or she come in contact with it in the future.
In summary, immunizations build your immunity against a disease and keep you from getting sick.

8. Are Immunizations Safe?
Yes, immunizations are among the safest medications.
Serious reactions to immunizations are extremely rare, but do occur.
Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about a vaccine you or your child need.
Immunizations are among the safest medications. But like any other medication, they can occasionally cause reactions. Serious reactions are extremely rare, but do occur.
The important thing to remember is that getting the disease is much more dangerous than getting the immunization.
Immunizations have provided Americans with tremendous health benefits from infectious diseases with minimal risks.
Note to Presenter: The following site discusses various aspects of vaccine safety:

9. Do Immunizations Have Side Effects?
Some may cause temporary side effects:
Redness, tenderness, warmth, mild pain or swelling under the skin where the shot was given
Fever
Sleepiness
Crankiness
Yes, side effects can occur with immunizations, depending on the vaccine.
In the vast majority of cases, there are no serious side effects. Some immunizations may cause some tenderness, warmth, redness, mild pain or swelling at the site of the injection. Some children may develop a mild fever or become sleepy. Others may be cranky. These reactions are short-lived. More severe reactions are very rare.
Always ask about possible temporary side effects before you or your child get a vaccine.
If you are concerned about how you or your child is responding to a vaccine, do not hesitate to call your doctor to determine if this is a normal response.

10. What Do Immunizations Cost?
Child immunizations are part of your child’s well care visits.
Well care immunizations are free under the Affordable Care Act.
Otherwise, health insurance should cover these immunizations.
Most adult immunizations will be paid for by your health insurance plan.
Check with your health insurance provider.
For Medicare enrollees, the flu and pneumonia shots are fully paid for by Medicare Part B. Other immunizations are covered by Medicare Part D.
Families can get their children immunized even if they do not have health insurance. Community health centers, children’s clinics and public health departments will vaccinate children for free or at a very low cost. The Affordable Care Act covers childhood immunizations.
Often flu and pneumonia vaccines are offered in the Fall through these same sites as well as health fairs, businesses, and pharmacies for free or at a minimal cost.

11. Keep Records of Immunizations
Keep an immunization record for each member of your family.
Ask your doctor for a record to use.
Keep these important records in a place where you can easily find them.
Need proof of immunization before a child can go to school or day care.
It is hard to remember when a person has had a certain immunization. For example, if an adult suffers from a deep puncture wound, this adult is susceptible to infection from tetanus. The doctor will want to know when was the last time this person had a tetanus shot. So keep a record with the date and the type of vaccine given to each member of your family. This will prevent needless revaccination during a health emergency or when you change health care providers (doctors).
Ask your doctor for an immunization record, and be sure to take it with you every time you visit your doctor or your child’s doctor. Update this record each time a vaccine is given.
Helpful to keep a copy of adult immunizations in one’s wallet or purse.
Most states require children to be immunized before entering school. Day Care Centers also will want proof of certain vaccinations.
Do any of you keep records for your family’s immunizations? Where do you keep these records for you and your family?

12. In Summary, Immunizations are…
Recognized as one of the greatest 20th century achievements in the prevention of disease and death
Safe
Affordable
An important health tool for you and your family
Immunizations remain the only real defense against many diseases. Without these immunizations, children and adults are at risk for lifelong health problems and premature death. They are safe because the companies that make vaccines and the government agencies that oversee them put safety first. Your health insurance should cover most vaccines. Many are available free or at reduced rates at clinics or other sites if you do not have health insurance coverage.

13. So Be Wise … Get Immunized!
Keep an up-to-date immunization record for every member of your family ―including all children and adults.
Talk to your doctor about what immunizations are needed and when.
Note to Presenter: You may want to hand out a sample of an immunization record.
For children:
For children and teens:
For adults:

14. Adult Immunizations Record Child Immunizations Record

15. Another Child Immunizations Record

16. Questions?