Vaccination Services Questions and Answers

Vaccinations can be classified into several different types, with the different types providing your body and its immune system with the ability to fight off specific germs. Vaccines are used to protect our bodies against these germs that can cause serious diseases, and in some cases, even death. Vaccines are created taking into consideration how the immune system will respond to the germ, who needs to be protected from the germ and what the best approach and method is for the vaccine. The different types of vaccines include:

• Inactivated vaccines use a dead, or inactive, specimen of the germ that causes the disease the vaccine is protecting against. Examples of inactive vaccines include polio, rabies, hepatitis A and the flu shot. These types of vaccines often require boosters.
• Live-attenuated vaccines use a live, but weakened, specimen of the disease-causing germ. These vaccines provide long-lasting protection against diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, rotavirus, smallpox, chickenpox and yellow fever.
• Messenger RNA vaccines (mRNA) have been in the works for several decades and don’t contain any live virus. So far, the only vaccine created using an mRNA vaccine has been certain types of COVID-19 vaccines.
• Conjugate, polysaccharide, recombinant and subunit vaccines, viral vector vaccines are built using a specific part of the germ, such as a protein, sugar or capsid. They provide a strong immune response and are safe for almost everyone. Booster shots may be required with these types of vaccines. Common vaccines include Hepatitis B, HPV, whopping cough, pneumococcal disease, meningococcal disease and shingles.
• Toxoid vaccines are made using a toxin from the germ responsible for the disease. These may also require a booster and include vaccines such as diptheria and tetanus.

For more information on the types of vaccines available, and to find out if you are up to date on your immunizations, reach out to Boca Medical Care to review your history with one of our trained staff members.

Vaccines get administered to people of all ages, starting immediately following birth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide doctors and other health care professionals with a regularly updated Immunization Schedule for all age groups. There is a version specific to children and adolescents under the age of 18, and another one for adults. Throughout childhood and the early years of their life, many people will receive their full schedule of immunizations through their doctor or a nurse. There are many different vaccines available to protect us against a long list of diseases and illnesses that can lead to severe illness and even death if caught. The Immunization Schedule provides timelines for each vaccination, including the recommended ages for vaccine administration for maximum protection. If you are unsure what vaccines you or your family members are in need of, give Boca Medical Care a call. Our staff are fully versed in the Immunization Schedule and we will be able to review your immunization history to let you know if you are missing any doses.

Vaccination and immunization, as well as inoculation, are often used when referring to vaccines in one form or another. Technically each word has its own meaning, and using them correctly can help you when talking to your doctor or healthcare provider to ensure that you are both referring to the same thing. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the words immunization and vaccination are related, however they describe different facets of vaccine administration. Vaccination refers to the action wherein a vaccine is introduced into the body and immunization refers to the process that the body and immune system go through to become protected from the disease due to the vaccine being injected. People can also become immune to some diseases through exposure and infection; however, the most common method of immunization typically refers to immunity built as the result of a vaccination. Inoculation is more closely related to the term vaccination as it refers to the act of introducing a substance into the body in order to provide protection. At Boca Medical Care, we are familiar with the different words and their interchangeability. We will ensure that you get the vaccinations required in order for your body to build up the necessary immunization for these diseases.

Vaccine requirements will vary by country and even by region within a country. Some countries will require, or often recommend, different types of vaccines either to provide protection for the residents of the country, or to provide protection to the traveller. Countries with less advanced medical practices can still experience of outbreaks of diseases and illnesses that have mostly been eradicated from the modern world, simply due to the lack of available vaccines and advanced health care. It is best to check with a medical professional, such as the team at Boca Medical Care a couple of months ahead of your planned travel to ensure your vaccines are up to date, and you receive any specific ones required for the area you are visiting. Contact us For More Information. We are located at 9250 Glades Rd #110. Boca Raton, FL 33434. We serve patients from Boca Raton FL, Kings Point FL, Delray Beach FL, Deerfield Beach FL, Pompano Beach FL, Highland Beach FL and surrounding areas.