Vaccines have been around for hundreds of years and have protected millions of people of the disease. They are one of the safest and most effective tools we have to keep ourselves, our loved ones and our communities healthy.
But there’s a lot of information (and misinformation) about vaccines floating around, and it’s not always easy to know what to do.
Here are five ways to empower yourself in vaccine decision-making.
1. Learn how vaccines are made and approved
Vaccine manufacturing can be a lengthy process that involves extensive research and several stages of testing. Only once a vaccine has been proven safe and effective can it be authorized or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Awareness how vaccines work and learning more about the vaccine approval process can help break down the sophisticated science behind vaccine manufacturing and reassure you about safety. You can watch our easy to understand video about the vaccine approval processand the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is also a good resource for information on vaccine creation and approval process.
2. Determine which vaccine(s) you may need
Which vaccine(s) you need at any given time depends on many factors, including your age, any vaccines you’ve already received, and whether or not you have pre-existing health conditions. The time of year also matters: the flu vaccine, for example, is seasonal and should ideally be received in the fall.
The CDC is also a great resource here. They provide a vaccine quiz This helps you determine which vaccine(s) you need. They also offer advice on how to find your vaccination records if you are unsure of your history.
3. Consider your sources of information
If there’s one thing you need to keep in mind when making decisions about vaccines, it’s that you can’t believe everything you read on the internet. When browsing the vast sea of information online about vaccines, it is important to consider where information comes from.
Because it is not always easy to distinguish legitimate sources of vaccine information from unreliable ones, the World Health Organization (WHO) created a Vaccine safety net — a global network of websites providing reliable and accurate vaccine information. You can search for information using this site and know that everything you find has been verified as legitimate.
4. Know where to go
You might be surprised by how many different places where you can get vaccinated other than your healthcare professional’s office. For example, most major grocery chains and big box stores have pharmacies that carry flu and Covid vaccines, among others. Your insurance most likely covers vaccines given at these locations, although it’s worth calling ahead to make sure.
Your local public health department is another option, which can be especially helpful for people without insurance.
You still don’t know where to get your Covid and flu vaccines? The federal government has created a website, www.vaccines.govwhich allows you to enter your postal code to find providers near you.
5. Stay informed about disease levels in your area
Another important piece of the vaccination decision-making puzzle concerns the level of infection in your community. When you know how many people have COVID, flu, and other respiratory illnesses near you, you can make more informed choices about how best to protect yourself.
For example, if you hear on your local public radio station that Covid numbers are rising in your area and you haven’t yet received your updated vaccine, you may want to get one now, knowing that ‘he takes a few weeks to ensure complete protection. Or if your child’s teacher tells you the flu is going around and your family hasn’t gotten a flu shot yet, now might be the time to do so.
Read: Options for Covid vaccines >>
The CDC has a map of current influenza activity in the United States which they update every week and a Covid tracker that they are updated twice a week, which can help you stay on top of infection rates. Your local health department probably tracks illnesses at the community level as well.
Education means empowerment
No matter what you’re considering, it’s a general rule that educating yourself about your choices can go a long way in helping you make one. When you learn more about vaccines, alone or with others, you empower yourself to decide what is best for you and your family.
This educational resource was created with the support of HealthyWomen Corporate Advisory Council member Novavax.
From the articles on your site
Related articles on the web
