A vaccine is an oral or injected product, made up of ingredients that stimulate the body's immune response in order to prevent a specific disease. A vaccine helps your body become immune to a specific disease; one ingredient, which assists with this, is an inactivated (killed) or weakened (live) version of the disease you are vaccinating against. 

Vaccines are important to prevent getting serious illnesses. If you have a breathing or immune system condition there are several vaccines that you should consider in order to protect yourself. Your family should also consider receiving certain vaccinations to protect you as well.

There are some individuals in the community that are unable to receive the vaccinations due to certain allergies or other medical conditions; it is recommended that individuals who are able to receive vaccinations should receive them for their health as well as for the individuals around them. 


Learn about some common vaccines:

Chickenpox (Varicella)
DTaP Vaccine (Diptheria, Tetanus and Pertussis)
Flu (Influenza) Vaccine
Hepatitis A Vaccine
Hepatitis B Vaccine
Haemophilus Influenza type B (HIB) Vaccination
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine
Meningococcal Vaccination
MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) Vaccine
MMRV (Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella) Vaccine
Pneumococcal Pneumonia Vaccine
Polio Vaccination
Rotavirus (RV) Vaccine
Tdap (Tetanus, Diptheria and Pertussis) Vaccine
Zoster (Shingles) Vaccine


1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccines. National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, 2013.

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