Don't Risk Your Health, Get Vaccinated

What are vaccines?

A vaccine (or immunization) is a way to build your body’s natural immunity to a disease before you get sick. This keeps you from getting and spreading the disease.

Why are vaccines necessary?

Vaccinations are an essential part of the family and public health. Why? Because vaccines help prevent contagious, dangerous, and deadly diseases. These include influenza, Hepatitis B, chickenpox, measles, polio, mumps, HPV, etc.

Some illnesses like strains of cold viruses are relatively mild. But some, like COVID-19, smallpox, or polio, can cause life-altering changes. Sometimes leading to death. That’s why preventing your body from contracting these illnesses is very important.

Chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease is the last stage of long-term, chronic disease. This is when the kidneys are no longer able to support your body’s needs.

So, if you are someone who is diagnosed with any renal disease, kindly go through the list of the vaccines recommended by doctors.

Varicella vaccine
MMR
Influenza
Pneumococcal Vaccination
Hepatitis B

Varicella vaccine

Until the varicella vaccine was licensed in 1995, chickenpox infection was very common. Almost everyone had been infected as a child. Now a vaccine is available to prevent chickenpox. Two doses of the vaccine are recommended for children, teens, and nonimmune adults.Complications can happen from chickenpox. They are more common in adults and people with weak immune systems. Complications may include.
- Secondary bacterial infections
- Pneumonia (lung infections)
- Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
- Cerebellar ataxia (defective muscular coordination)
- Transverse myelitis (inflammation along the spinal cord)
- Reye syndrome. This is a serious condition marked by a group of symptoms that may affect all major systems or organs. Do not give aspirin to children with chickenpox. It increases the risk for Reye syndrome.
- Death
MMR Vaccine

Measles can be prevented with the MMR vaccine. The vaccine protects against three diseases: measles, mumps, and rubella. MMR vaccine protects against four diseases: measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox). This vaccine is only licensed for use in children 12 months through 12 years of age.CDC recommends that children get one dose of MMRV vaccine at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age. Children can receive the second dose of MMRV vaccine earlier than 4 through 6 years. This second dose of MMR vaccine can be given 3 months after the first dose.

Children* Age 12-15 months Age 4-6 years

Teenagers and adults with no evidence of immunity** As soon as possible N/A

Benefits of MMR vaccine:
1. Prevents measles: Measles is a very contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
2. It is safe and effective: Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective.
Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97% effective against measles and 88% effective against mumps.
Influenza (Flu) vaccine

Influenza (flu) vaccines (often called “flu shots”) are vaccines that protect against the four influenza viruses that research indicates are most common during the upcoming season. Most flu vaccines are “flu shots” given with a needle, usually in the arm, but they’re also is also a nasal spray flu vaccine.
1. Who should get a flu vaccine?
  Everyone 6 months of age and older should get Influenza (flu) vaccine every season with rare exceptions. CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has made this recommendation since the 2010-2011 flu season.Vaccination to prevent flu and its potentially serious complications is particularly important for people who are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications.
2. Why should you get vaccinated for Influenza?
  Influenza (flu) vaccine effectiveness (VE) can vary. The protection provided by a flu vaccine varies from season to season and depends in part on the age and health status of the person getting the vaccine and the similarity or “match” between the viruses in the vaccine and those in circulation. During years when the flu vaccine match is good, it is possible to measure substantial benefits from flu vaccination in terms of preventing flu illness and complications. However, the benefits of flu vaccination will still vary, depending on the characteristics of the person being vaccinated (for example, their health and age), what influenza viruses are circulating that season, and, potentially, which type of flu vaccine was used.
Pneumococcal Vaccination:

Pneumonia is a severe form of acute lower respiratory tract infection. The lungs are made up of small sacs called alveoli, which fill with air when a healthy person breathes. When an individual has pneumonia, the alveoli are filled with pus and fluid, which makes breathing difficult and limits oxygen intake. Severe pneumonia or sinusitis can progress to bacteremia/sepsis or meningitis, which require antibiotic treatment and have high mortality rates. DIFFERENT TYPES OF DISEASES CAUSED BY PNEUMOCOCCUS
Diseases caused by pneumococcus (Streptococcus pneumonia) are a major public health problem worldwide. Diseases that are often caused by pneumococcus
- Pneumonia: inflammation of the lungs;
- Bacteremia/sepsis: bloodstream infection, with or without infection of secondary sites, e.g., meningitis;
- Bacterial meningitis: infection of the membranes that cover and protect the spinal cord and brain;
- Otitis media: Middle ear infection; and
- Sinusitis, Bronchitis
About 75% of invasive pneumococcal disease and 83% of pneumococcal meningitis occur in children aged <2 years, among which many cases occur in neonates and children under 6 months of age

Prevention:

Preventing pneumococcal diseases, particularly pneumonia, in children is an essential component of a strategy to reduce child mortality. Immunization against Hib, pneumococcus, measles and whooping cough (pertussis) is the most effective way to prevent pneumonia. Adequate nutrition is the key to improving children’s natural defenses, starting with exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life. In addition to preventing pneumonia, it also helps reduce the length of the illness, if a child does become ill. Addressing environmental factors such as indoor air pollution (by providing affordable clean indoor stoves, for example) and encouraging good hygiene in crowded homes also reduces the number of children who fall ill with pneumonia.
Hepatitis B

It is a serious disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. The virus, which is called hepatitis B virus (HBV), can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death.

The Hepatitis B vaccine is available for all age groups. The hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all infants, all children or adolescents younger than 19 years of age who have not been vaccinated, all adults aged 19 through 59 years, and adults age 60 years or older with risk factors for hepatitis B infection. Adults who are 60 years or older without known risk factors for hepatitis B may also receive the hepatitis B vaccine.

If you have any concerns regarding vaccination or renal diseases in general, kindly reach out to us and the help you need.