Vaccines for Common Diseases
Vaccines are one of the most important tools in preventing and treating infectious diseases. Vaccines are given to protect against a variety of diseases, such as measles, mumps, rubella, polio, chickenpox, hepatitis B, pertussis (whooping cough), and human papillomavirus (HPV). Here is a list of some of the most common diseases and the vaccines that are available to protect against them:
Measles: Measles is caused by a virus and is highly contagious. The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is the best way to protect against measles. It is usually given as two doses, with the first dose given at 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose at 4 to 6 years of age.
Mumps: Mumps is caused by a virus and is highly contagious. The MMR vaccine is the best way to protect against mumps. It is usually given as two doses, with the first dose given at 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose at 4 to 6 years of age.
Rubella: Rubella is caused by a virus and is highly contagious. The MMR vaccine is the best way to protect against rubella. It is usually given as two doses, with the first dose given at 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose at 4 to 6 years of age.
Polio: Polio is caused by a virus and is highly contagious. The inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) is the best way to protect against polio. It is usually given as four doses, with the first dose given at 2 months of age and the last dose given at 4 to 6 years of age.
Chickenpox: Chickenpox is caused by a virus and is highly contagious. The varicella vaccine is the best way to protect against chickenpox. It is usually given as two doses, with the first dose given at 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose at 4 to 6 years of age.
Hepatitis B: Hepatitis B is caused by a virus and is highly contagious. The hepatitis B vaccine is the best way to protect against hepatitis B. It is usually given as three doses, with the first dose given at birth and the last dose given at 6 to 18 months of age.
Pertussis (Whooping Cough): Pertussis is caused by a bacteria and is highly contagious. The DTaP vaccine is the best way to protect against pertussis. It is usually given as five doses, with the first dose given at 2 months of age and the last dose given at 4 to 6 years of age.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV): HPV is caused by a virus and is highly contagious. The HPV vaccine is the best way to protect against HPV. It is usually given as three doses, with the first dose given at 11 to 12 years of age and the last dose given at 6 months after the first dose.