Facts about vaccines & immunization

How does a vaccine work?

• A vaccine helps your body fight off disease by kick-starting your body’s natural protective mechanisms
• The vaccine introduces a small amount of an agent that resembles a disease, into your body in a weakened or dead form
• Your body mounts a defense against this intruder, forming antibodies against the real disease
• If you encounter the disease in the wild, your body is already equipped to fight it off
• Some antibodies stay with you for a lifetime; others fade with time
• A simple blood test can indicate whether or not you need a booster for one of your vaccines or immunizations

What vaccines and immunizations do we offer?

At CityMD, we provide a number of vaccines and immunizations, including the seasonal flu shot, to keep you healthy throughout the year. We also offer standard and specialized travel vaccinations to protect you from possible exposure to exotic diseases during overseas travel.

• Flu shots
• Travel vaccines
• Exotic disease vaccines

What immunizations do you need?

Our physicians will take the time to answer all your questions about vaccines and advise you on which vaccines and immunizations may be right for you and your family. We provide most vaccines at our clinics, but we won’t give you any unnecessary shots.

• The CDC recommends certain vaccines for healthy adults, including influenza (flu) every year, as well tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis
• Older adults may need to be vaccinated against shingles and pneumococcal disease
• Diabetics are urged to get vaccinated against hepatitis B