Vaccine-Preventable Diseases

Vaccines can help prevent many diseases. Just a few decades ago, these illnesses killed thousands of people and made many others sick. Now, we can stop them with a few shots.

Getting vaccinated is one of the best ways to prevent these diseases:

Cervical cancer (human papillomavirus [HPV]) Chickenpox (varicella) Cholera Diphtheria Flu (influenza) German measles (rubella) Hepatitis A Hepatitis B	Hib (Haemophilus influenzae, type b) Measles Meningococcal disease Mumps Pneumococcal disease (Streptococcus pneumoniae) Polio Rabies	Rotavirus Shingles (herpes zoster) Smallpox Tetanus Typhoid fever Whooping cough (pertussis) Yellow fever

Cervical cancer (human papillomavirus [HPV])
What is it?	HPV is a virus that may cause genital warts in men, and cervical cancer and genital warts in women. Two types of HPV are implicated in causing up to 70% of the reported cases of cervical cancer.
Symptoms	Some people will notice warts on or around the genitals. Most people do not know they have HPV. Only your doctor can tell you if you have HPV.
Complications	HPV can cause cancer and genital warts, as well as abnormal Pap tests.
How it spreads	From person to person during sex.
Who needs the       vaccine?	Girls and women ages 9 to 26 should get the HPV vaccine. The vaccine is preferably administered at ages 11 to 12, and is best to give to girls/women who are not yet sexually active. Sexually active women infected with one type of HPV can still benefit because they can be protected against the other HPV virus types that are found in the vaccine and have not infected them. The vaccine isn’t recommended for pregnant women.

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Chickenpox (varicella)
What is it?	An infection caused by a virus. Until recently, it was very common in children.
Symptoms	Itchy rash, fever, and tiredness.
Complications	Skin infections, pneumonia, brain damage, or, rarely, death. People who have had chickenpox are at risk of getting a painful rash called shingles later in life. Children born to a woman with active chickenpox infection may become seriously sick.
How it spreads	By coughing and sneezing, or by contact with fluid from blisters.
Who needs the       vaccine?	All children should receive an initial vaccination between the ages of 12 and 15 months. Children should receive a second dose at ages 4 to 6. Any older children or adults who have not had chickenpox, or the vaccine, should also be vaccinated.

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Cholera
What is it?	An intestinal infection that can be severe. It is common in nonindustrialized countries.
Symptoms	Mild symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting, and leg cramps. A rapid loss of fluids can lead to dehydration and shock.
Complications	If it isn’t treated, then dehydration, shock, and possibly death could occur.
How it spreads	By eating or drinking contaminated foods or drinks. It isn’t usually spread from person to person.
Who needs the       vaccine?	The cholera vaccine is not recommended for most travelers and is not available in the US.

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Diphtheria
What is it?	An infection caused by bacteria.
Symptoms	Sore throat, fever, and a thick covering at the back of the throat.
Complications	Complications. Trouble breathing, heart failure, paralysis, and sometimes death.
How it spreads	By coughing or sneezing, and, rarely, by physical contact with a person who has skin lesions caused by the bacteria.
Who needs the       vaccine?	Children ages 2 months to 7 years (prior to the 7th birthday) need 5 doses of the DTaP vaccine (for diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough [pertussis]). Children need a Tdap booster at ages 11 to 12, and a Td booster (for diphtheria and tetanus) every 10 years after that. Adults not vaccinated as children need 3 doses of Td vaccine and a Td booster every 10 years. Adults younger than age 65 (19 to 64), who have never received a Tdap vaccine, should receive a single dose of Tdap vaccine, which is licensed for adults, for either the Td primary series or as a Td booster.

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Flu (influenza)
What is it?	A common and sometimes serious respiratory infection caused by a virus.
Symptoms	Fever, sore throat, cough, headache, chills, and muscle aches. Children can have symptoms of vomiting.
Complications	In rare cases, pneumonia, heart problems, and death.
How it spreads	By coughing, sneezing, or breathing.
Who needs the       vaccine?	Note: There are two flu vaccines. One is a shot that uses dead (inactivated) virus. The other is a nasal spray that uses live, but weakened, virus (Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine—LAIV). Flu shot: All children ages 6 to 59 months; close contacts of children ages 0 to 59 months; adults ages 50 or older; anyone with certain health conditions (like heart, lung, or kidney diseases, HIV/AIDS, or conditions that can affect your ability to breathe); people being treated for cancer; people living or working in nursing homes; women who will be pregnant during the flu season; and healthcare workers. Nasal spray: The live virus vaccine is only recommended for healthy people ages 5 to 49. Among those individuals for whom the live virus vaccine is not recommended are those younger than age 5, people ages 50 and older, or those with weakened immune systems.

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German measles (rubella)
What is it?	A disease caused by a virus.
Symptoms	Fever and rash on the face and neck.
Complications	Women, who get German measles early in their pregnancy, have a high risk of miscarriage or having a baby born with birth defects.
How it spreads	By coughing and sneezing.
Who needs the       vaccine?	Children ages 12 months and older should get two doses of the MMR vaccine (for measles, mumps, and German measles). One or two doses of MMR vaccine are recommended for some adults who lack evidence of immunity. If you are pregnant or are thinking about getting pregnant, talk with your doctor before getting the vaccine.

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Hepatitis A
What is it?	Liver disease caused by a virus.
Symptoms	Fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting, and yellow skin and eyes.
Complications	Hospitalization and, rarely, death.
How it spreads	By eating or drinking contaminated foods or drinks, and by close personal contact. The virus is also spread by contact with an infected person’s feces.
Who needs the       vaccine?	All children ages 1 or older. Unvaccinated adults at high risk (for example, anyone traveling to a country with high rates of hepatitis A, like parts of Central or South America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Asia, and eastern Europe; men who have sex with men; people who use street drugs; people who are in a profession with risk for hepatitis A infection, and people who receive blood-clotting medicine or have chronic liver disease).

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Hepatitis B
What is it?	Liver disease caused by a virus.
Symptoms	Tiredness, loss of appetite, muscle or joint pain, and yellow skin and eyes.
Complications	Liver damage, liver cancer, or death.
How it spreads	Through contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person.
Who needs the       vaccine?	babies should get one dose at birth, followed by two doses in their first 18 months. A fourth dose is permissible (for example, when combination vaccines are given after the birth dose). Also, adults who are at risk (healthcare workers; people who inject drugs; people who have many sex partners; people with certain medical conditions, including chronic liver disease; and men who have sex with men).

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Hib (Haemophilus influenzae, type b)
What is it?	Serious bacterial infection; children younger than age 5 are at the highest risk.
Symptoms	Often, no symptoms if the bacteria remains in the nose and throat. If bacteria spreads to the lungs or blood, serious complications can occur.
Complications	Meningitis, pneumonia, arthritis, and death.
How it spreads	By droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person.
Who needs the       vaccine?	Children from age 2 months to younger than age 5 need three or four doses. Adults and children older than age 5 don’t need the vaccine, unless they have certain health conditions, like sickle cell anemia or HIV/AIDS, or are being treated with cancer drugs.

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Measles
What is it?	A disease caused by a virus.
Symptoms	A rash, fever, and cold symptoms.
Complications	Ear infections; pneumonia; seizures; brain damage and deafness; and, rarely, death.
How it spreads	By droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person.
Who needs the       vaccine?	hildren ages 1 year or older should get two doses of the MMR vaccine (for measles, mumps, and rubella). Adults born in 1957 or later, who have not had either shots or measles, may also need vaccination.

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Meningococcal disease
What is it?	Infection caused by bacteria.
Symptoms	May cause a stiff neck, fever, headache, or rash.
Complications	Problems with the nervous system, hearing loss, learning disability, or death.
How it spreads	By droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person.
Who needs the       vaccine?	Children should get the meningococcal MCV4 vaccine at ages 11 to 12. Some children in high-risk groups should receive the vaccine at ages 2 to 10. Teens who have not yet had the vaccine should get it when starting high school (approximately age 15). Other adolescents who wish to reduce their risk for this disease may also be vaccinated. College freshmen (or first-year students) living in dormitories are at higher risk for meningococcal disease than others of the same age. Other high-risk groups include those with certain illnesses, some laboratory workers, or people traveling to countries with high rates of the disease.

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Mumps
What is it?	Disease caused by a virus.
Symptoms	Swelling of the cheeks and jaw, fever, and headache.
Complications	Infection of the brain and spinal cord; swelling of the testicles or ovaries; deafness, and, rarely, death.
How it spreads	By droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person.
Who needs the       vaccine?	Children ages 1 year and older should get two doses of the MMR vaccine (for measles, mumps, and German measles). Adults born in 1957 or later should get one dose of the MMR vaccine, unless they can’t due to a medical reason. Adults should get a second dose of the MMR vaccine if they are in an at-risk age group, are college students, are healthcare workers, or plan to travel outside the US. If you’re pregnant or are thinking about getting pregnant, talk with your doctor before getting the vaccine.

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Pneumococcal disease (Streptococcus pneumoniae)
What is it?	A serious disease caused by bacteria.
Symptoms	Fever, shaking, chills, cough, difficult breathing. Other symptoms include headache, stiff neck, and vomiting.
Complications	Infections of the blood, pneumonia, and meningitis (inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord); sometimes death.
How it spreads	By coughing and sneezing.
Who needs the       vaccine?	There are different vaccines for different age groups. Children ages 2 months to 15 months should receive four doses of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV). Adults ages 65 and older, and anyone ages 2 and older with certain health conditions (like heart or lung diseases, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, or cancer), should get the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV).

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Polio
What is it?	Disease caused by a virus.
Symptoms	Most people with polio infection do not have symptoms, yet they can still spread infection to other people. When there are symptoms, they can include sore throat; fever; nausea or vomiting; stiffness of the legs, neck, or back; or paralysis.
Complications	Paralysis, sometimes permanent; death.
How it spreads	Mainly by person-to-person contact or contact with the feces of an infected person.
Who needs the       vaccine?	Children between ages 2 and 18 months need the vaccine. They also need a booster between ages 4 and 6. Older children and adults usually don’t need vaccination, unless they travel to areas with widespread polio. Some healthcare workers should also get the vaccine.

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Rabies
What is it?	A serious disease caused by a virus.
Symptoms	Pain, fatigue, headaches, and fever.
Complications	Convulsions, hallucinations, and paralysis. Without treatment, rabies is almost always fatal.
How it spreads	By bites from infected animals, like bats, skunks, raccoons, dogs, and cats or, rarely, by contact with their infected secretions (like saliva).
Who needs the       vaccine?	The vaccine should be used right after exposure. Anyone bitten by an animal that might have rabies should see a doctor as soon as possible. To prevent rabies, the vaccine is recommended for anyone who is at high risk (like people who work with animals, or people who expect to be around animals in countries where rabies is common).

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Rotavirus
What is it?	A virus that causes severe diarrhea in babies and children.
Symptoms	Diarrhea, vomiting, and fever.
Complications	In severe cases, patients may become dehydrated and need to go to the hospital. Rotavirus can even cause death.
How it spreads	From person to person or through contaminated objects. Most often it is due to contact with feces.
Who needs the       vaccine?	Babies should get the rotavirus vaccine. Three doses should begin between ages 6 and 32 weeks, preferably at ages 2, 4, and 6 months.

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Shingles
What is it?	A painful disease caused by the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.
Symptoms	Burning or tingling, or pain, and sometimes numbness or itching of the skin. The pain can be severe. Rash or blisters on the skin.
Complications	In some people, shingles can cause serious medical complications, such as pneumonia, hearing problems, blindness, brain inflammation, or death.
How it spreads	Shingles is not contagious. You can only get shingles if you have had the chickenpox virus. A person with shingles can give chickenpox to someone who has never had chickenpox.
Who needs the       vaccine?	Adults ages 60 and older.

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Smallpox
What is it?	A serious and sometimes life-threatening viral disease.
Symptoms	High fever with a rash.
Complications	About one in three people, who have the most common form of smallpox, may die.
How it spreads	Person-to-person contact, usually by breathing in virus particles. It sometimes spreads through exposure to body fluids or infected objects like clothing.
Who needs the       vaccine?	Naturally occurring smallpox has been wiped out, so most people will never need the vaccine. Since there is a chance that smallpox could be used as a weapon by terrorists, the vaccine may be recommended for some healthcare workers.

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Tetanus
What is it?	A serious disease caused by bacteria.
Symptoms	Painful tightening of the muscles, usually all over the body.
Complications	Muscle spasms that can prevent a person from opening their mouth or swallowing. Death occurs in about one out of 10 cases.
How it spreads	Bacteria enter through cuts or wounds. Tetanus can’t spread from person to person.
Who needs the       vaccine?	Children ages 2 months to 7 years (prior to the 7th birthday) need five doses of the DTaP vaccine (for diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough [pertussis]). Children need a Tdap booster at ages 11 to 12, and a Td booster (for diphtheria and tetanus) every 10 years after that. Adults not vaccinated as children need three doses of Td vaccine and a Td booster every 10 years. Adults younger than age 65 (19 to 64), who have never received a Tdap vaccine, should receive a single dose of Tdap vaccine, which is licensed for adults, for either the Td primary series or as a Td booster.

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Typhoid fever
What is it?	An illness caused by bacteria.
Symptoms	Very high fever, weakness, stomach pains, headache, and loss of appetite.
Complications	If untreated, it can cause death.
How it spreads	By eating or drinking contaminated foods or drinks. Some people with typhoid fever can spread the disease to others.
Who needs the       vaccine?	You should consider being vaccinated if you’re traveling to an area where typhoid fever is common. Exceptions: The vaccination is not recommended for babies or people with certain health conditions. Check with your doctor to see if you need the vaccination.

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Whooping cough (pertussis)
What is it?	A serious disease caused by bacteria.
Symptoms	old symptoms followed by severe coughing spells.
Complications	Pneumonia, convulsions, brain damage, and sometimes death.
How it spreads	By coughing and sneezing; teens and adults are an important source of infection for children.
Who needs the       vaccine?	Children ages 2 months to 7 years (prior to the 7th birthday) need five doses of DTaP vaccine (for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis). Children also need a Tdap booster (for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis) at ages 11 to 12. Teens (ages 13 to 18) who missed the booster at ages 11 to 12 should get one Tdap booster. Adults younger than age 65 (19 to 64,) who have never received a Tdap vaccine, should receive a single dose of Tdap vaccine, which is licensed for adults, for either the Td primary series or as a Td booster.

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Yellow fever
What is it?	A serious viral disease spread by mosquitoes.
Symptoms	Fever and flu symptoms; yellow eyes and skin.
Complications	Liver, kidney, lung, or other organ failure, and possibly death.
How it spreads	By bites from mosquitoes carrying the virus. It can’t be passed directly from one person to another.
Who needs the       vaccine?	People traveling to areas in Africa and South America, or other areas that have yellow fever, need to be vaccinated. Children under age 9 months, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions should not be vaccinated. Check with your doctor to see if you need the vaccination.

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Also of Interest

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