Community Resources
Making Vaccination Simple: Your Local Guide to Immunization Resources
What is Immunity and Why is it Important?
A body builds immunity to a virus or bacteria by being exposed to it. People build immunity to viruses and bacteria of all kinds throughout their lives, many times through exposure via daily life. But humans can’t build natural immunity to all illnesses.
The first vaccine used in the U.S., was actually a variolation. It was promoted by Cotton Mather, who had learned about its use in England. He educated physicians to promote it during the smallpox epidemic in Boston in 1721. George Washington commanded that his troops be vaccinated with this variolation to prevent smallpox. He wanted his troops healthy & on the battlefield. Vaccines for many common, and often deadly, or crippling diseases were gradually developed since then, and have helped save lives all over the world.
When a person receives a vaccine, their immune system responds and makes an “antibody” to that specific germ. Vaccines contain a modified form of a virus or bacteria that does not cause disease, but does “teach” your immune system to defend itself if you are ever attacked by the real virus or bacteria.
Who can I ask about my vaccines?
Your Doctor, Nurse Practitioner (NP), Physician Assistant (PA), local Pharmacist, and the St. Clair County Health Dept. are great resources. Ask them if you need any immunizations. They can give you with a copy of your MCIR sheet which shows all the immunizations you have received, and those that are due or recommended for your age.
Adults can also go into the Michigan website to obtain their own copy of their MCIR immunization record. A driver’s license, passport, or state ID card must be uploaded to verify your identity. https://mcir.org
Did you know there’s a vaccine to prevent a certain cancer?
A vaccine to prevent cancer might seem like an easy sell to parents, yet fewer than half of Michigan’s adolescent population — just 44% — have gotten the vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV), according to a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services report.