Vaccination: Good Protection That More People Should Use

Call it the result of my public health training, but I'm a huge fan of vaccination. Where some people see immunization as unnecessary or even somehow harmful, I see it as a powerful solution to many of our infectious disease exposures. It's unfortunate that we have such an amazing medical tool to use and, yet, so many don't take advantage of it.

Three of the hepatitis viruses can be effectively prevented by immunization. I'm not talking about experimental, super expensive and risky vaccines, either. These have been around many years and are completely safe. Vaccines are available to protect against the hepatitis A and hepatitis B viruses and because hepatitis D requires infection with the hepatitis B virus, immunization against hepatitis B will protect against hepatitis D, too. Since there is a single vaccine that can protect against both hepatitis A and hepatitis B, it's possible that just one complete series of vaccine can protect you against three types of hepatitis! In times of economic slow down, that sounds like a pretty good investment any day of the week.

Of course, while most everyone can benefit from immunization, some people are strongly recommended to be vaccinated because of their lifestyle. Should you be vaccinated for hepatitis A? Should you be vaccinated for hepatitis B? If you don't know, make sure you follow the links! If you're at risk for hepatitis B, there's a good chance you might be at risk for hepatitis C, too. Someday, maybe we'll even have a vaccine for hepatitis C. We don't have one yet, but I think that may change in the future. For now, you'll have to follow these six steps of prevention.