Vaccines are commonly regarded as a lifelong health protection measure. In other words, your body’s invisible armour. This makes sense since immunization provides robust protection against various infectious diseases you may encounter in your lifetime.
However, adults are rarely considered when considering vaccinations; instead, we typically associate it with newborns, teenagers, and toddlers. Nonetheless, developing immunity or preventing disease still heavily depends on adult immunization. Due to a lack of knowledge or awareness regarding vaccination safety, many adults choose not to receive vaccinations, which can significantly impact their own and other people’s health.
This article will highlight the importance of adult immunizations, discuss ways adults can get past some vaccination-related anxieties or hesitations, and provide general information about the vaccination scheduling process.
How to navigate vaccine hesitancy in adulthood
There’s no doubt that some adults harbour doubts and hesitations about receiving vaccines. It’s important to address these issues head-on, whether this is because of needle jitters or misinformation.
It’s been proven if we get immunizations throughout our lives, we are in a better place to protect the vulnerable. This is especially important for diseases like measles, the most vaccine-preventable and highly contagious disease. But to achieve this, a 95% immunization rate is needed (Stats Canada, 2024, par. 4). Herd immunity is a collective endeavour. As you age, you must support this effort for proper communal health.
Here are some ideas to assist you in identifying and overcoming your fears:
- Start by acknowledging your hesitation:
- Fear or reluctance to vaccination is rather common, especially among adults. Before you start addressing this reluctance, you must comprehend its root cause. By recognizing the underlying reason of your concern, you can better address it. Is it fear of needles? Do you doubt the vaccination procedure itself?
- Educating yourself:
- Education is the most effective strategy for overcoming vaccine phobia. Awareness of evidence-based, clear, accurate information provides a sense of security while also combating common misconceptions about the vaccination process.
- Consider the impact of immunization:
- Did you know that the protection we previously received from some immunizations may wane as we age? An extra dose, called a booster, helps strengthen immunity for the best possible defence.
- It’s also possible that some people haven’t had any vaccinations due to them being allergic to certain ingredients or other complications. Your immunization also protects them too.
- Testimonial truths:
- Conversing with trustworthy friends or family members who have received immunizations may also assist you in overcoming your reluctance. They can offer you comfort and insightful information.
- Similarly, dependable medical experts can also reduce your fears because they are reliable providers of health-related information.
How to schedule a vaccination without stress
Vaccine booking can be half the battle when it comes to getting immunized. Indeed, many will avoid the process altogether if they deem it too complicated or long. Those who are less tech-savvy or have limited internet access find complex booking systems off-putting, and the procedure can quickly become intimidating.
Because of this, ensuring that immunizations remain accessible to everybody should be our top priority.
Shots such as Influenza will arrive in British Columbia in early October. You can receive yours within the first two weeks of the month, though individuals with severe illnesses will receive precedence. You can register online or by phone at 1-888-838-2323 in less than two minutes.
To protect your future right now, you can also find a clinic in your area, review immunization schedules, or read the BCDC vaccine manual. When in doubt, remember that overcoming your vaccine hesitancy is critical to taking control of your health and moving forward confidently.
