I was seven months pregnant in 1990 when I came down with chickenpox. We were afraid that we would lose our son. In the early stages of pregnancy, chickenpox, also called varicella virus, can cause scarring, organ damage to the fetus, and developmental and learning disorders. In late pregnancy it can be life-threatening for both mother and child.
At that time, there was no vaccine – and no treatment options – in the United States. I had no choice but to sit back and hope for the best. My obstetrician made home visits to keep me and the virus away from his office. For three weeks, my pregnant belly and I writhed in pain, fever, chills, and constant itching that kept me awake all night. My husband and I held our breath, hoping our son wouldn’t come early. Instead, it arrived two weeks late and unscathed. We were lucky. And I didn’t push our luck.
When the chickenpox vaccine became available at our pediatrician’s office in 1995, we were first in line. My son was vaccinated, and the same was true for his sisters when they arrived a few years later. I wanted to be sure that none of them, like me, would risk contracting this potentially dangerous virus as an adult.
What are vaccines?
Vaccines contain a weakened or inactive form of a virus like chickenpox and train our immune system to recognize the virus and make antibodies to fight it. It’s like an instruction manual for our immune system. If enough people are immune through vaccination, herd immunity makes it harder for the disease to spread and some eventually disappear altogether. That’s why we don’t see smallpox or babies with polio in iron lungs.
However, some recent changes in vaccination recommendations are raising doubts and causing confusion among some people, leading some people to pause their vaccinations indefinitely. This leads to the re-emergence of diseases that have been almost eradicated, such as measles. As outbreaks increased, I received the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) booster shot last year. I had one of the first MMR vaccinations back in 1971. Measles is the last thing I need at age 63, especially as a septic shock survivor. I messaged my doctor (HCP) and he ordered a blood test to check my antibodies, which were indeed low. If you are unsure about your vaccination status or whether you need certain vaccinations or not, speaking to your HCP is a good place to start.
Which vaccinations are you eligible for?
Pharmacist Alisha Reed, a member of the HealthyWomen Women’s Health Advisory Council and founder of Your Self Care Prescription, recommends making a list of questions to bring to your appointment. “First, ask your doctor where you or your children are with your current vaccinations and what vaccinations you have already received,” advised Reed. Your doctor can usually see this in your medical record.
Questions to ask your HCP about vaccines
Recommended vaccines
- Which vaccinations are recommended for me (or my relatives)?
- Why is this vaccine important to me?
- Are some of the recommended vaccinations optional or are they all necessary?
- How often do I need to receive these vaccinations?
- Is there a specific time of year when I should get vaccinated?
- Can I receive more than one at a time?
Safety and side effects
- Are there any risks if I receive the vaccinations recommended for me?
- What are the most common side effects of each vaccine?
- Are there any serious reactions I should be aware of?
Medical history and current medications
- Are there any vaccinations I should consider based on my medical history or specific medical conditions?
- Are there any vaccinations I should avoid based on my medical history or specific medical conditions?
- Are there concerns that any of the medications I take may interact with the vaccines?
Questions may include questions about your eligibility for certain vaccinations. This depends on your age, risk factors and health status. People with lung diseases such as COPD should seek vaccines to protect them from diseases that affect the lungs, such as Covid-19, influenza or RSV. Certain vaccinations are recommended for pregnant women as well as infants and small children.
Travelers also need numerous vaccinations to visit other countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides a wealth of information about vaccinations for travel. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Medical Association (AMA) also provide reliable information about vaccines in general to guide the list you present to your provider. And if you’re wondering if one of your old vaccines is still enough, ask for an antibody test like I did for measles.
Drug interactions and vaccination intervals
Another good question is whether certain medications interact with or weaken the effectiveness of the vaccine. “Some people cannot receive vaccinations while they are undergoing chemotherapy or receiving monoclonal antibodies,” Reed said. Some are sensitive to preservatives in vaccines. Ask about the ingredients. These are all good questions and should definitely be on your list.
Ask your doctor which vaccinations are most important for you or your family member and whether there is scope to delay or forego certain vaccinations. Ask how often you should receive updates. Find out if you can get more than one vaccine at a time or if you need to space them out. “Some people are getting their flu and Covid-19 shots together,” Reed said.
Tis the season for vaccines
Ask your doctor what time of year is best to get vaccinated. “Typically, respiratory illnesses start in the fall and don’t subside until after the winter,” Reed explained. But not always. While winter is definitely the peak season, some illnesses occur year-round. My husband and I receive our updated flu and Covid-19 vaccinations every September. And we had both received both versions of the pneumonia vaccines several years earlier. When I got pneumonia in August 2023 it was a real disappointment, but I recovered at home and didn’t have to go to hospital like when I got pneumonia in April 2001 before my vaccination.
The right time for vaccinations
Reed recommends asking your doctor if you should schedule a vaccination for a specific day of the week if you experience a reaction. My husband and I were overdue for the shingles vaccination. I waited for it because I was afraid it would kick my ass. I had shingles (herpes zoster virus), a viral infection that causes a deeply painful rash, more than a decade ago, and it was bad. Recovery took six months and left nerve damage. Our HCP suggested we get vaccinated on a Friday so we could take the weekend to recover if needed. My husband was fine; he mowed the grass. Both the first and second doses (also scheduled for a Friday) resulted in me being out and spending the weekend in bed with flu-like symptoms that went away on Sunday afternoon. It was still better than actually having shingles.
Your HCP can discuss possible side effects with you, and the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) also provides comprehensive information on vaccine side effects and adverse events. Reed recommended getting the right information from real people with real references.
This educational resource was created with support from Moderna.
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