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I was seven months pregnant in 1990 when I came down with chickenpox. We were terrified when we thought about how likely it was that we would lose our son. In the early stages of pregnancy, chickenpox, also known as varicella, can cause scarring, damage to the fetal organs, and developmental and learning disorders. In late pregnancy it can be fatal to both mother and baby.
At the time, there was no vaccine or treatment in the United States. I had no choice but to hope that everything would be okay. My obstetrician made home visits to keep me and the virus away from his office. For three weeks, my pregnant belly and I suffered from agony, fever, chills, and a constant itch that kept me awake at night. My husband and I held our breath, hoping that our son’s delivery wouldn’t come too soon. Instead, he was born two weeks late and unharmed. We were lucky. And I decided not to take any more risks.
When the chickenpox vaccine became available at my son’s pediatrician’s office in 1995, we were the first to get it. My son received his vaccine, as did his younger sisters a few years later. I wanted to make sure that none of them, like me, were at risk of developing a 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 to vaccinations, herd immunity makes it harder for the disease to spread and some diseases eventually disappear completely. That’s why we don’t see cases of smallpox. or babies with polio in iron lungs.
However, some recent changes to vaccination recommendations are fueling doubt and confusion among some people and have led some people to pause the vaccination process indefinitely. This leads to diseases that have been almost eradicated, such as measles, re-emerging. Because outbreaks are becoming more common, I got my MMR (measles, rubella and mumps) booster shot last year. I received one of the first MMR vaccinations in 1971. The last thing I need at 63 is measles, especially since I survived septic shock. I messaged my doctor (HCP) and he asked for a blood test to determine my antibodies, which were indeed low. If you are unsure about your vaccination status or don’t know whether or not you need certain vaccinations, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor.
Which vaccinations are you eligible for?
Pharmacist Alisha Reed, a member of HealthyWomen’s Women’s Health Advisory Board and founder of Your Self Care Prescription, recommends making a list of questions to bring to your appointment. “First, check with your doctor about the current vaccination status of you and your children, as well as any vaccinations you have already received,” recommended Reed. Your doctor can usually see this in your medical records.
Questions to ask your doctor about vaccines
Recommended vaccines
- Which vaccinations are recommended for me (or my relatives)?
- Is it important for me to receive this vaccine?
- Are some of the recommended vaccinations optional or are they all necessary?
- How often should I receive these vaccinations?
- Is there a time of year when I should get vaccinated?
- Can more than one be administered at the same time?
Safety and side effects
- Is there a risk for me to 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?
Your 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 specific medical history or conditions?
- Should I be concerned about interactions between the medications you take and the vaccines?
You may have questions about your eligibility for certain vaccinations. This depends on your age, risk factors and health status. For example, people with lung diseases such as COPD should ask themselves whether vaccinations will protect them from lung diseases such as Covid-19, flu or RSV. There are some recommended vaccinations for pregnant women, babies and young children.
Travelers also need multiple vaccinations to visit other countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides a wealth of information about travel-related vaccinations. 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 vaccinations in general that you can use to create a list for a visit to your doctor. And if you’re wondering whether any of your previous vaccines still work, get your antibodies tested, like I did for measles.
Drug interactions and intervals between vaccinations
Another good question is whether the drugs interact with or negate the effectiveness of the vaccines. “Some people cannot receive a vaccine while they are undergoing chemotherapy or receiving monoclonal antibodies,” Reed said. Some people experience hypersensitivity or reactions due to the preservatives in the vaccines. Ask questions about the ingredients. These are all good questions and you should definitely add them to your list.
Ask your doctor which vaccinations are most important for you or your family member and whether you can postpone or skip certain vaccinations. Ask how often you should receive reinforcement. Determine whether you can receive more than one vaccine at a time or whether there will need to be a certain amount of time between vaccinations. “Some people get vaccinated against flu and Covid-19 at the same time,” Reed said.
What is the season for vaccines?
Ask your doctor about the best time of year for vaccination. “Typically, respiratory illnesses can occur in the fall and there will be no decline until we get through the winter,” Reed explained. But not always. While winter is definitely the peak season, some disruptions occur year-round. My husband and I receive updated flu and Covid-19 vaccines every September. And we both received both versions of the pneumonia vaccines several years prior. When I got pneumonia in August 2023, it was unfortunate, but I recovered at home instead of going to the hospital like I did when I got pneumonia in April 2021 because I wasn’t vaccinated.
Determination of the vaccination time
Reed recommends talking to your doctor about scheduling a vaccination on a specific day of the week in case you have a reaction. My husband and I were late for the shingles vaccine. I stopped her because I was afraid she would have an unpleasant reaction. I had herpes (the shingles virus), a viral infection that causes a very painful rash, more than a decade ago, and it was serious. It took me six months to recover and this illness caused nerve damage. Our healthcare provider suggested we get vaccinated on Friday so we could use the weekend to recover if necessary. My husband was fine; He was mowing the grass in the garden. The first and second doses (which I also scheduled for a Friday) hit me hard and I spent the weekend in bed with flu-like symptoms that went away on Sunday afternoon. Still, it was all better than actually having shingles.
Your doctor can discuss possible side effects with you, and the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) also provides comprehensive information about vaccine side effects and adverse events. Reed recommended getting the right information from real people with recognized certifications.
This educational resource was created with support from Moderna.
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