Health security

Dr. Marc Siegel: Prevent needless deaths – Get vaccinated for all these reasons

The holiday season, when we often gather with friends and family, is a great time for me to remind people of the crucial need for vaccinations – not just to protect you, but to protect everyone you contact.

You want to spread good wishes and holiday cheer with your hugs, kisses and handshakes – not contagious diseases. But this close contact, along with coughs, can spread viruses that can make those around you sick.

When a large majority of people are vaccinated against a disease we achieve what’s known as herd immunity, or community immunity. That makes it harder for diseases to spread, including to people who can’t tolerate some vaccines because of certain health conditions.

By joining the ranks of the vaccinated and lowering your chances of getting sick, you are helping to decrease the amount of disease-carrying viruses circulating. This lowers the risk of diseases spreading among the rest of us. That’s why we all have a public health responsibility to take our shots.