Say yes to being healthy.
The number of lives lost to preventable diseases is staggering. A quarter of all deaths (and some believe even up to half) could be prevented with early preventative actions, according to the National Library of Health. Imagine if you could prevent serious illness for you and your family. You can begin today with one small step: vaccination.
Yeah, but.
We know you've heard lots of conflicting stories around vaccines in light of the recent pandemic. You may feel afraid. You may worry you aren't being told the full truth. You may have doubts about the science. So, here's one thing you can be certain of: Illinois Extension will continue to give you the unbiased information on vaccine safety like we've been doing for more than 100 years. We've asked the hard questions on your behalf. What we learned is found here.
The choice is and always will be yours to make.
Why I Am Vaccinated
“As a farmer, I depend on science and technology to help me produce safe crops in an environmentally responsible manner. In the same spirit, I support the science behind vaccines.”
Scott Heins, Corn and Soybean Producer, Jackson County
Vaccinations save lives.
Vaccines work by training your immune system to recognize and fight the virus or bacteria when it comes in contact with your body. They help you fight disease without getting extremely sick. Watch this great Ted-Ed video on how vaccines work to learn how vaccines teach our bodies to recognize dangerous pathogens.
Adults need vaccines, too.
As we get older, adults need vaccines at different time intervals and for reasons related to your health and lifestyle. There are 12 vaccines most recommended for adults. Talk to a health care provider about which of these are right for you.
Fall 2023 Recommendations for COVID-19 vaccine
As of September 2023, an updated COVID-19 vaccine has been released.
Who is eligible for the updated vaccine?
- Everyone aged 5 years and older should get 1 updated COVID-19 vaccine
- Updated vaccines are the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine
- Children aged 6 months–4 years need multiple doses of COVID-19 vaccines to be up to date, including at least 1 dose of updated COVID-19 vaccine.
If you had COVID-19, it is still important to stay up to date with vaccines. Talk to your health care provider about your risk and when you should receive the update.