Before joining the OC Health Care Agency, I worked many years as a primary care doctor taking care of people of all ages. The saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is one that comes up again and again in our lives. In health care and public health, it is especially true. It is better to prevent problems when we can, whether by making healthy choices, staying active, or lowering our chances of getting sick. One of the tools available for prevention is vaccines.
Thanks to vaccines, many serious diseases that once threatened children and adults like tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles – are now fare less common than they used to be. Vaccines are not just for children. There are also vaccines recommended for adolescents, adults, and older adults. As we age, vaccine advice adjusts to our different needs at different stages of life.
It is natural to have questions about vaccines. After all, they are given to healthy people with the goal of preventing illness. Because of that, vaccines go through careful study and testing before being approved, and they continue to be monitored for safety once they are in use. Still, with so much information available, some reliable, some not - it can be hard to know what to trust when making decisions.
The OC Health Care Agency looks to the California Department of Public Health for the best vaccine advice for Californians. Information is posted on our website for the public.
When it comes to your health and your family’s health, it is important to talk to a licensed health care provider who can help answer specific questions about which vaccines are recommended for you, when to get them, and what to expect. Preparing your questions before your appointment can help you get the answers you need to make informed choices.
About Dr. Christopher Zimmerman:
Dr. Christopher Zimmerman is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. He has more than a decade of experience as a primary care physician taking care of both adults and children. Dr. Zimmerman also trained as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and holds a Master's in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health. He has extensive experience on vaccination and vaccine preventable diseases from the CDC, the New York City Department of Public Health, as well as working on the Global Polio Eradication Initiative with the World Health Organization.
