Vaccination and Immunization –

Immunizations (Vaccinations) teach your body how to defend itself when foreign germs such as viruses or bacteria invade. This time-tested technique exposes the body to a very small, safe amount of the virus or bacteria that has been weakened or killed. Flu shots employ this same method to strengthen the immune system before flu season.

Foothills Family Practice offers common immunizations and vaccinations for children, adults and families, including vaccination for:

  • Mumps
  • Measles
  • Rubella
  • Chicken Pox
  • Influenza
  • Diphtheria
  • International Travel
  • Polio
  • Whooping Cough
  • Meningitis
  • Pneumonia
  • Ear Infections
  • Tetanus
  • Other Infections

Immunizations train the immune system to recognize and attack infections that it may be exposed to later in life. By introducing a small level of pathogen, the patient will not become ill or have an infection. However, the body will naturally become accustomed to fighting the viral or bacterial infection, and the immune system becomes stronger.

Newborns are especially susceptible to germs from their parents, siblings, public places, and other babies in day care. With international travel being much more common now, both you and your baby can be exposed to diseases from all over the world. For a few weeks after they are born, babies will have some protection, which was passed from their mother through the placenta before birth. After a short period of time, this natural protection goes away. Immunization and vaccination treatment of newborns is critical to their healthy development.

Until developments in vaccination technology, diseases like polio used to be much more common and debilitating. Prior to these critical discoveries, diseases which are no longer a problem used to be life threatening or could cause permanent disability. This is true of:

  • Tetanus
  • Mumps
  • Whooping Cough
  • Diphtheria
  • Measles
  • Meningitis

All of these infections can be life-threatening and used to cause fatalities. Because of advances in vaccination and immunization these diseases are now rare in the United States and in most developed nations of the world. The doctors at Foothills Family Practice also perform vaccinations in other parts of the world as part of their global outreach.

If you have children that need their shots, if you are traveling abroad, if you are concerned about tetanus after a recent contusion, consider Foothills Family Practice your home for vaccination and immunization. The doctors and nurses of Foothills will make you and your family as comfortable as possible while fighting off major infections and disease.

Use the contact form to schedule your vaccination or immunization today.