Immunity: Get to Know Your Immune System!

Based on the explanation above, there is no need to worry about developing autoimmune diseases as a result of vaccines unless you are already aware of very rare personal genetic predispositions. Instead, the CDC recommends all individuals to receive vaccines for chickenpox, dengue, diphtheria, influenza, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), HPV (human papillomarvirus), measles, meningococcal, mumps, pneumococcal, polio, rotavirus, rubella, shingles, tetanus, and whooping cough to prevent the infection of life-threatening diseases. The Indonesian Ministry of Health specifically made 5 types of vaccines, namely hepatitis B, tuberculosis (BCG), polio, a combination of diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus (DPT-HB), and measles mandatory for all Indonesian babies. As someone who has received all 5 vaccines as a baby and never contracted any of the infections the vaccine was made to prevent even 17 years later, I can testify that getting vaccinated according to the recommendation given by both global and national health agencies is a beneficial and laudable choice. The WHO also strongly urges all individuals to get vaccinated against the highly infectious SARS-CoV-2 using whatever Covid-19 vaccine brand is available during this pandemic. As someone whose whole family has received the full Covid-19 vaccine dosage and never been infected with Covid-19 despite thousands of new national cases each day, I myself would also advise you to get vaccinated against Covid-19 immediately. Should you still be worried of developing allergies, you can choose to stay in the immunization venue for at least 30 minutes to consult with a present doctor.

Remember that it is important to maintain a cheerful and positive mindset for optimum antibody response when receiving vaccines. Lastly, proper sleep (>6 hours every night), adequate nutrition, and regular exercise should be enacted in your daily life to boost overall health and immunity. These factors should not only be considered for a week before getting vaccinated or during Covid-19 waves, but as a lifestyle as it benefits your own health and well-being. Protecting yourself should be a priority, and by doing so, you are also protecting your loved ones and the others around you. So, #AyoVakinCovid-19! Click here to register for a Covid-19 vaccine in Indonesia.

Covid-19 vaccine. Credit: Faculty of Medicine at Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang (2021).

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