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Vaccines and Immunizations

Frequently Asked Questions

Vaccines and immunizations are closely related but not the same.

  • A vaccine is the shot, pill, or nasal spray you receive to help prevent disease.
  • Immunization is the protection your body builds after the vaccine works. In short, vaccines are what you get, and immunizations are the protection you gain. Together, they help keep individuals, families, and communities healthy.

Vaccinations help the body's immune system do its work by developing protection against future infections. The result is a stronger immune system without having to get sick!

Vaccines aren't just for children. Some diseases, like singles, only affect adults. Adults may also be at risk for other vaccine-preventable diseases due to age, job, lifestyle, travel, or health conditions.

An immunized population also helps to protect those who are unable to get vaccinations for medical or other reasons.

Vaccines are important for people of all ages. Check whether you're up to date on recommended vaccines by clicking here.

You may also need a vaccination before travelling. Many vaccine-preventable diseases rarely seen in the United States are still prevalent in other parts of the world. Visit https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/ to search for recommended vaccines by destination.

SCHD offers travel vaccines, click here for more information.

There are several different types of vaccines. Each type uses a different mechanism to teach your immune system how to fight off certain kinds of germs and the diseases they cause. Learn about the different types of vaccines and which diseases they help prevent by clicking here.

  • Vaccination records
  • Health insurance card
  • If no health insurance, proof of income (applies only for ages 18 and under)
  • Parent/guardian ID
  • Written letter of consent with parent ID (if parent is not going to bring child)
  • Court-granted guardianship papers if applicable

    Vaccine costs vary depending on your age, insurance, and the type of vaccine. Click here to learn more about the cost of vaccines from the Health Department.

  • Your healthcare provider
  • Local Pharmacies (age 12+)
  • Sedgwick County Health Department (See Hours and Locations)

Click here to see a list of preventable diseases and their possible complications that vaccines protect against.

What diseases do the following vaccines protect against?

Presented in alphabetical order by preventable disease. 

VACCINE PREVENTABLE DISEASE DISEASE COMPLICATIONS

CHICKEN POX

  • Contagious viral infection that causes fever, headache, and an itchy, blistering rash
  • Spread through air and direct contact
  • Infected sores
  • Brain swelling
  • Infection of the lungs (pneumonia)
  • Death

COVID 19

  • Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, or lungs; may feel like a cold or flu.
  • Spread through air and direct contact
  • Infection of the lungs (pneumonia)
  • Blood clots
  • Liver, heart or kidney damage
  • Long COVID
  • Death

Diphtheria*

  • Illness caused by a toxin produced by bacteria that infects the nose, throat, and sometimes skin
  • Swelling of the heart muscle
  • Heart failure
  • Coma
  • Paralysis
  • Death
Hepatitis A
  • Contagious viral infection of the liver
  • Spread by contaminated food or drink or close contact with an infected person
  • Liver failure
  • Death
Hepatitis B
  • Contagious viral infection of the liver
  • Spread through contact with infected body fluids such as blood or semen
  • Chronic liver infection
  • Liver failure
  • Liver cancer
  • Death

Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b)

  • Contagious bacterial infection of the lungs, brain and spinal cord, or bloodstream
  • Spread through air and direct contact
  • Depends on the part of the body infected, but can include brain damage, hearing loss, loss of arm or leg
  • Death

Influenza (Flu)

  • Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs
  • Spread through air and direct contact
  • Infection of the lungs (pneumonia)
  • Sinus and ear infections
  • Worsening of underlying heart or lung conditions
  • Death

Measles (Rubeola)†

  • Contagious viral infection that causes high fever, cough, red eyes, runny nose, and rash
  • Spread through air and direct contact
  • Brain swelling
  • Infection of the lungs (pneumonia)
  • Death

Mumps†

  • Contagious viral infection that causes fever, tiredness, swollen cheeks, and tender swollen jaw
  • Spread through air and direct contact
  • Brain swelling
  • Painful and swollen testicles or ovaries
  • Deafness
  • Death

Pertussis (Whooping Cough) *

  • Contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airway; especially dangerous for babies
  • Spread through air and direct contact
  • Infection of the lungs (pneumonia)
  • Death

Pneumococcal

  • Bacterial infections of ears, sinuses, lungs, or bloodstream
  • Spread through direct contact with respiratory droplets like saliva or mucus
  • Depends on the part of the body infected, but can include infection of the lungs (pneumonia), blood poisoning, infection of the lining of the brain and spinal
    cord
  • Death

Polio

  • Contagious viral infection of nerves and brain
  • Spread through the mouth from stool on contaminated hands, food or liquid, and by air and direct contact
  • Paralysis
  • Death

RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus)

  • Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs; especially dangerous for infants and young children
  • Spread through air and direct contact
  • Infection of the lungs (pneumonia) and small airways of the lungs

Rotavirus

  • Contagious viral infection of the gut
  • Spread through the mouth from hands and food contaminated with stool
  • Severe diarrhea
  • Dehydration
  • Death

Rubella (German Measles) †

  • Contagious viral infection that causes low-grade fever, sore throat, and rash
  • Spread through air and direct contact
  • Very dangerous in pregnant women; can cause miscarriage or stillbirth, premature delivery, severe birth defects

Tetanus (Lockjaw)*

  • Bacterial infection of brain and nerves caused by spores found in soil and dust everywhere
  • Spores enter the body through wounds or broken skin
  • Seizures
  • Broken bones
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Death

*DTaP protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis  | †MMR protects against measles, mumps, and rubella

Adapted from 2025 Recommended Immunizations for Birth Through 6 Years Old, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (June 2025).