The Jesse Nash Health Center offers these vaccines at the Family Planning Center
- HPV (Human Papilloma Virus)
- Hepatitis A/B
- MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
The ECDOH Immunization Clinic offers several types of vaccines including COVID-19. Appointments required. See vaccines.gov for pharmacies and other sites that offer COVID-19 vaccine and flu vaccine.
What are Vaccines?
Vaccines help teach the immune system how to defend against germs and prevent life-threatening diseases. Vaccination protects you by helping build up your natural defenses. Vaccines are tested to ensure that they are safe and effective for children and adults to receive at the recommended ages.
Vaccines are medicines that protect against disease. Vaccination is one of the safest preventive care measures available. Vaccines are usually given as an injection or shot, but some can be given by mouth or sprayed into the nose. Vaccines are important because they provide immunity, the ability to fight off an illness, including potentially life-threatening diseases. If you are immune to a disease, you can be exposed to it without becoming sick. Different vaccines work in different ways, but every vaccine helps the body’s immune system learn how to fight germs. It typically takes a few weeks for protection to develop after vaccination, but that protection can last months or even years.
Vaccines can prevent common diseases that used to seriously harm or even kill infants, children, and adults. Without vaccines, children are at risk of becoming seriously ill or dying from childhood diseases like measles and whooping cough. Adults need to keep vaccinations up to date because immunity from childhood vaccines can wear off over time. A few vaccines, such as those for tetanus or seasonal flu, require occasional booster doses to maintain the body’s defenses. You are also at risk for different diseases at different stages of life.
Important Terms
Vaccinate: To protect against disease, usually by shot or injection with a needle.
Immunization: Using vaccines to become protected against a disease. May also be called vaccination or inoculation.
Booster Shot or Booster Dose: Shot you get months or years after your first vaccine shot to maintain your immunity.
Contraindication: A specific situation where a medicine or procedure should not be used because it may be harmful to the person.
Antibodies: Cells that help the body fight off infection.
Immunization Schedule: The list of common vaccines the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that most people should receive at specific ages.
Catch-up Schedule: An immunization schedule for anyone who has not received doses of vaccines they are eligible for or that are missing from their vaccination record.
Misinformation: False information that is spread by people who think it is true. There is a lot of false information online, especially about vaccines.
NYSIIS (an acronym): New York State Immunization Information System. Pronounced “nice-iss.” This is the central digital system where health care providers enter information about what vaccines you have received. This info is available to schools and hospitals as well as the Department of Health. Your NYSIIS profile should have the most accurate information about what vaccines you have received and which ones you still need or need boosters for.
Where to Get Vaccines
- Your primary care provider or pediatrician Immunization clinics in WNY: erie.gov/immclinics
- Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) Immunization Clinic: The Erie County Department of Health Immunization Action Plan (IAP) Program works closely with health care providers, day care providers, schools, and others to help raise vaccination rates in Erie County. The IAP provides educational materials on immunizations to providers for their patients. The IAP Program can answer questions about immunizations that are needed for school or college.
- 608 William Street, Buffalo; 716-858-7687, erie.gov/iap
- Federally Qualified Health Care Centers (FQHC): find one near you by visiting snapcapwny.org.
- Your local pharmacy may carry limited amounts of common vaccines such as flu, Tdap and COVID-19.
Children Need Vaccines as They Grow
Vaccines can prevent common diseases that used to seriously harm or even kill infants, children and adults. Without vaccines, your child is at risk of becoming seriously ill or even dying from childhood diseases such as measles and whooping cough. It is important for your child to receive vaccines starting at birth and continuing through childhood.
If you choose not to vaccinate your child, it may be difficult to find and maintain pediatric care. Talk with your provider and read trusted information about vaccines from sources like the New York State Department of Health to learn more about vaccines. Children attending day care and pre-K through 12th grade in New York State must receive all required doses of vaccines on the recommended schedule in order to attend or remain in school. Check with your pediatrician to make sure your child has all required and recommended vaccinations. Plan ahead: once school starts, all of the appointments get booked up! Make your appointment early in the summer to make sure you get to see your provider before school begins.
MAKE YOUR SCHOOL CHECK-UP APPOINTMENT EARLY EACH SUMMER! SCHOOL VACCINE REQUIREMENTS
No-cost vaccines are available through the CDC’s Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program for eligible children at pediatric care providers, pharmacies and health clinics that are enrolled in the VFC Program. To learn more, visit: bit.ly/vaccinesforchildrenCDC
Vaccines and Pregnancy
Influenza (flu), Tdap, RSV, and COVID-19 vaccinations during pregnancy can help keep you and your baby safe. The Tdap vaccine helps protect against whooping cough, which can be really dangerous for your baby. RSV is a common cause of severe respiratory illness in infants. Pregnant people and babies are more likely to get very sick from the flu and COVID-19. Getting these vaccines while you’re pregnant helps your body create protective antibodies, and you can pass on those antibodies to your baby. These antibodies can help protect your baby during the first few months of life when they are too young to receive these vaccines themselves. Timing of vaccinations is key! Ask your medical provider about when to get these vaccines during pregnancy. For more information about pregnancy and vaccination, visit: https://bit.ly/vaccinesforpregnancy
Vaccines for Adults
Adults need to keep their vaccinations up to date because immunity from childhood vaccines can wear off over time. You are also at risk for different diseases as an adult. Vaccination is one of the most convenient and safest preventive care measures available. By getting vaccinated, you can protect yourself and also avoid spreading preventable diseases to other people in your community. All adults should get the influenza (flu) vaccine every year, the COVID-19 vaccine, and the Tdap vaccine. You may need other vaccines based on your age, health conditions, job, lifestyle, or travel habits. Talk to your medical provider about what other vaccines are right for you. Sometimes medical providers’ offices don’t accept Medicaid for vaccines, but pharmacies do. If you are uninsured or underinsured, learn more about Erie County’s Vaccines for Adults (VFA) Program. For more information on immunization for adults, visit: https://bit.ly/vaccinesforadults
Content on this page adapted from the Office of Health Equity's publication, "Let's Talk About Vaccines."