Vaccination Awareness
Vital Signs
September 2025 Edition: Written by Dr. Kathryn Cahill, Pediatrician
Leaves are beginning to turn and the Fall season is upon us. Its time to start thinking about preventative vaccines for the upcoming Winter respiratory season. Eating healthy food, getting good sleep and plenty of movement help keep our immune systems strong. Hand washing, covering coughs and staying home when ill help us from spreading illness to each other, but vaccines are the best tool for prevention against illnesses and complications from those illnesses like Influenza, RSV, and Covid.
Staying up to date on routine vaccines is also essential. There have been cases of measles in Wisconsin and nationwide. There have been many cases of whooping cough in Dane County and ongoing outbreaks nationwide. Checking your vaccine status to ensure protection against these illnesses is also important. Your provider and the Wisconsin Immunization Registry can confirm whether you may be due for boosters.
Vaccines train our immune systems to recognize and fight specific germs without causing illness. This type of protection is called immunity. When enough people are vaccinated, herd immunity helps shield those who cannot be vaccinated, like newborns or patients with certain conditions. Vaccines are tested extensively and continuously monitored for safety. Vaccines are safe and effective. They help us protect ourselves, protect each other and contribute to healthier communities.
We encourage you to get your winter vaccines by November 1st to optimize their protective benefit. Vaccines can be provided during a wellness visit, a vaccine-specific clinic, or at your local pharmacy. Please see our social media posts for dates and times for our upcoming Influenza clinics. Thank you for helping us take care of you and our community!
Local Vaccination Resources
