General Vaccinations

Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B Vaccine

Hepatitis A vaccine is used to prevent liver diseases caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is usually spread by fecal-oral transmission or by consuming food or water that has been contaminated.

Hepatitis B vaccine is used to prevent liver diseases caused by the Hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV is most commonly transmitted through direct blood-to-blood contact with an infected person.

The difference between Hepatitis A and B is that Hepatitis A causes acute illness. Hepatitis B begins as a short-term illness but if progressed can turn into a chronic illness or life-long infection. Chronic hepatitis B is the world’s leading cause of liver cancer and can lead to serious liver diseases such as cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Flu Vaccine

Influenza or flu is a respiratory infection caused by the influenza virus. Millions of people get flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and ten of thousands of people die from flu. Common symptoms of flu are fever, head and body ache, sore throat and runny nose.

The influenza vaccine is designed to protect against the influenza viruses. Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body after vaccination and these antibodies provide protection against infection with circulating influenza viruses.

The flu vaccine may contain egg protein and certain antibiotics (eg, gentamycin, kanamycin or neomycin) and is not suitable for persons allergic to them.

Pneumococcal Vaccines

Pneumococcal vaccine helps prevent against pneumococcal disease. Pneumococcal infections is caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus. Infections can range from ear and sinus infections to pneumonia and bloodstream infections.

Symptoms are largely dependent on the part of the body that is infected. Most infections symptoms are mild. However, some can be deadly or result in long-term health problems. 

People at high risk of developing serious complications from pneumococcal disease such as infants, elderly and those with pre-existing chronic conditions should receive the vaccine to reduce their risk of infection.

Tdap Vaccine

Tdap vaccines help to prevent against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis bacteria. 

Diphtheria bacteria causes breathing difficulties, problems with swallowing, heart failure, paralysis and even death. Tetanus bacteria results in painful contractions that interferes with breathing and swallowing, leading to death. Pertussis bacteria produces uncontrollable violent coughing that will result in breathing difficulties as well as problems when eating or drinking.

Most of the symptoms from infection are severe and may even lead to death therefore it is recommended that adults who have never received the vaccine before to take the Tdap vaccine to prevent against the infections. 

HPV Vaccine

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical and other cancer, including cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus. It can also cause cancer in the back of the throat (called oropharyngeal cancer). This can include the base of the tongue and tonsils. Cancer often takes years, even decades, to develop after a person gets HPV. Genital warts and cancers are also results from different types of HPV.

The HPV vaccine can help to effectively protect against specific types of HPV infection that may lead to cervical cancer. The vaccines are most effective if given before first sexual exposure at the recommended age groups, in those who have not yet been exposed to the HPV types covered by the vaccine.