Vaccines

If you’re ready to minimize your risk of becoming sick or having severe symptoms, consider vaccines at Richmond Primary Care Specialists in the Prince’s Bay neighborhood of Staten Island, New York City. Its highly trained medical specialists offer a variety of vaccinations for families of all ages. Schedule an evaluation at Richmond Primary Care Specialists by calling the office or booking an appointment online today. 

What are vaccines?

Vaccines are preventive treatments, often in the form of injections or nasal sprays, that contain live or dead germs or other ingredients that enhance your immune system. They cause your body to produce antibodies to specific illnesses, offering extra protection. If you become sick after receiving vaccines, your symptoms are often less severe. 

Which conditions can vaccines protect me against?

Vaccines can help protect you against contracting:

• COVID-19
• Influenza (flu) 
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Pneumococcal
• Meningococcal (meningitis)
• Pertussis (whooping cough)
• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Diphtheria
• Varicella (chickenpox)
• Shingles
• Rotavirus
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Polio
• Tetanus 

Some vaccines offer protection from more than one type of illness in a single dose. The Richmond Primary Care Specialists team determines which vaccinations you or a loved one is a candidate for after discussing medical history, lifestyle habits, and treatment preferences.

When do I need a vaccine?

The decision to receive vaccines is entirely up to you, though some jobs require vaccinations as a condition of employment. You or your child might require vaccines to attend school or join the military.

You can follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines if you’d like, although the Richmond Primary Care Specialists team also works with patients to develop vaccine schedules that work best for their needs.

Your provider discusses your medical history, past vaccine history, medications, age, risk factors, and treatment preferences before determining which vaccines are best.

What happens during vaccine administration?

Receiving a vaccine often involves an injection or breathing in a nasal mist. An injection in your arm or leg feels like a tiny pinch that lasts about a second. You or your child might receive more than one vaccine during the same appointment. Some vaccines are available annually (yearly), such as the flu shot, while others require just one or several doses to be most effective.

After receiving a vaccine, you might develop redness or swelling at the injection site. Other temporary side effects may include a low-grade fever, fatigue, or other mild flu-like symptoms.

Call the Richmond Primary Care Specialists office with any questions. Your provider will let you know if you need a second or third dose of a vaccine.

Schedule an appointment at Richmond Primary Care Specialists by phone or request one online today to determine which vaccines are right for you.