Vaccines: What It Is and What to Expect
Medically reviewed by Sumiran Racherla, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor provides Vaccines?
A primary care doctor can talk with you about vaccines. A pediatrician, a doctor who treats children, can do the same for your child. Your provider can tell you which vaccines are recommended for you or your child. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What it is
The facts below are about vaccines in general, not about one specific vaccine.
Vaccines are shots, liquids, pills, or nasal sprays that teach your body's immune system to recognize and defend against harmful germs. Getting a vaccine is called vaccination. Vaccines are also called immunizations or shots, and the word immunization can mean the same thing as vaccination.
There are vaccines against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Your immune system remembers the germ. It will attack the germ if it ever invades again. This protection is called immunity.
Why a doctor might recommend it
Vaccines protect you against many diseases. These diseases can be very serious. Getting immunity from a vaccine is safer than getting immunity by being sick with the disease. Vaccines also protect the people around you through community immunity.
How to prepare
- Talk with your provider about which vaccines are recommended for you or your child.
- If you plan to travel to other countries, get many immunizations at least 1 month before you go.
- Bring your immunization record when you travel to other countries, because some countries require it.
Live virus vaccines use a weakened form of the germ. People with weakened immune systems should not get these vaccines. Pregnant women should not get them either. Your provider can tell you the right time to get them.
What happens during it
Vaccines come as shots, liquids, pills, or nasal sprays. A vaccine schedule lists which vaccines are recommended for different groups of people. It also lists how many doses they need and when they should get them.
Recovery
Side effects are usually minor, such as a sore arm or low-grade fever. They go away within a few days.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you or someone else has trouble breathing, swelling of the face, eyes, or tongue, fainting or loss of consciousness, or bleeding that will not stop. Also call 911 for chest pain or discomfort lasting two minutes or more.
Risks and side effects
Any vaccine can cause side effects. As with any medicine, there is a very remote chance of a vaccine causing a severe allergic reaction, other serious injury, or death. Allergic reactions are rare and are usually to some part of the vaccine. Three groups have concluded that the benefits of vaccines outweigh their risks. They are the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Academy of Medicine, and the CDC.
Who performs it
A primary care doctor can talk with you about vaccines. A pediatrician can do the same for your child.
Common questions
Are vaccines safe?
Vaccines must go through extensive safety testing and evaluation before they are approved in the United States. Any vaccine can cause side effects, but they are usually minor.
What is community immunity?
Community immunity, also called herd immunity, is the idea that vaccines can help keep communities healthy. It matters most for people who cannot get certain vaccines. Newborn babies are too young for some vaccines.
What are the types of vaccines?
There are several types of vaccines. Live-attenuated vaccines use a weakened form of the germ. Inactivated vaccines use a killed version of the germ. Subunit vaccines use only specific pieces of the germ. Toxoid vaccines use a toxin made by the germ. mRNA vaccines use messenger RNA, which gives your cells instructions. Viral vector vaccines use genetic material, which gives your cells instructions.
Who should not get live virus vaccines?
People with weakened immune systems should not get live virus vaccines. Pregnant women should not get them either, and your provider can tell you the right time to get them.
How does a direct primary care or concierge doctor fit in?
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
Sources
- MedlinePlus - Vaccines
- MedlinePlus - Vaccines - immunizations
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Possible Side Effects from Vaccines
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
