Preventable Diseases & Vaccines

Chickenpox

Vaccine

Varicella vaccine protects against chickenpox.

Disease spread by

Air, direct contact

Disease symptoms

Rash, tiredness, headache, fever

Disease complications

Infected blisters, bleeding disorders, encephalitis (brain swelling), pneumonia (infection in the lungs)

Diphtheria

Vaccine

DTaP* vaccine protects against diphtheria.

Disease spread by

Air, direct contact

Disease symptoms

Sore throat, mild fever, weakness, swollen glands in neck

Disease complications

Swelling of the heart muscle, heart failure, coma, paralysis, death

Hib

Vaccine

Hib vaccine protects against Haemophilus influenzae type b.

Disease spread by

Air, direct contact

Disease symptoms

May be no symptoms unless bacteria enter the blood

Disease complications

Meningitis (infection of the covering around the brain and spinal cord), intellectual disability, epiglottitis (life-threatening infection that can block the windpipe and lead to serious breathing problems), pneumonia (infection in the lungs), death

Hepatitis A

Vaccine

HepA vaccine protects against hepatitis A.

Disease spread by

Direct contact, contaminated food or water

Disease symptoms

May be no symptoms, fever, stomach pain, loss of appetite, fatigue, vomiting, jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes), dark urine

Disease complications

Liver failure, arthralgia (joint pain), kidney, pancreatic and blood disorders

Hepatitis B

Vaccine

HepB vaccine protects against hepatitis B.

Disease spread by

Contact with blood or body fluids

Disease symptoms

May be no symptoms, fever, headache, weakness, vomiting, jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes), joint pain

Disease complications

Chronic liver infection, liver failure, liver cancer

Influenza (Flu)

Vaccine

Flu vaccine protects against influenza.

Disease spread by

Air, direct contact

Disease symptoms

Fever, muscle pain, sore throat, cough, extreme fatigue

Disease complications

Pneumonia (infection in the lungs)

Measles

Vaccine

MMR** vaccine protects against measles.

Disease spread by

Air, direct contact

Disease symptoms

Rash, fever, cough, runny nose, pink eye

Disease complications

Encephalitis (brain swelling), pneumonia (infection in the lungs), death

Mumps

Vaccine

MMR** vaccine protects against mumps.

Disease spread by

Air, direct contact

Disease symptoms

Swollen salivary glands (under the jaw), fever, headache, tiredness, muscle pain

Disease complications

Meningitis (infection of the covering around the brain and spinal cord) , encephalitis (brain swelling), inflammation of testicles or ovaries, deafness

Pertussis

Vaccine

DTaP* vaccine protects against pertussis (whooping cough).

Disease spread by

Air, direct contact

Disease symptoms

Severe cough, runny nose, apnea (a pause in breathing in infants)

Disease complications

Pneumonia (infection in the lungs), death

Polio

Vaccine

IPV vaccine protects against polio.

Disease spread by

Air, direct contact, through the mouth

Disease symptoms

May be no symptoms, sore throat, fever, nausea, headache

Disease complications

Paralysis, death

Pneumococcal

Vaccine

PCV13 vaccine protects against pneumococcus.

Disease spread by

Air, direct contact

Disease symptoms

May be no symptoms, pneumonia (infection in the lungs)

Disease complications

Bacteremia (blood infection), meningitis (infection of the covering around the brain and spinal cord), death

Rotavirus

Vaccine

RV vaccine protects against rotavirus.

Disease spread by

Through the mouth

Disease symptoms

Diarrhea, fever, vomiting

Disease complications

Severe diarrhea, dehydration