Diseases and Vaccines
American Samoa Department of Health Immunization Division (ASDoHID)​

Immunizing and safeguarding our children and families

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At a glance: ​  What diseases do these vaccines protect against?

Vaccines and Diseases

VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASE	DISEASE COMPLICATIONS
RSV (Respiratory syncytial virus) Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs; spread through air and direct contact	Infection of the lungs (pneumonia) and small airways of the lungs; especially dangerous for infants and young children
Hepatitis B  Contagious viral infection of the Liver; spread through contact with infected body fluids such as blood or semen	Chronic liver infection, Liver failure, liver cancer, death
Rotavirus ​Contagious viral infection of the gut; spread through the mouth from hands and food contaminated with stool	Severe diarrhea, dehydration, death
Diphtheria*  Contagious bacterial infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes Lungs; spread through air and direct contact	Swelling of the heart muscle, heart failure, coma, paralysis, death
Pertussis (Whooping cough)*  Contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airway; spread through air and direct contact	Infection of the lungs (pneumonia), death; especially dangerous for babies
Tetanus (Lockjaw)*  Bacterial infection of brain and nerves caused by spores found in soil and dust everywhere; spores enter the body through wounds or broken skin	Seizures, broken bones, difficulty breathing, death
Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b) ​Contagious bacterial infection of the lungs, brain and spinal cord, or bloodstream; spread through air and direct contact	Depends on the part of the body infected, but can include brain damage, hearing loss, loss of arm or leg, death
Pneumococcal  Bacterial infections of ears, sinuses, lungs, or bloodstream; spread through direct contact with respiratory droplets like saliva or mucus	Depends on the part of the body infected, but can include infection of the lungs (pneumonia), blood poisoning, infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord, death
Polio ​Contagious viral infection of nerves and brain; spread through the mouth from stool on contaminated hands, food or Liquid, and by air and direct contact	Paralysis, death
COVID-19  Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, or lungs; may feel like a cold or flu.  Spread through air and direct contact	Infection of the lungs (pneumonia); blood clots; liver, heart or kidney damage; long COVID; death
Influenza (Flu)  Contagious viral infection of the nose, throat, and sometimes lungs; spread through air and direct contact	Infection of the lungs (pneumonia), sinus and ear infections, worsening of underlying heart or Lung conditions, death
Measles (Rubeola)+  Contagious viral infection that causes high fever, cough, red eyes, runny nose, and rash; spread through air and direct contact	Brain swelling, infection of the lungs (pneumonia), death
Mumps+  Contagious viral infection that causes fever, tiredness, swollen cheeks, and tender swollen jaw; spread through air and direct contact	Brain swelling, painful and swollen testicles or ovaries, deafness, death
Rubella (German Measles) +  Contagious viral infection that causes Low-grade fever, sore throat, and rash; spread through air and direct contact	Very dangerous in pregnant people; can cause miscarriage or stillbirth, premature delivery, severe birth defects
Chickenpox (Varicella)  Contagious viral infection that causes fever, headache, and an itchy, blistering rash; spread through air and direct contact	Infected sores, brain swelling, infection of the lungs (pneumonia), death
Hepatitis A ​Contagious viral infection of the Liver; spread by contaminated food or drink or close contact with an infected person	Liver failure, death

* DTaP protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis

+ MMR protects against measles, mumps, and rubella

Updated:  November 2024