Health Q&A August: National Immunization Awareness Month

Q: Now that I am getting older, how important are getting immunizations like influenza, pneumonia, tetanus and shingles?
A: Great question, especially since August is National Immunization Awareness Month! It is an annual observance held in August to highlight the importance of vaccination for people of all ages. Communities across the country use the month each year to raise awareness about the important role vaccines play in preventing serious and sometimes deadly, diseases across the lifespan.
You may not realize that you need vaccines throughout your life. Adults need to keep their vaccinations up to date because immunity from childhood vaccines can wear off over time. Vaccination is one of the most convenient and safest preventive care measures available.
All adults (and children age six months and older) need influenza (flu) vaccine every year. Vaccination to prevent influenza is particularly important for people who are at high risk of serious complications from the flu.
As for Pneumonia, a disease that causes thousand of infections every year in the United States, and is contagious, can lead to different kinds of health problems including infections in the lungs, lining of the brain and spinal cord, and blood. It is recommended to get two doses. One at age 65 and one more at least one year later.
Adults need one booster shot of the tetanus shot every 10 years as a part of their routine vaccine schedule. If you get a deep cut or a burn, you may need the booster earlier- especially if the cut or burn is dirty.
Now that the new shingles vaccine is out (call Shingrix) it is recommended that adults receive two doses two to six months apart to those aged 50 years (this is new) or older, regardless of the past episodes of herpes zoster or if they have received the zoster vaccine (Zostavax) in the past.
For more information about these vaccines, or any others, you can speak to one of our knowledgeable pharmacists. We offer all these vaccines at Creswell Health Mart Pharmacy year-round (except for influenza, which is seasonally). Another service we offer in conjugation with Rx Clinical Services is an onsite immunization clinic. If your company or organization would like our pharmacist to come to your place of business and administer one or more of these vaccines to your employees or members, you can contact or staff for more information. We are able to bill insurance in most all situations. Typically, September and October are great months to hold a clinic since it is the beginning of the flu season. We can provide other clinics year-round as well. For more information contact our clinic staff at [email protected].