Patient news from the health care team you trust October 2017
Don’t Wait, Vaccinate Beyond the flu shot, when it comes to vaccinating yourself and your children, many people remain confused about immunizations. Vaccines, like the ones listed below, help lower your chances of getting certain diseases and spreading them to others.
Meningitis (meningococcal) – can be fatal or cause great harm without prompt treatment; as many as one out of five people who contract the infection have serious complications. This vaccine is recommended for all preteens and teens.
Infants, older adults and people with weakened immune systems (like those undergoing cancer treatment) are especially vulnerable to infectious diseases.
Shingles – a painful rash that usually develops on one side of the body, often the face or torso. The rash forms blisters that typically scab over in 7-10 days and clears up within 2-4 weeks. For some people, the pain can last for months or even years after the rash goes away.
Influenza – lowers your risk of flu-related heart attacks or other complications from existing health conditions, like diabetes and chronic lung disease. HPV (Human Papillomavirus) – lowers your risk of cervical cancer. At Marshall Health, we recommend the HPV vaccine for females ages 9 to 26 and males ages 11 to 26. Pneumococcal – anyone can get pneumococcal pneumonia, but some people are at greater risk than others. This vaccine is recommended for patients 65 and older.
Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria & pertussis) – also known as the “whooping cough” booster, newborns are too young to be vaccinated against whooping cough, but it can be very dangerous, or even deadly, for them. Women should get a Tdap vaccine during every pregnancy to pass on protection from whooping cough. Anyone in contact with young babies should also make sure they are up-to-date on their Tdap vaccination.
Tetanus – tetanus is different from other vaccine-preventable diseases because it does not spread from person to person. The bacteria are usually found in soil, dust and manure and enter the body through breaks in the skin, such as cuts or puncture wounds caused by contaminated objects. Your doctor can advise you of other immunizations you may need, such as Hepatitis B, if you did not have them when you were younger. For more information, visit: www.cdc.gov/vaccines For flu shot locations, visit: www.marshallhealth.org/ patients/flu-shots/