While we’re still dealing with extreme heat and sun safety concerns across much of the country, it’s never too soon to begin thinking about the upcoming flu season and the impact it could have on your household. August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) and Maxim Health Systems wants to give you the best tools to keep you and your family healthy this autumn.
Influenza (flu) is just one of the many vaccine-preventable illnesses. Vaccines can prevent infectious diseases like measles, diphtheria, and rubella. But people in the U.S. still die from these and other vaccine-preventable diseases every day.Taking a few minutes to educate yourself on the benefits of immunizations, knowing which ones you need, and when to get them, may keep you out of the doctor’s office later.
A Perfect Time to Catch Up
Rather than simply treating a disease, the goal of any type of immunization is to prevent a disease from spreading and to continue encouraging immunization until it is eliminated. If we take away protection given by vaccinations prematurely, rare diseases with only a few reported cases could infect and spread to others. This could reverse the progress that has been made over the years.
Now is the perfect time to stay up-to-date on immunizations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers a schedule of immunization for individuals of all ages, which can be viewed here: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/default.htm.
National Immunization Awareness Month comes at the perfect time of year to remind us of the importance of getting an annual flu shot. Simply getting a flu shot each year can significantly reduce the number of visits to your physician, as well as, the associated medical costs of those visits. Researchers estimate that one–in-three Americans received a flu shot in 2010.
A typical flu season is at its peak from January–March; however, vaccination is recommended before December to allow time for protective antibodies to build up. Maxim can collaborate with your office, school, or place of business to offer onsite flu shots and other health related services. Visit www.findaflushot.com to learn more about how you can get your flu shot this season.
Who Should Get a Flu Vaccine?
Annual flu vaccination is recommended for everyone six months of age or older. Some groups are at an even higher risk, based on their own health concerns or their proximity to others with health concerns. Pregnant women, children ages two–five, senior citizens, and healthcare workers are just a few of the high risk groups. To learn more about high-risk groups and other frequently asked questions regarding the flu visit our Flu & Wellness FAQs webpage.
In addition to the flu vaccine, there are some other vaccines needed throughout your life at different ages:
Young children:
- Children under six years of age receive a series of shots to protect against measles, polio, chicken pox, and hepatitis.
Pre-teens:
- All 11 and 12 year old children need shots to help protect against tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, and meningitis.Pertussis, also known as “whooping cough,” has made a violent return to certain areas of the country including California, Texas, and South Carolina. It was discovered that whooping cough cases were more likely in areas where parents withheld their children from routine vaccinations. The outbreak of this vaccine preventable disease last year was the highest on record in more than 60 years with 9,000 cases reported.
- Physicians also recommend young women get the Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to protect against the most common cause of cervical cancer.
Adults:
- All adults need a tetanus shot every 10 years.
- People age 65 and older need a one-time pneumonia shot.
We all need immunizations to help protect us from serious diseases. To help keep your local community safe, join Maxim Healthcare Services in participating in National Immunization Awareness Month. Speak to your family physician or trusted healthcare professional today about which shots you and your family need.
This information is not meant as a substitute for professional medical or nutritional advice and consultation. When differences exist between the information here and information given to you by your healthcare provider(s), you should follow the advice of your healthcare provider(s). Any additional information or clarification needed should be sought from the Physician, Practitioner, Speech Pathologist, or Nutritionist who is familiar with the individual’s health and medical conditions.