Though most Insurance plans cover vaccination, contact your provider to determine your coverage and cost. Please contact us for cost if you wish to pay out-of-pocket.
Though most Insurance plans cover vaccination, contact your provider to determine your coverage and cost. Please contact us for cost if you wish to pay out-of-pocket.
Influenza Vaccine
(flu season vaccination starts back in August 2023)
What is flu? Influenza, commonly referred to as the flu, is an infectious or transmittable respiratory disease. The disease is active all year round in the US, but it is prevalent during the fall and winter seasons (from early September to the end of February). Symptoms of flu can range from feverish conditions including running nose, muscle aches and pain, headaches, sore throat, coughing and tiredness. Many people can fight off the flu without a boost in their immune system with a vaccine, however, infants and young children, people 65 years and older, pregnant people, and those with compromised immune system are at a higher risk of developing flu complications.
Why get vaccinated? Vaccines are not always 100% effective but Flu vaccination is the best chance of preventing or minimizing the severity flu related complications particularly for the high-risk population. The influenza virus mutates continuously, and based on continuous research on previous flu strains, scientists can predict and design vaccines to combat the next possible flu virus.
Shingles Vaccine
What is Shingles? The Shingles (also known as herpes zoster or zoster) is a non-transmittable viral infection caused by varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. The disease exhibits itself as a painful skin rash occurring as a cluster of blisters. These rashes can occur anywhere on the body but frequently appear on one or the other side of the torso. There are no specific symptoms of shingles, and it can affect all ages but the risk increases with age.
Why get vaccinated? Those that have had chickenpox have the varicella-zoster(shingles) virus dominant in them and can develop shingles later in life, so also are those with weakened immune system. The shingles vaccine (Shingrix) provides strong protection against shingles and the most common complication associated with the disease; Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) – a long-term nerve pain. The CDC recommends that adults 50 and older, and 19 years and older with weakened immune system get the vaccine.
Pneumonia Vaccine
What is Pneumonia? Pneumonia is an inflammation of the lung that is caused either by bacteria or virus or other microorganisms. Pneumococcal bacteria are one of the most common causes of pneumonia. The most telling symptom of pneumonia is shortness of breath and wet cough. Other symptoms are chillis, fever, fatigue, and chest pain. Pneumonia can affect all ages, however, adults over 65 years, children under 2 years, smokers, people with cystic fibrosis, COPD, sickle cell disease, asthma, diabetes, heart failure and a weak immune system are at a higher risk of getting the disease.
Why get vaccinated -PCV? The Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) helps prevent certain bacteria that cause pneumococcal disease. According to the CDC, though most pneumonia infections are mild, they can become severe and result in long term problems and can be fatal, especially for those with certain underlying medical conditions. There are several types of PCV based on age and medical status, PCV 13, PCV 15, or PCV 20).
What is Hep B? Hepatitis B is the inflammation of the liver caused by an infection of Hepatitis B virus. The infection can happen to all ages and be acute (short-term) or chronic (lifetime illness). Prolonged infection typically does not show any symptom, but can lead to liver damage, cancer, and death. Acute infection can exhibit symptoms of fever, fatigue, jaundice, vomiting, nausea, loss of appetite and abdominal pain.
Why get vaccinated? Hepatitis B can be transmitted when an uninfected person is exposed to infected blood, semen, and other body fluid. Infection can occur during birth from an infected mother to baby, sharing razors / toothbrushes / needles with an infected person, Sex with an infected partner. CDC states that most people vaccinated with hep B vaccine are immune for life.
What is HPV? Human Papillomavirus is an infection that is caused by the said name virus, it is a sexually transmitted disease that causes warts around the genital or certain types of cancer. The CDC states that most HPV infections go away on their own within 2 years. But sometimes HPV infections will last longer and can cause cancers later in life.
Why get vaccinated? Getting vaccinated can prevent over 90% of the cancers caused by HPV. The spread of the disease can occur even when there are no signs and symptoms, particularly within the sexually active population. For the vaccine to be effective, inoculation must occur before one is infected, thus the CDC recommends routine vaccination for adolescents at 11 or 12 years old, to ensure protection before exposure to the virus.
What is Tdap? Tdap is a combination vaccine for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Whooping cough). Tetanus (aka lockjaw) is caused by a bacterial infection that causes muscle spasm and stiffening. The bacteria can be found in soil, dust, rusted nails or rough metal objects left outdoors, manure, and infection in humans is through broken skin. Symptoms of tetanus include fever, sweating, headache, trouble swallowing, high BP and a fast heart rate. Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection that can lead to difficulty breathing, heart failure, paralysis, or death. Most transmission of diphtheria is usually person to person, when an uninfected person breath in airborne droplets released when an infected person sneezes or coughs, or contact with infected sores or ulcers. Symptoms include fever, chills, fatigue, sore throat, hoarseness, cough, headache, and painful swallowing. Pertussis (aka whooping cough) is also a highly contagious bacterial infection that spreads by breathing in airborne droplets from an infected person. The disease share symptoms with the common cold but can cause uncontrollable, violent coughing.
Why get vaccinated? Diphtheria and pertussis are highly contagious airborne diseases. Tetanus infection is through broken skin – cuts or wounds.
References: CDC.gov, en.wikipedia.org