Flu season is here and our office patient evaluation questionnaire includes questions about vaccination history, specifically flu and shingles. We’ve found that many patients don’t receive their recommended vaccines. The development of vaccines has been one of the major advances in modern medicine for protection against certain serious diseases, preventing spread of these diseases, and saving lives.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Vaccines are recommended for children, teens, and adults based on different factors like age, health conditions, lifestyle, jobs, and travel. CDC and other medical experts update vaccine recommendations every year based on the latest research and science.
Vaccination is a critical step in protecting those that are most vulnerable to illness – infants and young children, the elderly, and those with chronic conditions and weakened immune systems. Vaccination is important because it not only protects the person who gets the vaccine, but also helps to keep diseases from spreading to others, like family members, neighbors, classmates, and other members of your communities.
Like any medication, vaccines can cause side effects. In most cases, side effects are mild (e.g., soreness where the shot was given) but go away within a few days. Severe, long-lasting side effects from vaccines are rare.
For additional information about vaccines check the CDC website, www.cdc.gov, and discuss vaccines with your primary physician.
