Immunizations
Still think shots are just for kids? Check out this list of reasons why you shouldn't skimp on adult vaccinations. 1. Your age or situation could put you at risk for a preventable disease. For example, shingles and pneumonia shots are recommended for people in their 60s. You could be at risk for other diseases, too, because of your job or any chronic health conditions you may have, such as asthma or diabetes. 2. Vaccine protection fades over time. Just because you had a shot years ago doesn...
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4/30/2021 10:09:00 AM
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Think of your body like a castle, complete with its own army—your immune system—to defend it. When germs try to invade your body, your immune system recognizes them as foreign and launches a defense. First, your skin tries to prevent germs from getting inside your body. Your mucous membranes try to trap and fight off the germs. And your body makes white blood cells to repel the invaders. After the skirmish, your immune system remembers the foreign substance. If it ever attacks again,...
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1/26/2021 1:28:00 PM
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Flu season is coming soon. Since it seems likely that COVID-19 will still be spreading this fall and winter, the two pandemics may occur at the same time. That's a dangerous possibility health experts want to avoid. It's why it is vital for you and your family to get your flu shots this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC recommends flu shots for everyone 6 months and older with rare exceptions. Flu shots are especially important this year for: • Essential workers. Thi...
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9/22/2020 1:12:00 PM
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Families are focused on staying healthy during the pandemic. And that's the right thing to do, but health experts have an important reminder for parents. COVID-19 prevention shouldn't mean skipping your child's vaccines. Vaccines help protect kids of all ages from serious diseases. Those include diseases like whooping cough and measles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends children get many of their shots by age 2. Despite that recommendation, it seems that fewer kids have b...
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8/31/2020 9:34:00 AM
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Families are focused on staying healthy during the pandemic. And that's the right thing to do, but health experts have an important reminder for parents. COVID-19 prevention shouldn't mean skipping your child's vaccines. Vaccines help protect kids of all ages from serious diseases. Those include diseases like whooping cough and measles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends children get many of their shots by age 2. Despite that recommendation, it seems that fewer kids have b...
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6/22/2020 3:27:00 PM
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As a parent, you've no doubt heard about this year's measles outbreak. It's the highest number of measles cases the U.S. has seen since 1994. And most of those measles cases have occurred among unvaccinated people. Some parents choose not to get their kids vaccinated because they're concerned about the vaccine's safety. But research shows that the measles vaccine is safe and does not cause autism or other diseases. In contrast, measles itself can sometimes be severe in young children. It can lea...
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6/20/2019 1:11:00 PM
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It’s no secret that vaccines have helped to keep us safe from disease outbreaks for a long time. Yet myths about vaccines seem to persist in our culture, and they may put your children at risk. That’s because it’s crucial that you keep your kids up-to-date on their shots so they can maintain resistance from serious conditions. Here are five points you should follow when it comes to vaccinating your child: 1. Vaccines are safe. Babies might cry and get fussy. Older kids may comp...
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8/29/2018 4:50:00 PM
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With the current flu season in full swing and influenza activity increasing across the state, it is critical that all Floridians get the flu vaccine to protect against infection and help prevent the spread of seasonal flu to others. It is never too late to get your flu shot. While most cases of flu are mild, there are exceptions. Flu strains change from year to year so it is important to get the flu shot every year before the peak of flu season, says Dr. Joy Jackson, director of the Department o...
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1/19/2017 10:23:00 AM
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The Florida Department of Health in Polk County DOH-Polk reminds residents to protect themselves and their families from influenza flu by getting immunized. The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. It is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. A flu vaccine is a person’s best defense against catching the flu, said Dr. Joy Jackson, Health Officer for DOH-Polk. The flu vacc...
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12/10/2015 11:27:00 AM
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Immunizations play an important role in protecting us from disease and potentially dangerous infections. The protective properties in immunizations are especially relevant for young children and older adults over 65 as they are the two most vulnerable of age groups. Influenza. Contracting the flu can be a nasty proposition for anyone, but it can be particularly daunting for seniors. The aging process weakens our immune system, therefore placing us at greater risk of developing the flu. Seniors o...
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4/9/2015 4:37:00 PM
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