Vaccines are recommended throughout your life to help prevent certain illnesses. However, adult adherence to many routine vaccine recommendations remains low.
Tdap/Td
One of the most important vaccines Tdap/Td, which protects against three bacterial illnesses: tetnus, diphtheria and pertussis. Tetanus affects your nervous system and leads to painful muscle stiffening, especially of the head and neck. With diphtheria, a thick gray coating forms on the throat, making it difficult to breathe.
Pertussis, known as whooping cough, is extremely contagious and causes severe episodes of hacking- and cases of it are on the rise. Babies under the age of one are especially vulnerable and can die from it, so it’s important to be vaccinated if you’ll be around any babies or children.
As an adult, you may have gotten a Td shot – the booster that protects against tetanus and diphtheria. Regardless of when that was, you should get Tdap if you’ve never received it. And keep a record of the date. You’ll need one every 10 years after that.
Pneumococcal
The benefits of this vaccine are that it protects against the bacteria Streptococcus pneumonia, a bug that causes serious illnesses like pneumonia and meningitis. This vaccine is currently recommended for all folks 65 and older, but younger people may still need to get this.
Schedule a shot if you have any condition that makes you “high risk”, like heart disease, diabetes, or chronic respiratory issues like asthma. The CDC also recommends smokers of any age get it, since they are more at risk of developing respiratory illness. Smoking damages the lining of your lungs, which makes you more susceptible. It damages your normal defense system.
There are several other vaccines that may be recommended for you, such as HPV, and Hep B vaccines. Check with your doctor to see what is recommended and at what intervals for you.
About Cleansing Water, Inc.
Cleansing Water, Inc. is a Warrenton, Virginia home health care agency offering professional geriatric care and serving seniors, individuals recovering from surgery, individuals with long-term disabilities, and other clients throughout Fauquier, Culpeper, Gainesville, Haymarket, Middleburg, Prince William, Rappahannock and other Piedmont Virginia communities. We provide in-home companions, certified nursing assistants, and geriatric care managers to assist with the tasks of daily living, monitor health and medications, and ensure clients are well cared for, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
For more information about Cleansing Water’s short-term and long-term home health care services, Call (540) 341-0212 or our toll-free number, (866) 294-4665, to schedule a consultation and discuss your geriatric care and home health care options. You can also visit CleansingWater.com for more information.