Friday, February 21, 2014

Important Vaccines for People Over 60

Many people think that vaccinations are only for very young children. But the truth is that getting certain vaccines after you turn age 60 can strengthen your immune system and protect you from certain illnesses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults over 60 have these vaccinations:

• Influenza Vaccine (seasonal flu) – every fall /winter

• Zoster Vaccine (shingles-painful skin rash) – 1-time dose

• Td Vaccine (tetanus-diphtheria, a bacterial infection) – 1 dose, then booster every 10 years

• Tdap Vaccine (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, also called whooping cough) – 1 dose in place of one 10-year booster

• Pneumococcal Vaccine (infections in the lungs, brain, blood or ear) – 1-time dose

Flu and Shingles Statistics (CDC)

• An average of 24,000 people in the United States die every year from the flu; most are age 65+

• Nearly 1 million Americans get shingles every year; half of them are age 60+

Other factors such as your current health, lifestyle, environment or occupation may make you more susceptible to certain diseases. Talk to your doctor about other immunizations available that may prevent you from becoming ill.

Dr. Marilyn Kutzscher encourages all of her patients to get immunized against preventable diseases. If you are over age 60 and have not had all of the immunizations listed above, please contact Dr. Kutzscher in San Francisco today at 415-923-3560 or marilynkmd.com to schedule an appointment.

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