August Health Article:

National Immunization Awareness Month

By: Emily Lambright
Registered Nurse, Certified Health Education Specialist, Certified Diabetes Educator and owner
of Embrace Your Health Home Services
August is National Immunization Awareness Month for seniors. This months article focuses on
making sure seniors are immunized and are informed on what they should be immunized for.
Vaccines are recommended for all adults to help prevent getting and spreading disease.
Vaccines are especially important for those with chronic conditions, who are more likely to
develop complications from certain vaccine-preventable diseases. Even if you were vaccinated
at a young age, the protection from some vaccines can wear off or the virus or bacteria that the
vaccine protects against changes so your resistance is not as strong. As you get older, you may
also be at risk for vaccine-preventable diseases due to your age, job, hobbies, travel, or health
conditions.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, all adults should get the following
vaccines:

Influenza, every year to protect against seasonal flu,

Td vaccine, every 10 years to protect against tetanus,
Tdap vaccine, once instead of Td vaccine to protect against tetanus and diphtheria plus
pertussis (whooping cough) and during each pregnancy for women

Other vaccines you need as an adult are determined by factors such as age, lifestyle, job,
health condition, and vaccines you have had in the past. Vaccines may include those that
protect against: shingles, human papillomavirus (which can cause certain cancers),
pneumococcal disease, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A and B, chickenpox (varicella), and
measles, mumps, and rubella. For more information about which vaccines are right for you and
your individual needs, contact your regular doctor.
Emily Lambright is a registered nurse and owner of Embrace Your Health Home Services in the
Coldwater/Hillsdale area specializing in diabetes management home care. The business also
provides care to those that want to continue residing in their home but need some additional

services and assistance, health coaching and lifestyles management for chronic conditions and
heart disease. For more information, call 517-990-7469.