Immunization Recommendations

Immunizations for children are certainly a hot topic!   While some parents may have concerns, we strongly encourage you to prevent childhood diseases by vaccinating your children.  Today's vaccines do not contain mercury and are proven to be safe.  Consult with the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm  for a recommended schedule of immunizations or give us a call if you have any questions.

VFC (Vaccines for Children) Program

Effective January 1, 2012, the Utah VFC program will no longer have funding to continue providing vaccines for under-insured clients; therefore, under-insured children will no longer be eligible to receive VFC supplied vaccine.  (This does not apply to children with Medicaid or CHIPS coverage.) An under-insured patient is defined as

• insured with no vaccine benefits;
• vaccine benefits that have a yearly limit after which there is no vaccine coverage for that year;
• or the insurance plan covers only select vaccines

HPV immunization

HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States.  It can also cause cervical cancer in women, the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women around the world.  The vaccination against this virus is recommended for ages 9 - 26, both female and male.  Many parents question the need for their children to have this immunization when they are not yet sexually active.  It is important to remember that when a person eventually becomes sexually active, they cannot be completely sure of their partner's prior history, and this vaccine will provide additional protection.  Check with your insurance to verify your benefits, because some insurance plans may have an age limit for coverage or it may not cover the vaccine for males.

Recommendations for Adults

• Adults taking care of children under the age of 2 should have the TDAP immunization (tetanus with pertussis).  The most common source for children to get whooping cough is from grandparents--who might have been previously vaccinated--but the vaccination wanes and loses its effectiveness over time.  This is recommended every 10 years.
• Pneumococcal.  Getting this vaccine once after age 65 protects against the three most common strains of pneumonia.
• Influenza:  Every year the flu immunization is based on the strains of the flu that are predicted for that year.  Being vaccinated yearly (instead of sporadically) raises your immunity and reduces the likelihood of getting the flu.
• Shingles:  While this is an expensive immunization and may not be covered by some insurance plans, it is worth consideration!  Shingles occurs when the virus that causes chickenpox starts up again in your body. After you have recovered from chickenpox, the virus "sleeps" (is dormant) in your nerve roots. In some people, it stays dormant forever. In others, the virus "wakes up" when disease, stress, or aging weakens the immune system.  It causes pain and often causes a rash on one side of the body.  Shingles is most common in older adults and people who have weak immune systems because of stress, injury, certain medicines, or other reasons. Most people who get shingles will get better and will not get it again. Also, after the virus becomes active again, it can only cause shingles, not chickenpox.
• Vaccines for travel:  consult with the CDC web site, http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/, for vaccines that are recommended if you are going to be traveling out of the country

As always, please give us a call or consult with your doctor if you have any questions!