National Immunization Awareness Month

_{August 13, 2024}
August is known as National Immunization Awareness Month, and Huntington Woods is here to protect our residents and keep their health and safety at the forefront of our minds.

Keeping up to date on vaccinations is an important way to protect yourself from various infections and illnesses. Talking with your primary care provider or pharmacist can help you get a better understanding of what vaccines are recommended and why.



COVID-19 is a respiratory disease that can cause various symptoms, including fever, cough, loss of taste and smell and shortness of breath. Older adults are more likely to get sick from COVID-19 than younger adults and children. Studies show that receiving the COVID vaccine can help reduce the risk of getting the disease, as well as diminish the possibility of symptoms. It is recommended that older adults receive the vaccine, as well as stay up to date with the boosters as new strains develop.

Influenza or the flu, is a virus that causes fever, chills, headaches, sore throats, stuffy nose and muscle aches. Flu season typically starts at the end of October each year and peaks in December and January. Older adults are at risk of developing more serious complications, such as pneumonia from the flu. The flu is easily passed from person to person, and is always changing. This means that there is a possibility that you may still get the flu even after being vaccinated. It is recommended to update your flu vaccine every six months, especially if there are other chronic health conditions present.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common virus, and usually causes cold-like symptoms. Older adults have a higher risk of severe symptoms if they are infected with RSV. Vaccines do exist to protect older adults, and it is recommended to speak with your primary care physician to determine if you should receive it. Although RSV season is considered to be the same time as flu season, it is beneficial to get vaccinated at any time of the year.

Pneumococcal disease is a serious infection that spreads through the air. It often leads to pneumonia in the lungs and can affect other parts of the body. Older adults are typically at higher risk than younger adults. The CDC recommends that all adults 65+ get the pneumococcal vaccine, helping to prevent serious infections. There are multiple forms of this vaccine, so it is best to speak with your healthcare provider to determine which one is best for you.

Shingles are caused by the same virus as chicken pox. If you have had chicken pox in the past, the virus is still in your body, meaning the virus can become active again. Shingles affects the nerves. Symptoms include burning, shooting pain, tingling and/or itching and a rash with fluid-filled blisters. Although the rash may disappear, the pain may still remain. This is called post-herpetic neuralgia or PHN. The shingles vaccine is safe and may prevent you from getting shingles and PHN. Adults aged 50 or older are recommended to receive the vaccination, even if you have had chicken pox in the past. However, it is not recommended to receive the vaccine if you currently have shingles, are sick or have a fever, have a weakened immune system or are allergic to the vaccine.

Vaccines are safe and exist to help protect you from getting serious or life-threatening diseases and illnesses. Side effects do include pain, swelling and redness where the vaccine was administered. Before getting vaccines it is recommended that you speak with your primary care doctor about allergies and health history in order to determine which ones are best for you.

Huntington Woods is happy to offer yearly influenza vaccines, COVID vaccines and boosters, as available, pneumococcal vaccines and the shingles vaccine (per request). Our mission is to promote superior care, with goals of a healthy environment and an aging plan to predict a better overall standard of living. By offering these vaccines upon admission and throughout each calendar year to both residents and employees, we strive to meet these goals. If you are interested in your loved one receiving one of these vaccines from Huntington Woods, please do not hesitate to notify us.

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