Healthcare Providers
Are you sure your vaccinations are up-to-date?
You should be vaccinated against:
INFLUENZA
You need a flu vaccination EVERY YEAR! Unvaccinated healthcare workers can spread influenza to patients and are a key cause of influenza outbreaks among patients and long-term care residents. In the likely event of a global pandemic in the near future, healthcare providers MUST be well protected in order to help care for others. Many people still believe that you can contract the flu from taking the vaccine. That was true years ago when they administered vaccines made with live influenza viruses, but that is no longer the case as now only weakened or inactivated virus is used to make all forms of the influenza vaccine. Get your flu vaccine in September-October for early protection if you are a healthcare provider!
HEPATITIS B
5%-10% of acute Hepatitis B infections lead to chronic infection, which leads to liver damage (cirrhosis), liver cancer or death! Most people do not know that Hepatitis B is 100 times more deadly than HIV/AIDS. Hepatitis B vaccine protects nearly all who are in contact with blood, body fluids or used needles. Proof of having received three doses of Hepatitis B vaccine is required of all healthcare workers, including dental, medical, nursing, emergency and first responders in private companies. If this series is completed as recommended over a 6 month period, most people attain what is considered to be lifetime immunity, but that can only be confirmed with a Hepatitis B antibody blood test performed 1-2 months after completion of the series. Did you know that the Hepatitis B vaccine was the first anti-cancer vaccine? It prevents a form of liver cancer!
MEASLES / MUMPS / RUBELLA
If you are not already immune, you should be vaccinated. Persons born after 1956 should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine unless you have had EACH one of these diseases. Many employers require two doses of the vaccine or a blood titre to prove you have had the diseases or were previously vaccinated.
TETANUS / DIPHTHERIA / PERTUSSIS
Everyone needs a booster every ten years! If you have never received the tetanus booster that contains pertussis (whooping cough) protection, you need this vaccine NOW, even if you just had a tetanus/diphtheria booster a year ago! Pertussis is a highly infectious respiratory disease that many of us carry in our nasal passages and that can kill infants and young children, the elderly and others who have weakened immune systems from chronic or acute illnesses, chemotherapy or other medications. NOTE: All pregnant healthcare workers should receive a dose of TDaP with each pregnancy.
VARICELLA (CHICKENPOX)
Varicella is a highly infectious disease that can be rapidly transmitted in hospitals and nursing homes by patients, staff and visitors. If you have not had chickenpox disease, you should be vaccinated now with 2 doses given 1-2 months apart.
MENINGOCOCCAL
If you have not received meningococcal vaccine in the past, one dose is recommended for all healthcare providers. If you are still working or serving in direct patient care after 5 years, a booster dose is now recommended.
PROTECT YOUR PATIENTS.
PROTECT YOUR FAMILY.
PROTECT YOURSELF.
GET VACCINATED!
SHOTS, etc. can come to your facility to provide these vaccinations
to healthcare students and workers who need this very important protection!
Call or email us TODAY for your individual or group appointment!
This information was compiled from information published by the ACIP, the CDC
and Needle Tips, a publication of Immunize.org
Click below for additional information for Healthcare Providers:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/hcw.html