Immunizations

Vaccines are incredibly important in today’s healthcare because the goal of public health is to prevent diseases rather than treating them. It is far more difficult, time consuming, and costly to treat diseases than it is to simply prevent them.

Through immunizations, your body is exposed to weakened forms or fragments of the disease that induce an immune reaction, triggering your body to produce antibodies that can fight the disease and increase your immunity. If you are exposed to the disease after an immunization, your body will be able to rapidly respond and fight against it using those antibodies.

How vaccines are given:

The timing and schedule of immunizations vary depending on the vaccine being given. Some only need to be given once during a patient’s lifetime while others will be given in a series of injections or even yearly. The flu shot, for example, is given every year in order to protect patients against the rapidly changing flu strains and a diphtheria/tetanus booster should be given every 10 years to help boost the immune system, ensuring better protection.

The timing of each vaccine is also important. Some should be given to children while others are used primarily in adults. These schedules can get complicated, but your ReNue pharmacist is able to help you outline each of the available immunizations and the recommended timing for each. Below are a few of the highlighted vaccines and a general timeline broken down by age groups:

Recommended vaccines for children birth to 6 years of age:

• Hepatitis B
• Rotavirus
• DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, also known as whooping cough)
• Haemophilus influenzae type b
• Pneumococcal
• Polio
• Measles, mumps, and rubella
• Varicella (chickenpox)
• Hepatitis A
• Influenza (recommended to be given yearly starting at 6 months of age)

Recommended vaccines for children age 7 to 18:

• Influenza (recommended to be given yearly)
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis)
• Meningococcal

Recommended vaccines for adults:

• Influenza (recommended to be given yearly)
• Td (tetanus and diphtheria) – a booster that should be given every 10 years
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) – recommended for women during every pregnancy to help protect the baby
• Shingles – recommended for people over 60 years of age
• Pneumococcal – recommended for people age 65 and older
• HPV (human papillomavirus) – recommended for women up until age 26 and men until age 21 who have not already completed the series

The above is only a sample of immunizations available and the recommended timing for most people; however, this schedule may be shifted for people who have chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, or HIV. These patients may require a personalized and tailored schedule, so speak with your pharmacist or physician to ensure you are receiving appropriate vaccinations at the best time.

It is also important to remember that while everyone should be diligent about receiving the appropriate vaccines, it is crucial that people who have chronic diseases and/or a weakened immune system stick to the recommended schedule laid out by their health care professionals. Contact your local Frisco ReNue Rx compounding pharmacist  to learn more about the immunizations you may need.