Alexandria Primary Care

Click on the Image to View Larger and Print

 Click on the Image to View Larger and Print

Information on this page courtesy of cdc.gov

Immunizations

Since the 1980's, there have been an increase in reported cases of pertussis (whooping cough) in the United States. Immunity to whooping cough from childhood vaccinations wane with time. In 2005, the Avisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended that adults aged 19-64 years receive a single dose of tentnus-diphtheria-acelluar pertusis (Tdap) vaccine instead of standard tetanus diphtheria (Td) booster if their last Td booser was received more than 10 years ago. It is also recommended that the Tdap vaccine be given earlier to adults who care for infants less than 1 year old, as well as health care personnel.

In 2006, the ACIP recommended the shingles vaccine in people 60 years and older to reduce the risk of shingles. Shingles is a disease caused by the chickenpox virus. When one gets chickenpox, the virus remains in the nerve cells of one’s body all throughout one’s life and can reappear later as shingles. Shingles is characterized by a localized painful rash with blisters which may cause pain for months to years. Shingles affects 1 out of 3 adults. The shingles vaccine is a live vaccine and thus, cannot be given to people with certain medical conditions. Please discuss this further with your doctor.