Advanced Family Medicine

Why Influenza Vaccinations Are Important to Your Family’s Health According to the  Centers for Disease Control , anywhere between 151 and 156 million flu vaccines will be distributed this year within the United States, although not all of these doses will be used. And while this might be considered a large number, keep in mind that there are more than 316 million individuals living in this country, which means that less than 50% of the population will obtain a flu vaccine this year. Here at Advanced Family Medicine, many of our patients frequently express concern about the effectiveness of immunizations; perhaps because they received a flu vaccine in the past but still came down with the flu. On the other hand, some individuals consciously choose not to get vaccinated against the flu as they’re simply not concerned about acquiring it. Whatever your reasoning may be though, the importance of getting vaccinated against influenza this year cannot be understated. The flu seas...

Immunizations – Myth and Reality Nothing can instill fear like a hypodermic needle in the hands of a nurse. Many of us have memories as children of getting shots at the doctor’s office, and then walking out with a cool Disney band-aid and a sucker, but not many want to relive those memories. But there are many advantages to getting immunizations as an adult, this is a myth we want to dispel, because we believe that not only are immunizations important, they can decrease your chances of contracting some rather nasty afflictions. Myth: Only children need immunizations. Reality: (from CDC recommendations) There are several important immunizations recommended for older adults: Influenza – get this every year, your employer probably will even pay for it! Zoster (shingles vaccinations) – now recommended after age 55 (before it was after age 60). You can get this vaccine at your local drug store. Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) – once, then get a Td booster every 10 ...