To celebrate the importance of Immunizations, Cobb and Douglas Public Health (CDPH) is proud to participate in National Immunization Awareness month, August 1-31, 2013.
“Now that children entering school are caught up on their immunizations, we need to make sure that everyone else is protected from vaccine preventable diseases, said Karen Thomas, CDPH District Immunizations Director.
Flu vaccine will be out this month and the influenza vaccine is recommended for everyone over 6 months of age and older. Children under 9 years of age may need to receive two doses of Flu vaccine this season.
Before babies are born, parents and close contacts and caregivers of children under 2 years of age should receive the Tdap Vaccine to protect the infant from Pertussis or whopping cough. It is also very important for pregnant women to receive the Flu vaccine and they need to receive the Tdap vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks gestation each pregnancy. Pregnant women who deliver and have not had a Tdap vaccine previously should get it immediately post partum. Infants from Birth up to 2 years of age should receive vaccinations to protect them from 14 vaccine preventable diseases.
It is recommended that Children 11 years of age get the HPV vaccine series, a TdaP vaccine and a Meningitis vaccination. They may also need the Hepatitis A series. A second meningitis vaccine is recommended at 16 years of age. Teens entering college may need the meningitis vaccine if they have not received one after 16 years of age and they may need to catch up on other vaccinations.
It is recommended that adults through 26 years of age get the HPV vaccine series if they have not received it or they may need a Tdap vaccine, and it is recommended that all adults 60 years of age and older receive the shingles vaccine and persons over 65 years of age receive the pneumonia vaccine. The Td vaccine is also recommended every 10 years and needed after 5 years for adults if they have an injury.
There are many other factors that put adults at risk of contracting vaccine preventable diseases. Persons traveling out of the county may be at risk. CDPH has two travel clinics in Cobb County. To set up an appointment at the travel clinic, call the Marietta Center on County Services Parkway at 770 514-2485 or for the travel clinic in East Cobb, call 678-784-2180. Other than the travel clinic, no appointments are needed.
Immunizations are offered on a walk-in basis Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM -5:00 PM.
For more information on National Immunization Awareness month, visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/partners/events/niam.html