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Local health unit encouraging adults to stay current with routine immunizations

April 27, 2023   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

Immunization is an easy way to protect your health. However, due to the disruptions caused by the pandemic, many adults across the region have neglected routine immunizations.

This week (April 24 to 30) marks National Immunization Awareness Week across Canada. This year’s theme is “catch up with confidence” and is a reminder that adults need to get caught up with the routine, publicly funded vaccines that help them stay healthy and avoid certain diseases.

“The protection offered by some immunizations only lasts for a certain amount of time, so it is important to receive booster doses in adulthood to keep yourself and those around you safe from vaccine preventable diseases like tetanus and pertussis,” said Dr. Colin Lee, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s Associate Medical Officer of Health. “A person may also need other vaccines like shingles at different life stages based on their age, health conditions, job, lifestyle, or travel habits.”

New babies are vulnerable to infections, so it is important that parents, grandparents, and others are fully vaccinated against potentially dangerous communicable diseases.

You should make sure your Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) is up to date. You need a booster if you haven’t had one in the past ten years, as well as during each pregnancy.

Those who turn 65 are also eligible to receive pneumococcal vaccine to prevent certain types of pneumonia.

For those between ages 65 and 70 who have never received the shingles vaccine, a publicly funded shingles vaccine is available.

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