You have the power to protect yourself and your family against serious diseases with vaccines. During National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), Canyonlands Healthcare provides education about the importance of vaccination for people of all ages.
We encourage you to make an appointment with your Canyonlands Primary Care Physician to ensure that you, your child, and your family are up to date on recommended vaccines. We also encourage you to visit CDC’s Interactive Vaccine Guide, which provides information on the vaccines recommended during pregnancy and throughout your child’s life.
This year’s measles outbreaks are a key reminder of how quickly diseases can spread when children aren’t vaccinated.
As your children head back to school this fall, make sure vaccination is at the top of your checklist. Read Why Immunize?
Vaccinate Before Heading to School
Children in child care and school settings are at increased risk for sharing the germs that cause serious vaccine-preventable diseases. Before vaccines, infectious diseases killed thousands of children in the United States each year.
On-time vaccination throughout childhood is essential because it helps provide immunity before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases.
- Protect your children against serious diseases like measles, cancers caused by HPV, and whooping cough.
- Preteens and teens need four vaccines to protect against serious diseases: meningococcal conjugate, HPV, Tdap, and a yearly flu vaccine to protect against seasonal flu. View the Teen Vaccination Schedule.
Vaccines for Children Program
Canyonlands Healthcare is a participant in the Arizona Department of Health Services Vaccines for Children Program. Vaccines for Children provides free immunizations for eligible children birth through 18 years old. Your child’s immunization records will be included in the Arizona State Immunization Information System (ASIIS). An official immunization history can be computer-generated for parents to receive a free copy for schools, day care, camp, or college requirements.
Use this CDC Guide to view recommended vaccines and make an appointment with your Canyonlands Primary Care Physician to review the vaccination schedule for you and your children.
Pregnancy
By getting recommended vaccines during pregnancy, you can help give your baby and yourself the best protection against whooping cough and flu. By staying up to date with vaccines before and during pregnancy, you can pass along immunity that will help protect your baby from some diseases during the first few months after birth. Vaccines given before pregnancy may also help protect you from serious disease while you are pregnant, including rubella, which can cause miscarriages and birth defects. View the Recommended Vaccines for Pregnancy
Are Vaccinations Safe?
Vaccines are thoroughly tested before licensing and carefully monitored even after they are licensed to ensure they are safe. Like all medical products, vaccines can cause side effects. The most common side effects are mild and go away quickly.
Use CDC’s adult vaccine assessment tool to see which vaccines might be right for you.
Traveling
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides detailed travel guidance online regarding travel medicines, travel vaccines, and other travel-related health issues. This guidance can be found in the CDC Health Information for International Travelers.
Vaccines for Adults
The vaccines you need as an adult are determined by many factors including your age, lifestyle, health condition, and which vaccines you’ve received during your life. As an adult, vaccines are recommended for protection against:
- Seasonal influenza (flu) – Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every year as the best way to reduce the risk of flu and its potentially serious complications.
- TDAP – The Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccine is recommended for women during each pregnancy and once for all adults who have not previously received it.
- Shingles – The herpes zoster vaccine is recommended for adults 50 years and older.
- Pneumococcal disease – Two pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for adults 65 years and older. One or both vaccines may be recommended for adults younger than 65 who have specific health conditions or who smoke cigarettes.
You may also need vaccines to protect against human papillomavirus, meningococcal disease, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, chickenpox, measles, mumps, and rubella.
