Adult Immunizations

Northwest Colorado Visiting Nurses Association, Inc. offers adult immunizations.

Center for Disease Control - CDC: http://www.cdc.gov

 

WHAT VACCINES DO YOU NEED?

Did you know that certain vaccines are recommended for adults and adolescents?* Take this quiz to find out which vaccines YOU may need. * This quiz provides information for people age 11 years and older. CLICK HERE

Appointments:
Steamboat - 970-879-1632
Craig - 970-824-8233

Why Get Immunized?
To protect yourself:

• Every year in the U.S. 50,000 to 70,000 adults die from illnesses that can be prevented by vaccines.
• Many "childhood" illnesses have more severe symptoms if you catch them as an adult.
• Vaccines can prevent some illnesses that are difficult to treat.
• Immunizations are required for Colorado colleges, certain jobs and for travel to some foreign countries.
• Prior vaccines can help you stay healthier if your immune system later becomes compromised (as with HIV infection.)
• Unvaccinated people carry disease into the community and expose others even before they have symptoms.
  

To protect others:

• If you get sick, you could infect other people. Newborns, the elderly and people with cancer or other chronic health problems are especially vulnerable.
• Some illnesses can cause birth defects if the mother gets them while pregnant.

Are Vaccines Safe?
To be approved for use, vaccines must be shown to be safe and effective. Some vaccines have side effects, such as soreness around the injection or mild achiness. Very rarely, a person will have more severe side effects.

Overall, the risk of harm from getting sick far outweighs the risk of getting the vaccine that protects you.

Many illnesses that can be prevented with vaccines - including meningitis, tetanus and rabies - are incurable or fatal if you get infected.

Thanks to vaccines, smallpox has been wiped out, and there have been no cases of polio in North America or Western Europe since 1991. Polio vaccination is recommended for travel to certain countries

If you need any vaccines, talk to your health care provider about side effects. Be sure to let your provider know if you are pregnant or planning to be, or if you have a chronic illness. Vaccines are strictly regulated and are very safe.

Some vaccines are made using eggs, and some contain the antibiotics neomycin or streptomycin. If you have allergies to these, be sure to say so.

If you are traveling, check out our International Travel Immunization Service

More Information about adult immunizations

• www.immunize.org
• www.cdc.gov/nip
• Or call 1-800-CDC-SHOT