General Information
Antelope Valley Center
Services
Special Dates
Fee Schedule
Hepatitis B
Requirement
Measles/Rubella Requirement
Mumps
recommendation
HIV Testing
Nursing Clearances
TB Testing
Wart Clinic
Women's Clinic
Aren’t
shots just for kids?--
Why do I need to be Immunized?
Because:
·
10,000
to 40,000 adults die each year from influenza (flu) related illnesses.
·
Hepatitis
B infects 150,000 people each year.
·
Adults
who contract chickenpox are 25 more likely to die from it than children.
What do these have in common? All of these deaths and
illnesses could have been prevented by simple immunizations. Like children,
adults need regular immunizations to avoid illness and stay healthy. As many
as 80,000 adults die each year from these vaccine-preventable diseases.
Sometimes immunizations are needed to boost
protection that may be wearing off, or to make up for immunizations not given
during childhood. Some other adults will need vaccines because of school
requirements, their jobs, travel plans, or health problems. And it’s
especially important for women of childbearing age: Some of these diseases can
cause severe birth defects or fetal death, if contracted when pregnant. (Once
you are pregnant it may not be safe to be vaccinated).
Adult
Immunizations strongly recommended:
Influenza-
every year in the fall.
Tetanus-Diphtheria
– All adults should receive boosters every 5 to 10 years
Recommended
for Specific Populations:
Hepatitis A- 2 shots over 6 months for adults with chronic liver disease,
planning
international travel.
Varicella-
(chicken pox) 2 shots over 1-2 months for all adults without evidence of
previous varicella infection
Recommendations/Required
for college students:
Hepatitis
B- Series
of three shots over 6 months (required for students 18 and under) and strongly
recommended for health care workers, use of injection drugs, persons with
multiple partners, etc.
Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)- (required to show proof of 1 shot since
Meningitis-
A single shot providing protection over 3 to 5 years. (not required but STRONGLY
recommended).
Knowing the facts about vaccine preventable diseases,
and getting properly immunized against them is an important part of adult
health. Always remember to keep good records of what vaccines you have
received and when you received them. If you have any questions regarding
immunizations or these vaccine preventable diseases call the Student Health
Center at 661-664-2394 or stop by and pick up some literature on them. Others
references are: Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) National
Immunization Program at 800-CDC-SHOT or online at www.cdc.gov/nip.