Atrium Health Navicent Physicians Urge Community to Catch Up on Vaccinations
Atrium Health Navicent physicians urge the community to catch up on recommended vaccinations in observance of National Immunization Awareness Month and to take preventative steps to improve health and wellness.
“Vaccinations only take a few minutes, but can have lifelong positive impacts on your health, no matter your age,” said Dr. Lise Forestal, who sees patients at Atrium Health Navicent Primary Care West Macon. “As fall approaches, we’re expecting to see an uptick in RSV, COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases. It’s a good idea to use this month as a reminder each year to schedule an annual wellness exam and ensure your family is protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued guidelines that a Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine is recommended for everyone ages 75 and older, and for those ages 60-74 who have a higher risk of severe RSV.
RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. While most people recover in a week or two, RSV can be serious for infants and older adults. Adults at the highest risk for severe RSV illness include older adults,adults with chronic heart or lung disease, adults with weakened immune systems, and adults living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities. The CDC estimates that every year, RSV causes 60,000-160,000 hospitalizations and 6,000-10,000 deaths among older adults.
A shot is also available to protect children – newborns through 24 months – from RSV infections. RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children younger than 1 year of age, according to the CDC.
“RSV usually starts to spread in mid-September, so August is the best time to get vaccinated,” Forestal said.
The CDC has issued the following age-based guidelines to help parents understand which vaccines children need as they grow up, and which vaccines are recommended for adults.
Birth to age 2:
• Chickenpox
• Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP)
• Flu
• Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib)
• Hepatitis A and B
• Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
• Pneumococcal (PCV15)
• Polio
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
• Rotavirus
• COVID-19
Ages 3 to 10:
• Chickenpox
• Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP)
• Flu
• Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
• Polio
• COVID-19
Ages 11 to 18:
• Flu
• Human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Meningococcal conjugate
• Serogroup B meningococcal
• Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP)
• COVID-19
Adults:
• Flu
• COVID-19
• Tetanus and Diphtheria booster is recommended every 10 years
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is recommended for ages 60 and older and pregnant women
To find a doctor, visit www.NavicentHealth.org and click “Find A Doctor.”
About Atrium Health Navicent
Atrium Health Navicent is the leading provider of health care in central and south Georgia and is committed to its mission of elevating health and wellbeing through compassionate care. Atrium Health Navicent is part of Advocate Health, which is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, created from the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Navicent provides high-quality, personalized care in 53 specialties at more than 50 facilities throughout the region. As part of the largest, integrated, nonprofit health system in the Southeast, it is also able to tap into some of the nation’s leading medical experts and specialists with Atrium Health, allowing it to provide the best care close to home – including advanced innovations in virtual medicine and care. Throughout its 125-year history in the community, Atrium Health Navicent has remained dedicated to enhancing health and wellness for individuals throughout the region through nationally recognized quality care, community health initiatives and collaborative partnerships. It is also one of the leading teaching hospitals in the region, helping to ensure viability for rural health care for the next generation. For more information, please visit www.NavicentHealth.org.
About Advocate Health
Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the United States – created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois, Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama, and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.