August is Immunization Awareness Month! That means there’s no better time for you to brush up on your immunization knowledge—and figure out what shots you may need to help stay healthy.
Vaccines have been proven to save lives, and the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 4-5 million lives are saved by vaccines each year. Read on to find out what vaccines you and your family members may need.
Back-to-school boosters.
It’s important for school-age children to be vaccinated, especially with classes about to start. Common vaccines for young children include chickenpox, hepatitis, measles, mumps, shingles, polio, and more. All of these diseases are entirely preventable thanks to vaccines, and the CDC estimates that vaccinations will prevent more than 21 million hospitalizations and 732,000 deaths among children born in the last 20 years.
In the state of Indiana, children from pre-K up to seniors in high school are required to have immunizations before attending school. This list details what shots are required for each age group.
Adults need vaccinations, too.
Kids aren’t the only ones who need annual vaccines. It is recommended that adults receive flu shots, tetanus and diphtheria vaccines, and more. Adults who are 50 and older may also need the shingles vaccine and pneumococcal vaccine, among others.
By getting vaccinated, not only do you stay healthy, but you protect those around you by not spreading serious diseases and illnesses.
Protecting yourself against Covid-19.
As much as we all hope we’re nearing the end of the pandemic, it will likely come sooner as more and more people vaccinate themselves against the disease. The CDC has stated that the vaccine is a safer, more reliable way to build protection than getting sick with Covid-19 to build immunity.
The vaccine also helps protect you by creating an antibody response, without you needing to experience the illness itself or have any post-Covid symptoms and conditions as a result.
At this point, there are also many variants to the original Covid-19 illness, which means it’s even more important to get vaccinated to protect yourself. The two main vaccine options are Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, both of which have been rigorously tested and approved for public use.
Whether you’re getting annual vaccines or are looking for a covid shot, Hancock Health has options available for you. We offer plenty of information about the health benefits of getting a Covid-19 vaccine, and you can schedule yours today.
Relevant Services
Family & Primary Care
Explore health care for all members of your family, from pediatrics to senior care.
EN 
ES 
DE 
FR 
ZH 
JA