August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and with all the controversy over the past few years, you may be confused about the current scientific thinking on vaccinations. We want to be sure to dispel any wellness myths and misinformation. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommend vaccinations.
Vaccinations protect our future and put an end to serious effects of certain infectious diseases. Polio and diphtheria rarely occur in the United States any more because we immunize our children against them. When 80-90% of the population is immunized, we are fully protecting our communities against infections disease and increasing the likelihood of eliminating a disease all together. If you opt not to vaccinate your children, you risk spreading disease and undoing the progress we have made over the years.
The following vaccinations are recommended by the age of two, and can be given over five visits to a doctor:
-4 doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough) (DTaP) – boost every 10 years
-3-4 doses of Hib vaccine
-4 doses of pneumococcal (causes bacterial meningitis and blood infections) vaccine
-3 doses of polio vaccine
-2 doses of hepatitis A vaccine
-3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine
-1 dose of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR)
-2-3 doses of rotavirus vaccine
-1 dose of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine
-1 or 2 annual doses of influenza vaccine
The following vaccinations are recommended later:
-3 doses of HPV (between 19-26 years of age)
-shingles (age 50 and over)
When it comes to your health, there are things you can control and things you can’t control. Getting the proper immunizations falls under the category of something you have total control over. So make sure the your immunization records and those of the people you love are up to date, so you don’t have to fight any unnecessary health battles. Protecting one protects everyone.
DASHA® wellness & spa is a luxury lifestyle brand and New York City-based wellness center created to offer a truly holistic approach to wellness. To learn more, visit dashawellness.com.
