Immunizations
Hepatitis A Public Health Advisory in Florida
A Public Health Advisory issued by the State Surgeon General and State Health Officer has declared a hepatitis A virus (HAV) warning. Florida had 385 cases of HAV infection in 2018, which is three times higher than average. While most patients with HAV infections will fully recover, HAV can cause severe liver damage, and 77%…
Read MoreFlu Treatments for the Season Ahead
Flu Treatments for the Season Ahead When flu season begins, more people begin considering the need to seek out preventative flu treatments. The aches, chills, fevers, coughing and sniffles all make the flu an unpleasant experience. But even more than that, the flu is extremely dangerous – and sometimes even deadly – for people with…
Read MoreThe Flu & You: Options for the 2018-19 Season
When is the 2018 flu season? The 2018 flu season is just around the corner. Flu diagnoses pick up in October. It normally peaks between December and February and can last through the month of May. What are the symptoms of the flu? Symptoms are similar to (but far more severe than) the common cold:…
Read MoreDigging Up the Dirt on Tetanus Shots
It’s a beautiful day and you want to plant some daisies or impatiens. You gather up your tools: gloves, hat, sunscreen, tetanus shot – hold the phone, tetanus shots? It’s true – rusty nails are not the only way to contract tetanus (lockjaw). Believe it or not, if you should get a (supposedly) simple scratch…
Read MoreMeningitis Vaccines & College
Vaccines are required for all sorts of things. The military requires a whole list of vaccines, hospital workers often must be up to date on vaccines or sign waivers, travelers to certain countries must be vaccinated against local infectious diseases, and sometimes even college students must get certain vaccines before they’re allowed to enroll. One…
Read MoreWho Needs a Tuberculosis Test & Why?
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of those diseases most people don’t think about unless they have to. It’s not really common enough to be a headliner like the flu, so it’s not one of those things that stays at the front of our minds. That doesn’t mean it’s not VERY serious if we get it, though.…
Read MoreNow Is The Time For Flu Vaccines
Now Is The Time For Flu Vaccines It is estimated 36,000 people a year die from the flu and its accompanying complications, most of these deaths prevented by getting a flu shot. While dying from the flu is extreme there are other reasons why we should get a flu vaccination. Getting a vaccination will prevent…
Read MoreThe Travelers’ Guide to Vaccinations Before Travel
If you are planning a trip outside the country, then you need to check to see whether you need to get any travel vaccines before you go. Some of these vaccinations take several months to kick in, which means that you need to start planning for vaccinations before traveling well ahead of time. The CDC…
Read MoreHow Do They Do It? The Flu Shot Edition
In these chaotic times, I think we’re all looking for a constant; something we can count on. Well, there is one constant that you may not expect: the flu. No matter what happens tomorrow, no matter how many hurricanes blow through, and no matter how many of us resort to violence, the flu will always…
Read MoreZika Virus In, FluMist OUT!
BUZZ BUZZ BUZZ!!! What’s all the ‘buzz’ about? Zika virus! I know that Zika sounds big and scary, but don’t run away just yet! We’re about to break down all of the confusion. What is this mystery virus? Zika is a mild virus spread by mosquitoes. That’s right. I said ‘mild.’ IF Zika causes symptoms…
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