“Herd immunity”, or community immunity, has become a recent household term renowned by COVID-19, and is often used by healthcare workers to describe how to decrease the number of COVID-19 infections. But what is herd immunity and how can it affect you and your family?
It’s an alarming statistic: The Centers for Disease Control estimates that approximately six in ten adults in the U.S. are living with a chronic disease and four in ten adults have two or more chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Discovering the presence of a chronic disease is key to treating it in its early stages when positive outcomes are more favorable, which is why making an annual physical exam is important for delivering preventative health services and detecting problems before they start.
Childhood vaccinations receive a lot of attention due to their importance in preventing potentially serious illnesses, but immunizations for adults are equally crucial. Depending on your age, lifestyle factors, and history of childhood immunizations, you may need to receive certain vaccinations during your adult years. By following the vaccination recommendation for adults set out by health organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you can help to keep yourself healthy and prevent several life-threatening diseases.
Spring break is almost here and many families’ plans include travel during this vacation period. While journeying as a family is a great way to bond and have fun, there are some health preparations you need to make if you intend to travel to a foreign destination. Specifically, you should make certain all family members are up-to-date on their regular vaccinations and then obtain any necessary inoculations specific to your destination region.
