We all need shots (also called vaccinations or immunizations) to help protect us from serious diseases. To help keep our community safe, Spectrum O&P is proudly participating in National Immunization Awareness Month.

Shots can prevent serious diseases like the flu, measles, and pneumonia. It’s important to know which shots you need and when to get them.

The best place to receive your immunizations is through your doctor’s office. If you haven’t found a primary provider, your local county health department can help you get the vaccinations you need. If you or your child are uninsured and under 19 years of age, ask your doctor or county health department about the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. This program provides vaccines to eligible patients at a dramatically lower price

Everyone age 6 months and older needs to get a flu vaccine every year. Many other shots work best when they are given at certain ages.

• If you have a child age 6 or younger, find out which shots your child needs.
• Find out which shots adults and teenagers need.
• Use this chart for adults to see if you are up to date on your shots [PDF – 156 KB].
• If you are pregnant, check out this recommended immunization schedule [PDF – 188 KB].

Talk to your doctor or nurse to make sure that everyone in your family gets the shots they need.  If you need help finding a doctor or just have a general referral question, “211 Info” is a great place to start. Specializing in health and social service assistance, they can be reached at: http://211info.org/health/ or by dialing 2-1-1.