What immunizations do my children need for school?

Immunizations to enter 7th Grade:

• Tdap
• Meningitis

What immunizations do I need before traveling abroad?

The required and/or recommended immunizations for traveling abroad vary based on the destination. To learn which immunizations you may need, answer a few questions on the CDC website and review the list with your Black Oak pharmacist.

Are there increased risks for senior adults?

As we get older, our immune systems tend to weaken, putting us at a higher risk for certain diseases. It is recommended that senior adults get shingles, influenza and pneumonia vaccines. An estimated 1 million Americans get shingles every year, and about half of them are 60 years old or older. Additionally, over 60% of seasonal flu-related hospitalizations occur in people 65 years and older. Talk with a Black Oak Pharmacist to find out which vaccines are recommended for you.

When does flu season begin?

There is no specific time of the year flu season officially begins, but we recommend getting vaccinated as soon as the vaccine becomes available, ideally around October. As long as flu viruses are circulating, vaccination should continue to be offered throughout the flu season, even in January or later. Influenza season usually peaks around January or later but starts around October. Vaccination does take two weeks for antibodies to develop within your system to be able to protect against the infection. It is best to plan accordingly and get vaccinated as soon as the vaccines are available.

Will a flu shot cause me to get sick?

A flu vaccine will not cause a flu illness. The flu vaccine is made in two ways: The vaccine is made either with a) flu vaccine viruses that have been "inactivated" and are therefore not infectious, or b) with no flu vaccine viruses at all (which is the best case for recombinant influenza vaccine). The vaccine cannot cause a flu illness.

Talk to your Black Oak Pharmacist about immunizations available for you and your family. Below is a breakdown of a few you should understand.