FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM SEPTEMBER 7, 2017 • HEALTH • THE QUEENS COURIER 39
health
Understand what you need
to do to stay healthy over 65
Today’s Boomer generation feels young
at heart. Th ey’re living an active lifestyle,
If you are 65 or older, you may be at increased risk for potentially serious disease, even if you are healthy. Talk to your doctor about staying up to date
with the CDC-recommended adult vaccinations and help protect yourself.
healthy ones, should talk to their doctor
about the potential risks and the importance
of staying up-to-date on CDCrecommended
vaccinations.
Myth: Vaccination is only
for the very elderly.
Fact: Th e immune system naturally
weakens as people get older, putting even
healthy and active adults as young as 65
at risk for diseases such as pneumococcal
pneumonia, a serious and potentially
life-threatening illness that can strike anyone
over 65, anywhere, anytime.
Myth: Healthy adults don’t
need to get vaccinated.
Fact: Th e young at heart may not feel
they are at risk for vaccine-preventable
illnesses because they live an active lifestyle
and take good care of themselves.
But our immune system naturally weakens
as we age, and adults 65 and older
are at an eight times greater risk of being
hospitalized with pneumococcal pneumonia
compared to adults younger than
50.
Myth: Vaccines are not
proven to be eff ective.
Fact: According to the CDC, vaccination
is the safest, most eff ective way to
protect yourself.
Myth: Adults only need
to get the fl u vaccine.
Fact: Th e CDC recommends several
vaccinations for adults dependent on
A Tradition of Excellence
their age and health-factors. However, fl u
season is a good time to speak to healthcare
providers about staying up-to-date
on CDC-recommended adult vaccinations.
Beyond just getting the fl u vaccine,
adults, particularly those 65 and older,
should discuss vaccination against other
potentially serious diseases, such as pneumococcal
pneumonia, with their doctor.
Th is National Immunization Awareness
Month, take the opportunity to speak
with your healthcare provider or pharmacist
about getting vaccinated. For more
information about immunization and
vaccination options, visit www.cdc.gov/
vaccines. Visit KnowPneumonia.com for
more information about pneumococcal
pneumonia.
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they have no intention of slowing
down, they’re booming. Many Boomers
feel that because they are healthy and taking
care of themselves, they are not at
risk for potentially serious infectious diseases,
such as pneumococcal pneumonia.
But if you are over 65, even if you are
healthy, you are at increased risk. August
is National Immunization Awareness
Month, and a great opportunity for anyone
over 65 to learn about the myths and
facts of adult immunization and to get
a new attitude toward vaccine-preventable
diseases.
“Every year thousands of adults in the
United States suff er from serious illnesses,
are hospitalized or even die from diseases
for which vaccines are available,”
said Dr. Otha Myles, Infectious Disease
Physician at Medical Specialists of St.
Luke’s Hospital in Saint Louis, Missouri.
“But adults can reduce this threat by
talking to their doctor about the facts of
adult immunization and about their personal
risk of catching a potentially serious
disease.”
According to a Pfi zer Inc survey of
adults aged 65 years and older, 67 percent
describe themselves as taking an active
role in maintaining their health. However,
many misconceptions about adult immunization
still persist, preventing Boomers
from taking the important step of vaccinating
against serious diseases.
Read below for 5 Common Myths and
Facts about Adult vaccination:
Myth: Vaccines are for children,
adults don’t need
to get vaccinated.
Fact: While many are familiar with
the Centers for Disease and Prevention
(CDC) vaccination schedule for children,
the CDC also has recommended
immunizations for adults depending
on their health and age. All adults, even
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