Vaccines
Why Vaccinations Matter
Vaccinations are one of the most effective ways to protect your health and well-being. They help prevent serious illnesses, lower the risk of complications, and protect not only you but also your family and community. For women, vaccinations are especially important during different life stages, such as adolescence, pregnancy, and adulthood, when health needs may change. By staying up to date on recommended vaccines, you can reduce your risk of preventable diseases and support your long-term health.
Our Vaccination Services
At Women’s Health Specialists, we provide a full range of vaccination services tailored to our patient’s health needs. Whether you are planning a pregnancy, protecting your newborn, or staying current with adult immunizations, our team is here to guide you. We focus on ensuring that every patient receives personalized care and clear recommendations based on age, lifestyle, medical history, and risk factors.
Our vaccination services include:
Preventive vaccines for adults and adolescents
Vaccinations recommended during pregnancy
Travel-related vaccines (when applicable)
Routine boosters to maintain immunity
We also provide education on vaccine safety, potential side effects, and what to expect before and after receiving your shots.
Hepatitis B:
What is Hepatities B:
Hepatitis B is a serious infection that affects the liver. It is caused by the hepatitis B virus.
Why vaccinate against Hepatitis B:
In 2009, about 38,000 people became infected with hepatitis B. Each year about 2,000 to 4,000 people die in the United States from cirrhosis or liver cancer caused by hepatitis B. People who are chronically infected can spread hepatitis B virus to others, even if they don’t look or feel sick. Up to 1.4 million people in the United States may have chronic hepatitis B infection. Hepatitis B virus is easily spread through contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. People can also be infected from contact with a contaminated object, where the virus can live for up to 7 days. Vaccination gives long-term protection from hepatitis B infection, possibly lifelong.
Who should be vaccinated against Hepatities B:
All unvaccinated adults at risk for hepatitis B infection should be vaccinated. This includes: sex partners of people infected with hepatitis B, people who inject street drugs, people with more than one sex partner, people with chronic liver or kidney disease, people under 60 years of age with diabetes, people with jobs that expose them to human blood or other body fluids, household contacts of people infected with hepatitis B, residents and staff in institutions for the developmentally disabled, kidney dialysis patients, people who travel to countries where hepatitis B is common, people with HIV infection. Pregnant women who are at risk for one of the reasons stated above should be vaccinated. Other pregnant women who want protection may be vaccinated.
HPV:
What is HPV:
Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States.
Why vaccinate againast HPV:
More than half of sexually active men and women are infected with HPV at some time in their lives. Most HPV infections don’t cause any symptoms, and go away on their own. But HPV can cause cervical cancer in women. Cervical cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths among women around the world. In the United States, about 12,000 women get cervical cancer every year and about 4,000 are expected to die from it. HPV is also associated with several less common cancers, such as vaginal and vulvar cancers in women, and anal and oropharyngeal (back of the throat, including base of tongue and tonsils) cancers in both men and women. HPV can also cause genital warts and warts in the throat. This vaccine can prevent most cases of cervical cancer in females, if it is given before exposure to the virus. In addition, it can prevent vaginal and vulvar cancer in females, and genital warts and anal cancer in both males and females. Protection from HPV vaccine is expected to be long-lasting. But vaccination is not a substitute for cervical cancer screening. Women should still get regular Pap tests.
Who should be vaccinated against HPV:
This vaccine is recommended for females 13 through 26 years of age and males 13 through 21 years of age. Special situations may make other individuals fall into the recommended category.
Influenza (Flu):
What:
It is caused by the influenza virus, which can be spread by coughing, sneezing, or nasal secretions.
Why:
Anyone can get influenza, but rates of infection are highest among children. For most people, symptoms last only a few days. They include: fever/chills, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, cough, headache, runny or stuffy nose. Flu viruses are always changing, so annual vaccination is recommended. Each year scientists try to match the viruses in the vaccine to those most likely to cause flu that year. Flu vaccine will not prevent disease from other viruses, including flu viruses not contained in the vaccine. It takes up to 2 weeks for protection to develop after the shot. Protection lasts about a year.
Who:
All people 6 months of age and older should get flu vaccine. Vaccination is especially important for people at higher risk of severe influenza and their close contacts, including healthcare personnel, pregnant women, and close contacts of children younger than 6 months.
When: Get the vaccine as soon as it is available. This should provide protection if the flu season comes early. You can get the vaccine as long as illness is occurring in your community. Influenza can occur at any time, but most influenza occurs from October through May. In recent seasons, most infections have occurred in January and February.
Tdap (Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis):
What:
Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis can be very serious diseases. These three diseases are all caused by bacteria. Diphtheria and pertussis are spread from person to person. Tetanus enters the body through cuts, scratches, or wounds.
Why:
TETANUS (Lockjaw) causes painful muscle spasms and stiffness, usually all over the body. It can lead to tightening of muscles in the head and neck so the victim cannot open his mouth or swallow, or sometimes even breathe. Tetanus kills about 1 out of 5 people who are infected. DIPHTHERIA can cause a thick membrane to cover the back of the throat. It can lead to breathing problems, paralysis, heart failure, and even death. PERTUSSIS (Whooping Cough) causes severe coughing spells which can lead to difficulty breathing, vomiting, and disturbed sleep. It can lead to weight loss, incontinence, rib fractures and passing out from violent coughing. Up to 2 in 100 adolescents and 5 in 100 adults with pertussis are hospitalized or have complications, including pneumonia and death.
Who:
Two vaccines are available to protect people 7 years of age and older from these diseases: Td vaccine has been used for many years. It protects against tetanus and diphtheria. Tdap vaccine was licensed in 2005. It is the first vaccine for adolescents and adults that protects against pertussis as well as tetanus and diphtheria. A Td booster dose is recommended every 10 years. Tdap is given only once. All adults should get a booster dose of Td every 10 years. Adults under 65 who have never gotten Tdap should get a dose of Tdap as their next booster dose. Adults 65 and older may get one booster dose of Tdap. Adults (including women who may become pregnant and adults 65 and older) who expect to have close contact with a baby younger than 12 months of age should get a dose of Tdap to help protect the baby from pertussis. Healthcare professionals who have direct patient contact in hospitals or clinics should get one dose of Tdap. Pregnant women who have never had a dose of Tdap should get one, after the 20th week of gestation and preferably during the 3rd trimester. If they do not get Tdap during their pregnancy they should get a dose as soon as possible after delivery.
Shingles:
What:
Shingles is a painful skin rash, often with blisters. It is also called Herpes Zoster, or just Zoster. Shingles is caused by the Varicella Zostervirus, the same virus that causes chickenpox.
Why:
Only someone who has had chickenpox – or, rarely, has gotten chickenpox vaccine – can get shingles. The virus stays in your body, and can cause shingles many years later. You can’t catch shingles from another person with shingles. However, a person who has never had chickenpox (or chickenpox vaccine) could get chickenpox from someone with shingles. This is not very common. A shingles rash usually appears on one side of the face or body and lasts from 2 to 4 weeks. Its main symptom is pain, which can be quite severe. Other symptoms of shingles can include fever, headache, chills and upset stomach.
Who:
A single dose of shingles vaccine is recommended for adults 60 years of age and older.
Varicella:
What:
Chickenpox (also called varicella) is a common childhood viral disease. It is usually mild, but it can be serious, especially in young infants and adults.
Why:
Varicella causes a rash, itching, fever, and tiredness. It can lead to severe skin infection, scars, pneumonia, brain damage, or death. The chickenpox virus can be spread from person to person through the air, or by contact with fluid from chickenpox blisters. A person who has had chickenpox can get a painful rash called shingles years later. Before the vaccine, about 11,000 people were hospitalized, and about 100 people died each year as a result of chickenpox in the United States.
Who:
People 13 years of age and older (who have never had chickenpox or received chickenpox vaccine) should get two doses at least 28 days apart. Pregnant women should wait to get chickenpox vaccine until after they have given birth. Women should not get pregnant for 1 month after getting chickenpox vaccine.
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella):
What:
Measles, mumps, and rubella are serious diseases. Before vaccines they were very common, especially among children. .
Why:
Measles virus causes rash, cough, runny nose, eye irritation, and fever. It can lead to ear infection, pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and death. Mumps virus causes fever, headache, muscle pain, loss of appetite, and swollen glands. It can lead to deafness, meningitis (infection of the brain and spinal cord covering), painful swelling of the testicles or ovaries, and rarely sterility. Rubella (German Measles) virus causes rash, arthritis (mostly in women), and mild fever. If a woman gets rubella while she is pregnant, she could have a miscarriage or her baby could be born with serious birth defects.These diseases spread from person to person through the air. You can easily catch them by being around someone who is already infected.
Who:
Generally, anyone 18 years of age or older who was born after 1956 should get at least one dose of MMR vaccine, unless they can show that they have either been vaccinated or had all three diseases. Any woman who plans to become pregnant should have the vaccine if blood work shows her to be inadequately immune to rubella.
For more information about vaccines, visit cdc.gov/vaccines
