This is me. I just got a flu shot and a pneumonia vaccine. Here's what I learned from the pharmacist...
*When you get sick, your body launches a defense. When you get really sick and don't support your defenses, they go really overboard and basically cluster bomb everything, including the stuff you need, and the doctors cannot bring you back from the edge.
All you have to do is get your doctor's OK, walk into just about any grocery store that has a pharmacy or a Walgreen's, CVS, whatever and get the shot. If you're on Medicare, you don't pay a penny. Most insurance companies don't want to deal with your extensive illness and death and so, duh, they've now started to pay for the shot.
Nag your family members. We need as much "herd" immunity as we can get!
Here's the Google Images link to get a look at how devastating the shingles rash can be. I understand it's beyond painful.
- The death toll for last year's flu season was more than 80,000. That's 80,000 people here in AMERICA. It's supposed to be a really, really bad flu season this year, so do it! Stock up on face masks while you're at the pharmacy!
- An astonishing number of healthy Americans, (not super young, not super old and not sick) died because they let it "get too far". Their symptoms grew worse and by the time they got help, they became septic* and their organs shut down. This happens more easily than you think.
*When you get sick, your body launches a defense. When you get really sick and don't support your defenses, they go really overboard and basically cluster bomb everything, including the stuff you need, and the doctors cannot bring you back from the edge.
- If you're over 65, get the two-dose series for pneumonia. The first one is called Prevnar 13; the following year, you'll get the second one and you'll NEVER have to be vaccinated for pneumonia again. Easy peasy.
- While Prevnar 13 protects you against bacterial pneumonia, it's also proving to reduce the impact of viral pneumonia.
All you have to do is get your doctor's OK, walk into just about any grocery store that has a pharmacy or a Walgreen's, CVS, whatever and get the shot. If you're on Medicare, you don't pay a penny. Most insurance companies don't want to deal with your extensive illness and death and so, duh, they've now started to pay for the shot.
Nag your family members. We need as much "herd" immunity as we can get!
- The new shingles vaccine is coming out soon. Seen pictures of that??? My doctor told me that the initial shingles shot was so effective that I didn't have to get the new one. Well, the pharmacist told me that the first shingles shot has varying degrees of effectiveness in the decades as you age. Get the new shingles shot. It's in short supply right now, but when asked, I said, "OK, put me on the list."
Here's the Google Images link to get a look at how devastating the shingles rash can be. I understand it's beyond painful.
image from webmd
This photo reflects shingles when it's just starting to cook. Ugh.
image by quickcareorer.com
This is what it looks like during the "contagious" stage.
image by webmd
You can get the shingles rash anywhere on your body.
In your eyes...In your mouth...In your private parts...
AND, YOU CAN GET IT MORE THAN ONCE!
Get the shingles vaccination, the pneumonia vaccination and the flu shot if your doctor recommends them.
You know me...I preach and live by "CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLE".
Claudia
Join me on Facebook at Dr. Claudia McCulloch.
At DrClaudia.net, click on the "Ask Me" button and send me a question.
Sign up for the Sunday newsletter. You don't want to miss a thing!
In your eyes...In your mouth...In your private parts...
AND, YOU CAN GET IT MORE THAN ONCE!
Get the shingles vaccination, the pneumonia vaccination and the flu shot if your doctor recommends them.
You know me...I preach and live by "CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLE".
Claudia
Join me on Facebook at Dr. Claudia McCulloch.
At DrClaudia.net, click on the "Ask Me" button and send me a question.
Sign up for the Sunday newsletter. You don't want to miss a thing!
