MONROE, La. (KNOE) – As the fall season approaches, local medical professionals are urging residents to receive updated vaccinations to protect vulnerable populations and reduce the spread of contagious viruses.<\/p>\n
Dr. Harry Hawthorne of St. Francis Medical Group said immunization plays a critical role in halting transmission before individuals even realize they are sick.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore you even know you have an illness, before you even know you have a bug, you\u2019re usually contagious,\u201d Hawthorne said. \u201cSo 24 to 48 hours before you even have symptoms, you got it. And so people who are vaccinated, they keep those from spreading that virus before they even know it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Health professionals highlighted specific demographics that require prioritized protection, including seniors and individuals with preexisting medical conditions. Pharmacist Meredith Garner of Live Oak Pharmacy in Monroe noted that older adults face elevated risks from multiple seasonal viruses.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe definitely want to make sure that our older population, especially with underlying conditions, that they are covered with a flu vaccine, but not only flu, also with a covid vaccine, there\u2019s a booster that is available,\u201d Garner said. \u201cIt\u2019s also important for RSV for them to be protected, especially age 75 and older.\u201d<\/p>\n
For patients with chronic respiratory issues, contracting a seasonal illness can lead to rapid health declines, according to Hawthorne.<\/p>\n
\u201cLung patients, patients who have asthma, patients who have COPD, we definitely want to be on the lookout for flu, RSV, and pneumonia because they can cause the lungs to really take a hit quickly and you can get behind the disease and end up in the hospital,\u201d Hawthorne said. \u201cFor those asthmatics and those COPD patients, it will be very important that they get those.\u201d<\/p>\n
Beyond seasonal respiratory infections, health professionals also advise adults to remain current on routine immunizations against other conditions. Pharmacist Ben Orlando, also of Live Oak, pointed to the high efficacy of the shingles immunization.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe shingles vaccine after the second dose, which is a two dose vaccine series, is a 97% effective vaccine,\u201d Orlando said. \u201cAnd if you\u2019ve ever had the shingles, you know that it\u2019s a bad, bad disease. So it behooves you to get the shingles vaccine to prevent that particular disease.\u201d<\/p>\n
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