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 Vaccine Services
We offer a variety of vaccines to our patients. If you know
exactly what you need, e.g. flu shot, you do not need an appointment for this service.
Between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. a patient can stop in and ask the receptionist to guide you to room Q for a vaccine.
If you are traveling and need a few shots, that requires an appointment with the physician's assistant.Vaccinations available include:
- Flu shot:
which we recommend to anyone who can't
afford to be sick for a week in January or February. It is not a live vaccine, it can not lead to a cold or virus. A sore arm is the worst case scenario. Recommended before January 15.
- Shingles vaccine:
Singles is a rash, often blistered,
that can be painful. If you are 60 or older a vaccine is available to help you (more info...)
- Cervical Cancer and Genital Warts:
There is now a
vaccine that may help guard you against diseases caused by HPV Types 16 and 18, which causes 70% of cervical cancer cases, and HPV Types 6 and 11, which cause 90% of genital warts cases. (more info...)
- Hepatitis A:
travelers to areas here the water is
questionable. Also protects against hepatitis from raw shellfish. It is given once, and then six to twelve months later and is then effective for life. In reality, everyone
should get this if they haven't already had hepatitis A.
- Hepatitis B:
for anyone at risk of blood exposure. It
is given to individuals with multiple sexual exposures, but is not usually given to travelers. It is a three part vaccine given once, then in one month, and in six
months. It is expensive, about $80 per shot, so we give the patient a prescription for the vaccine, and we just charge an administration fee. It is often given to
teachers of young children, to medical employees who deal with blood products, and to men and women with multiple sexual exposures.
- Pneumonia vaccine:
It is given once to any patient
at age 65, with a booster five to 10 years later. It is given to individuals with chronic diseases (diabetes, renal failure, etc.), and to people with underlying lung
diseases. It prevents many, but not all bacterial pneumonias, and has virtually no side effects.
- Tetanus shots
are used to prevent tetanus, a bacteria
transmitted by broken skin contact with rusty nail, bites, etc. It is a rare condition occurring once per year in New York State. It is given every 10 years. It can
often cause a severe local reaction with significant arm swelling for up to five days. If an individual suffers a severe cut and is not protected, that person should
theoretically not get a tetanus booster, but a tetanus globulin injection. We tend to not give many tetanus shots because of the rare incidence of the disease, and
the frequent side effects. Individuals who are traveling to environments where a cut could cause problems, and a tetanus shot might not be prudent locally, should definitely be vaccinated.
Traveling & Vaccination Info Sites
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