Immunizations
& vaccines

The influenza vaccine, or flu shot, should be administered annually to protect against the influenza virus. The flu is highly contagious and is spread through respiratory droplets expelled through  coughing and sneezing.

Symptoms of influenza include fever, chills, sore throat, muscle pain, headache, coughing, and fatigue. About 40,000 people die each year in the U.S. From influenza. The elderly, young children, and patients with a complicating medical condition are the most vulnerable.

Due to the high mutation rate of the virus, the vaccine is reformulated each year to protect against the three strains of influenza judged most likely to cause significant human suffering by the World Health Organization.

Hepatitis-A is a highly contagious liver infection caused by the Hepatitis-A virus. It is typically ingested through contaminated food or water and spreads from person-to-person through direct contact. Handling the same objects of an infected person may also spread the virus, often through eating utensils.

Symptoms of Hepatitis-A include abdominal pain or discomfort, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice), low-grade fever, and fatigue.  Symptoms normally don't appear for a few weeks after infection.

The Hepatitis-B vaccine helps protect against a serious liver infection caused by the Hepatitis-B virus. The virus is transmitted through contact with contaminated blood. This often occurs through blood transfusions, sexual contact, or by sharing contaminated needles, razors, toothbrushes, or medical instruments. A Hepatitis-B infection may become chronic (lifelong), which can lead to liver cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer. Infants and children are most likely to develop a chronic Hepatitis-B infection.

Symptoms include abdominal pain, joint pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice), and fatigue. Some patients with Hepatitis-B never develop symptoms of the infection. In some Pacific Rim countries, 10% to 20%  of the population are chronically infected.

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine helps protect against the strains of genital HPV most likely to cause genital warts or cervical cancer. These strains are transmitted primarily through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity.

Symptoms of HPV include genital warts, common warts, and plantar warts. There are two specific strains of HPV known to cause cervical cancer, but these strains do not cause warts. Early stages of cervical cancer do not produce any signs or symptoms. Regular screening by Pap tests is important to detect precancerous changes in the cervix.

The meningococcal vaccine helps protect against four types of meningococcus bacteria. These bacteria cause an inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The bacteria is spread by the exchange of respiratory throat secretions, typically coughing, kissing, or sharing eating utensils.

Symptoms include headache, high fever, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, seizures, and difficulty concentrating. About 10% of patients with this condition will die even with proper medical treatment. It can also cause coma and brain damage. Meningococcal Disease is common in Saudi Arabia and several countries in Africa.

The pneumococcal vaccine helps protect against the bacteria that causes pneumonia, an inflammation of the lungs. The bacteria is spread person-to-person by water droplets in the air. Pneumonia is responsible for 175,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. each year.

Symptoms of pneumonia are similar to the flu – fever, chills, cough, headache, chest pain, muscle pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue. For some older adults and patients with a heart or lung ailment, pneumonia can quickly become life threatening.

The Shingles vaccine protects against the virus herpes zoster. This is the same virus that causes chicken pox. Only those that have had chickenpox or the chickenpox vaccine can develop shingles. Shingles is not life-threatening, but it can be very painful. Shingles cannot be spread through casual contact. Although it is possible for the condition to spread from a person with active shingles to another person through direct contact with the rash, but the person exposed would develop chickenpox, not shingles.

The primary symptoms of shingles are skin rash and pain, which is sometimes severe. Secondary symptoms include fever, chills, headaches, body aches, and fatigue. The rash and pain often come and go, lasting for 2 to 4 weeks. Shingles is more common in those over age 50.

The tetanus vaccine helps protect against the bacteria that causes a life-threatening disease that affects the nervous system. The bacteria is can be found in the soil and in animal feces. It normally enters the body through a puncture in the skin. Tetanus is not spread person-to-person.

The first noticeable symptom is normally spasm of the jaw muscles (lockjaw), followed by neck stiffness, difficulty swallowing, and stiffness of the abdominal muscles. Fever, sweating, and painful spasms are sometimes present. Symptoms may not appear for several weeks following exposure.

The diphtheria vaccine protects against the bacterial infection of the mucous membranes of the nose and throat. In advanced stages, diphtheria can cause damage to the heart, kidneys, and nervous system. The infection is fatal in about 10% of cases even with proper medical care.

Symptoms of diphtheria include painful swallowing, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, chills, nasal discharge, and fatigue. The classic symptom of diphtheria is a thick gray mucous covering the back of the throat, which can block the windpipe and cause difficulty breathing.

The typhoid vaccine helps protect against the bacteria that causes the intestinal infection known as Typhoid Fever. This disease is cause by the salmonella typhi bacteria and is spread through contaminated food or water. Modern sanitation methods have dramatically reduced the spread of the disease. A small percentage of the population is capable of being a carrier, infected with the disease without showing symptoms.

A characteristic symptom is a slowly rising fever that progresses over the first few weeks after infection. Other symptoms include headache, abdominal pain, skin rash, fatigue, and diarrhea (or constipation). Typhoid is rare in industrialized countries but remains a serious health threat in the developing world.

Need an immunization for something not listed here? Just ask us for a special order!