Rural Health urges adults to review vaccination status

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS — Rural Health Inc. is encouraging adults to check whether they are due for vaccinations during National Immunization Awareness Month in August.

The organization said adults should consider their own vaccinations while scheduling back-to-school appointments for their children. Recommendations can vary based on age, health conditions, pregnancy, employment and travel.

Depending on those factors and vaccination history, adults may need vaccines for illnesses including influenza, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus, tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough, chickenpox, hepatitis B, meningococcal disease, measles, mumps and rubella.

“Adults generally consider other vaccinations to be a ‘kid’ thing, not realizing that they are also susceptible to infection as easily as children,” Rural Health spokeswoman Shawnna Rhine said.

Rural Health recommends that people discuss their individual needs and possible risks with a health care provider. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes its current recommendations through an adult immunization schedule.

Appointments are available by calling Rural Health at 618-833-4471. Additional information and health center locations are available at ruralhealthinc.org.