HELPING TO KEEP YOU AND YOURS HEALTHY
To protect against many infections and viruses and as a public health measure, Palos Verdes Medical Group physicians encourage you to stay current with you and your family’s physicals. That’s because, as an adult, by skipping your yearly vaccines, you may be susceptible to illnesses such as shingles, pneumococcal disease, the flu, and HPV and hepatitis B, both leading causes of cancer. And for your children, vaccinations can protect your child from deadly diseases.
VACCINE SAFETY
According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, “The US has a robust approval process to ensure that all licensed vaccines are safe. Potential side effects associated with vaccines are uncommon and much less severe than the diseases they prevent. And vaccines will not cause the diseases they are designed to prevent.”*
Annual physicals, back-to-school physicals, and sports physicals are offered seven days a week! Please remember to bring any forms necessary with you to your physical. If your child is up to date on their vaccines and has had their yearly physical, please drop off or email their forms to info@pvmedgroup.com. We will fill them out and get them back to you promptly!
RECOMMENDED VACCINATIONS BY AGE AND YEAR:
BIRTH TO SCHOOL AGE
“Pediatric vaccinations decreased dramatically during the 2019-2020 pandemic, which resulted in decreased vaccination protection. It is more important than ever to get your child up to date on their vaccinations. That is the only way to decrease the risk of children getting vaccine-preventable diseases”, says Monica Saad, MD, board-certified pediatrician of PVMG.
Most states require all school children (including daycare and pre-school) to submit a record of having had a physical evaluation and up-to-date immunizations. You may download the CDC’s recommended immunization schedule by clicking on this link: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/downloads/parent-ver-sch-0-6yrs.pdf
Vaccination Birth to Six Years:
- Chickenpox
- Diphtheria
- Hepatitis A & B
- Influenza (Flu)
- Measles
- Mumps
- Pertussis
- Polio
- Pneumococcal
- Rotavirus
- Rubella
- Tetanus
VACCINATIONS 7-18 YEARS
You may download the CDC’s recommended immunization schedule for ages 7 -18 years by clicking on this link: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/teen/parent-version-schedule-7-18yrs.pdf
- Chickenpox
- Diphtheria
- Hepatitis A & B
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Influenza (Flu) – should receive annually
- Measles
- Mumps
- Pertussis
- Polio
- Pneumococcal
- Rubella
- Tetanus
- COVID-19 vaccine if over the age of 12
VACCINATIONS 19 AND ABOVE
- Influenza (Flu) – should receive annually
- COVID-19 vaccine
- Pneumonia 65 and older or those with chronic conditions
- Tetanus (CDC recommends a booster every 10 years). If you think you may have tetanus and are unsure when you last received your vaccine, we recommend seeking treatment. Treatment often includes a tetanus vaccination.
“In general, everyone needs to be vaccinated,” says Lawrence Sher, MD, board-certified in allergy, asthma, immunology, and pediatrics. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) believes that immunization is essential to preventing the spread of contagious diseases. However, there is a small population who can’t or shouldn’t receive vaccinations. Those include infants under two months and people with certain medical issues. Please consult with your PVMG physician on your vaccination needs,” concludes Sher.