The Importance of Vaccines in Post Acute Care
Efforts in preventing illness and diseases is a national health priority, particularly in the elderly. With the hype of COVID-19, vaccines in post-acute care should be top-of-mind for all patients and families. At South Coast Post Acute we agree with the recommendations brought forth by the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) that all adults should get vaccinated to help prevent the spread of disease in a post-acute care facility.
What Vaccines are Recommended for You
At a young age, each of us received vaccines to prevent disease. However, you may not realize that you need vaccines throughout your life. As we age, it is still strongly recommended that we receive life-saving vaccines, especially for adults over the age of 65 in post-acute care settings.
You may need specific vaccines based on your health conditions, age, job, lifestyle, or travel habits. Therefore, it is a good idea to talk with your health care physician about which vaccines are right for you in all settings or within post-acute care.
Visit the Adult Vaccine Assessment Tool on the CDC website to learn more about vaccines that are right for you.
Vaccine-Preventable Adult Diseases
Certain vaccines prevent diseases that cause long-term illness, hospitalization, and even death. The CDC estimates 140,000 to 710,000 flu-related hospitalizations have been caused by vaccine-preventable diseases in the United States since 2010.
Whether or not you need post-acute care, the CDC recommends that all adults receive the following:
- Influenza (flu) vaccine every year
- Td or Tdap vaccine
Similarly, other serious diseases that can be prevented by vaccines are:
Chickenpox (Varicella), Human Papillomavirus (HPV), or Shingles (Zoster) to name a few. In order to protect yourself, find a larger list of diseases that are preventable through vaccines for post acute care patients here.
How to Pay for Vaccines
Rest assured that your health insurance plan covers certain vaccines without charging a co-payment or co-insurance through an in-network provider. Patients in post acute care are recommended to stay on top of all of their vaccines to protect against serious risks.
The following vaccines are usually covered by health insurance:
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Herpes Zoster
- Human Papillomavirus
- Influenza
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella
- Meningococcal
- Pneumococcal
- Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis
- Varicella
At South Coast Post Acute we want to give our patients the best post-hospital care and help protect yourself from serious risk. Our healthcare professionals are available to help with all of your post acute needs.
Contact us today for a tour and more information on our memory and post-acute care services. We are the post-acute care community of choice in Southern California.
Real People. Remarkable Care. South Coast Post Acute.