Get Healthy Carson City: Vaccine prevents family of bacterial illnesses

This column appears in the Nevada Appeal Wednesday health pages. It addresses topics related to the health of our community.

PNEUMOCOCCAL

VACCINE

If you learned there was a safe and effective vaccine that could protect against pneumonia, meningitis, middle ear infections, sinus infections, and a serious blood infection called bacteremia, wouldn't you want to protect yourself by getting it?

Actually, this vaccine has been around for more than 20 years and is available at Carson City Health and Human Services or at your physician's office. Pneumococcal (New-mo-caw-cal) vaccine protects against 23 different strains of bacteria that cause illness. This family of bacteria is a leading cause of vaccine-preventable illness in the United States.

Marena Works is a registered nurse and the director of Carson City Health and Human Services. She encourages those who need the vaccine to get it.

"Pneumococcal vaccine is important because it protects against the most common types of bacterial pneumonia, especially for people at high risk," Works said.

Those high-risk groups include people ages 2-64 with chronic conditions such as heart and lung diseases, diabetes, alcoholism, cirrhosis of the liver, and those with compromised immune systems. Those who smoke or have asthma should consider being vaccinated. Pneumococcal vaccine is also recommended for everyone over age 65.

The vaccine protects against pneumococcal disease, which is caused by many different types of bacteria in the pneumococcus family. Although many people associate pneumococcal disease with respiratory illness, the bacteria can cause illnesses other than pneumonia. Other ways the disease can occur include meningitis, blood infections and middle ear infections.

Pneumococcus bacteria live in many people's noses and throats without making them sick. The bacteria are spread by coughing or sneezing. It is unclear why some people become sick while others do not.

The same bacteria that sicken adults can also cause very serious illness in children. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pneumococcal disease is the most common cause of invasive bacterial infection in American children. Those under 2 years of age fall into the highest general risk group for invasive pneumococcal infections. A separate vaccine for children is also available at the Health Department, and it is recommended that children under 5 years old receive it.

Those who are interested in getting the pneumococcal vaccine, or other vaccines, can do so during Vaccination Day, which takes place at the Long Street Clinic every Thursday from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

For more information about Health Department services, check out our website at www.gethealthycarsoncity.org or visit us on Facebook at Carson City Health and Human Services.

Carson City Health and Human Services

Clinic Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Wednesday and Friday by appointment

Where: 900 East Long Street, Carson City

Call: 775-887-2195

Men's Clinic: 4-6 p.m. Mondays. Call for an appointment,775-887-2195

Vaccination is the best defense against the flu! CCHHS offers flu injections or nasal mist for $10. No appointment is necessary.

Immunization Day: 8:30-11:30 a.m.; 1-4:30 p.m. Thursdays. No appointment needed

• By Cortney Bloomer and Valerie Cauhape are with Carson City Health and Human Services.