Vaccinations
Rocky Mountain Urgent Care provides vaccines for Tetanus (Td), Hepatitis B, Hepatitis A, Pneumonia and Flu, all on a walk-in basis.
Tetanus (Td)
The tetanus (Td) vaccine protects against tetanus and diphtheria. Tetanus causes serious painful muscle spasms of all muscles and can lead to “lock jaw” where the patient cannot open his or her mouth or swallow. Diphtheria is a thick coating in the nose, throat or airway and can lead to breathing problems, heart failure, paralysis or death. Everyone should have a Tetanus shot once every 10 years, more often if they have a deep cut or puncture wound. It is recommended that people who are sick or pregnant or have had an allergic reaction to the tetanus or diphtheria vaccination in the past do not get the vaccine, but they should check with their doctor.
Hepatitis B
The Hepatitis B vaccine comes in a series of three injections. Hepatitis B is a virus that can cause a short term illness and the symptoms are loss of appetite, diarrhea or vomiting, yellow skin or eyes, fatigue, muscle or joint aches. It can also cause long term or chronic illness that leads to liver damage, liver cancer or death.
Everyone under the age of 18 or adults over the age of 18 who are at risk including health care workers, health care providers, public safety workers, including police & firemen, people who inject illegal drugs, people who have had more than one sex partner in more than 6 months, people who have sexual contact with infected people, and hemodialysis patients should get vaccinated. People who have had an allergic reaction to baker’s yeast (the kind used for making bread) or people who have had an allergic reaction to the hepatitis B vaccine in the past should not the vaccine.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease. The virus is found in the stool of Hepatitis A infected people. It is usually spread by close personal contact and eating food or drinking water containing Hepatitis A. Symptoms are flu-like illness, yellow skin or eyes, severe stomachache and diarrhea. People who should vaccinate include all children one year of age, people one year of age or older traveling to central or South America, Mexico, Asia (except Japan), Africa or Eastern Europe, people who use street drugs and men who have sex with men. People who should not get the vaccine include people who have had a severe allergic reaction to the vaccine, people who are allergic to alum, and people who are allergic to 2-phenoxyethanol. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant.
Pneumonia (Pneumococcal Vaccine)
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs which can lead to a blood infection or even meningitis. One out of every 20 people who get pneumonia die. Most healthy adults who get the vaccine develop protection within 2-3 weeks. All adults over 65 or anyone over two years of age who has chronic health problems or conditions that lower the body’s resistance to infections should get vaccinated. Usually only one dose is needed. A second dose is recommended for people age 65 and older who got their first dose below age 65 and 5 years have past since that dose.
Flu Vaccine
Flu is a contagious disease that spreads from an infected person to the nose or throat of others. Symptoms of the flu are fever, cough, sore throat, headache, chills, muscle aches and fatigue. In some instances, it can lead to pneumonia. People who should get the shot include all children, 6 months to 5 years, adults 50 years and older, pregnant women, and anyone with chronic health problems or weakened immune systems. It is also recommended for health care providers or caregivers of any of the above. People who are sick, have had a life threatening allergic reaction, or anyone with Guillain-Barre Syndrome should not get a flu vaccine.
Vaccine information taken from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
