Adult vaccination clinic scheduled for Aug. 12

The McHenry County Department of Health has scheduled an adult vaccination clinic on Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. at its Woodstock office, 2200 N. Seminary Ave.

People who have no insurance or whose insurance does not cover vaccinations are eligible for low-cost immunizations based on a program funded by Illinois Department of Public Health. Call (815) 334-4500 for vaccine information and future walk-in clinic dates and times.

Why should adults be vaccinated? Even if you got your childhood vaccinations, the protection from some vaccines wears off. As an adult, you are too busy to risk getting sick. People in your family or community, including infants, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, may not be able to get certain vaccines and rely on you to help prevent the spread of disease. Your job, lifestyle, travel or health condition may also put you at risk.

Women and men older than age 60 should be vaccinated against shingles, which can cause a painful skin rash that is often accompanied by blisters appearing on one side of the body. About one of three people in America will develop shingles during their lifetime. As you get older, this risk increases. The disease is caused by the chickenpox virus, which remains inactive in the body even after one recovers from chickenpox.

For reasons that are not fully known, the virus can reactivate years later and cause shingles. The pain from shingles can last for months or years after the rash goes away.

The decision to be vaccinated should be made with your health care provider. Visit www.mcdh.info or www.cdc.gov/vaccines for more information on adult vaccines.