Immunization Awareness Month: Vaccines to Discuss at Your Next Visit

August is National Immunization Awareness Month: a timely reminder that staying current on recommended vaccinations is one of the most effective things you can do for your long-term health. Vaccines aren’t just for childhood. Women of every age benefit from a thoughtful, up-to-date immunization schedule, and your annual well-woman visit at Alliance OB/GYN in Alpharetta, Georgia is one of the best opportunities to make sure you’re protected.

Drs. Elbridge F. Bills II and Clement C. Hsiao and our team are committed to providing comprehensive, quality gynecological care  and that includes having informed conversations about preventive health. Here’s a thorough look at the vaccines most relevant to women, with guidance on who needs them, when, and why.

“I love these doctors and have been with them for 14 years. They are always so kind and supportive. And Carla is the best! Dr. Hsiao delivered both my boys, was with me through both pregnancies and has been wonderful in every experience including after care. “

— Alliance OB/GYN Patient Testimonial

Flu Vaccine

The influenza vaccine is recommended annually for all adults ages 6 months and older, and it’s among the most important for women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Pregnancy significantly alters immune function, cardiovascular demand, and respiratory capacity: all of which make influenza more dangerous than it would otherwise be. Pregnant women who contract the flu are at substantially higher risk for hospitalization, pneumonia, preterm labor, and other serious complications.

Getting vaccinated in August or September, before flu season peaks in the winter months,  gives your immune system time to mount a full protective response. For pregnant women, the antibodies produced by the flu shot cross the placenta and protect the baby in the early months of life before they’re old enough to receive their own flu vaccine. The inactivated flu shot is safe at any trimester of pregnancy; the nasal spray (live attenuated vaccine) is not recommended during pregnancy.

Even if you’re not pregnant, the annual flu shot is a simple, low-effort way to protect yourself and the people around you: including newborns, elderly relatives, and those with compromised immune systems who are most vulnerable to severe illness.

Tdap Vaccine

The Tdap vaccine protects against three bacterial infections: tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough. For most adults, a one-time Tdap booster is recommended, followed by a Td (tetanus-diphtheria) booster every 10 years. But for pregnant women, Tdap is recommended between 27 and 36 weeks of every pregnancy: regardless of when they last received it.

The reason for the every-pregnancy recommendation is pertussis. Whooping cough is highly contagious and, while unpleasant for older children and adults, can be life-threatening for newborns. Infants cannot receive their first pertussis vaccination until 2 months of age, leaving a dangerous window of vulnerability. Getting Tdap in the third trimester of pregnancy maximizes the antibody transfer to the baby before birth, providing passive immunity during that critical gap. Close contacts of newborns, partners, grandparents, siblings, should also be current on their Tdap, a protective strategy called cocooning.

HPV Vaccine

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, and certain high-risk strains are directly responsible for the vast majority of cervical cancers, as well as vaginal, vulvar, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers. The HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9) protects against nine strains of the virus, including the two most associated with cervical cancer and the two most associated with genital warts. Staying current on cervical cancer screenings is an equally important part of prevention: vaccination and Pap smears work together, not in place of each other.

The vaccine is most effective when given before any potential exposure to the virus, which is why it’s routinely recommended beginning at ages 11 to 12. It is recommended through age 26 for anyone who wasn’t vaccinated earlier. For adults ages 27 to 45, the decision to vaccinate is made on an individual basis through shared clinical decision-making; if you’re in this age range and haven’t been vaccinated, it’s worth raising at your next appointment with our team.

The vaccine is given as a series: two doses for those who start before age 15, and three doses for those who start at 15 or older. If you started the series but didn’t complete it, finishing the remaining doses still provides meaningful protection.

COVID-19 Vaccine and Boosters

Updated COVID-19 vaccines continue to be recommended for all adults, including pregnant women. COVID-19 infection during pregnancy carries significantly elevated risks compared to non-pregnant adults, including higher rates of preterm birth, ICU admission, and maternal mortality. Clinical data on the vaccines in pregnant populations is now substantial, and they have not been found to cause harm to mothers or babies.

Booster recommendations are updated as new vaccine formulations become available to address circulating variants. If you’re unsure whether you’re due for an updated booster, your provider at Alliance OB/GYN can help you check your status and determine the right timing based on current CDC guidance.

Meningococcal Vaccine

Meningococcal disease, caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, can lead to bacterial meningitis and blood poisoning that can become fatal within 24 to 48 hours of onset. While rare, it disproportionately affects adolescents and young adults, particularly those living in close quarters such as college dormitories.

The MenACWY vaccine is routinely recommended at age 11 or 12 with a booster at age 16. If you have a teenager who is heading back to school or preparing for college this fall and hasn’t received the booster dose, August is an ideal time to get it; many colleges require proof of meningococcal vaccination for students living in residence halls. The MenB vaccine, which protects against a different strain, is also recommended for adolescents ages 16 to 23 based on individual clinical decision-making and may be worth discussing if your teen hasn’t received it.

Shingles Vaccine (Shingrix)

For women ages 50 and older, the Shingrix vaccine is recommended for protection against shingles: a painful reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (the same virus that causes chickenpox) and its most common serious complication, postherpetic neuralgia, which can cause debilitating nerve pain lasting months or years after the shingles rash resolves.

Shingrix is given as a two-dose series, with the second dose administered 2 to 6 months after the first. It is highly effective: clinical trials showed greater than 90 percent efficacy in preventing shingles in adults ages 50 and older and is recommended even if you’ve had shingles before or previously received the older Zostavax vaccine. If you’re 50 or older and haven’t started the Shingrix series, it’s worth adding to your to-do list at your next well-woman visit.

Pneumococcal Vaccine

The pneumococcal vaccine protects against Streptococcus pneumoniae, a bacterium that can cause pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections. It is recommended for all adults ages 65 and older, as well as for younger adults with certain chronic health conditions including diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, or a weakened immune system. If you’re not sure whether you’re a candidate based on your health history, ask at your next appointment.

How to Know What You Actually Need

With so many vaccines on the adult schedule, it can be difficult to know where you stand. The most practical approach is to bring your vaccination records to your next well-woman visit, or ask your provider to check your history in our system, so we can identify any gaps and make specific recommendations based on your age, health status, pregnancy status, and prior vaccinations. You don’t need to figure this out alone.

The team at Alliance OB/GYN is here to make preventive care straightforward and personalized. We’ll walk you through exactly which vaccines are recommended for you right now, answer your questions, and administer any vaccines that can be given in our office.

Schedule Your Well-Woman Visit

National Immunization Awareness Month is a great reason to get your annual well-woman visit on the calendar if it isn’t already. At Alliance OB/GYN, we offer same-day appointments and welcome both new and established patients for gynecological and obstetric care in Alpharetta, Georgia. Call our office at (770) 777-4933 or schedule online.