Don't be late for an immunization update

Are your immunization records up to date? If they are, then you can check them to see whether your tetanus shot is up to date.

Tetanus boosters are needed every 10 years. And spring is a good time to think about it, because gardening and yard cleanup are just around the corner. Tetanus bacteria are common in soil, dust and manure. If it gets into an open sore or cut, it can cause a painful muscle cramping condition often known as lockjaw.

For anyone who works in the outdoors, getting the tetanus booster when needed is a wise preventive measure.

"Immunizations really are one of the most advanced and safest tools of modern medicine," says Cathy Thomson, supervisor of the vaccine preventable disease program at the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.

With National Immunization Awareness Week April 20 to 26, this is a time to recognize immunizations and the benefits they have brought to the community, to the country and to the world, Thomson says.

This year, there is additional reason for celebration, thanks to the approval in Canada of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine - which helps prevent cervical cancer - and the oral vaccine for the prevention of rotavirus, which causes severe illness in infants.

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit also reminds the public of the importance of many vaccines that have been available for years and their value not only to children but adults as well. The annual flu shot, available at no cost to all Ontario residents, is something everyone should consider each fall.

Check with your health care professional to see if you or your family members are due for any vaccines, and keep records up to date.

For more information about immunization, call Your Health Connection at 721-7520 or 1-877-721- 7520 from Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., or visit the health unit website at www.simcoemuskokahealth. org.