Urgent Care Medical Center Team Urges Residents to Guard Against Pneumonia
With flu season and World Pneumonia Day on the horizon, our FirstCare Medical team felt that it was high time to have a serious discussion about lung infections. They are frequently caused by fungi, viruses and bacteria. Hudson Valley residents that contract the infections and don’t seek proper care, run the risk of developing complications and dying unexpectedly. So we are strongly urging residents to consider coming in for either a pneumonia vaccination or a seasonal flu shot.
Many Hudson Valley residents often mistakenly believe that the two shots are one in the same and will protect them against all respiratory infections. The pneumonia vaccination typically comes in two different forms, the PCV13 and the PPV23. The first one is designed for children and the second is primarily geared towards adults. Both are generally available year round whereas the seasonal flu shot is not. It is created fresh each year to address projected changes and distributed to the public in the fall.
Furthermore, it is important for residents to note that all three of the a fore mentioned vaccines may not provide adequate protection against bronchitis, sinusitis and other upper respiratory infections. Therefore, it is wise to consider taking additional preventive measures as well. They include maintaining a healthy lifestyle and being mindful of how seasonal infections spread (e.g. coughing and sneezing).
Those residents that forgo the vaccinations and develop pneumonia or the flu should know that our First Care Medical team is here to assist when needed. The list of signs that should immediately prompt a visit to our walk-in, urgent medical center includes, but isn’t restricted to:
Coughs that produce pus, blood or thick, discolored phlegm
Fevers that reach 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
Shortness of breath or agonizing respiration
Prolonged vomiting or diarrhea
To learn more about what to do in the event of a pneumonia or seasonal flu outbreak in the Hudson Valley, please speak with a trusted member of our First Care Medical Center team today.