Long-term care facilities play a vital role in the healthcare industry by meeting the needs of the elderly and chronically ill. Among the numerous services which these pharmacies are providing, immunization is growing its importance. By administering essential immunizations to residents, long-term care pharmacies have become significant contributors to the health and well-being of this vulnerable population.
These pharmacies specialize in serving the inhabitants of long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and rehabilitation facilities. On-site vaccinations are frequently administered by licensed chemists who are commonly employed. Long-term care pharmacies may offer flu shots, pneumococcal vaccines, herpes zoster vaccines, and others recommended by healthcare authorities for the elderly and those with specific health issues. Protecting long-term care residents from preventable infections with these immunizations improves their health.
Long-term care pharmacies may offer different immunizations depending on local legislation, the pharmacy’s capabilities, and residents’ needs. If you seek immunizations for individuals in a long-term care facility, you should contact the pharmacy directly to inquire about their services and available vaccines.
Immunizations and Preventive Care
Immunizations are fundamental to preventive medicine, particularly for the elderly and those with underlying health conditions. Due to factors such as weakened immune systems, intimate living quarters, and shared communal spaces, long-term care residents are frequently at a greater risk of contracting infectious diseases. Immunizations administered in long-term care facilities mitigate these risks and protect inhabitants from preventable diseases.
Types of Immunizations Offered
Long-term care pharmacies can administer a variety of immunizations to meet the residents’ specific needs. The following immunizations are typical:
- Influenza (Flu) Vaccine: Children aged 6 months to people of any age should get the annual flu vaccine. Do remember that elderly people are more prone to flu complications.
- Pneumococcal Vaccines: These vaccines protect against bacterial infections that can result in pneumonia, meningitis, and bloodstream infections, which are particularly hazardous for the elderly.
- Shingles vaccine: The varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox) causes painful lesions and consequences. This condition, which can be more severe in elderly patients, is being prevented by vaccination.
- Other Recommended Vaccines: Depending on age, medical history, and local regulations, long-term care pharmacies may also offer Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) and hepatitis vaccinations, among others.
Benefits of Immunizations in Long-Term Care
- The presence of a long-term care pharmacy that offers immunizations has multiple advantages:
- Convenience: Residents can get shots without going to a different health center, making preventive care easier.
- Timeliness: Long-term care pharmacies ensure that recommended vaccines are administered on time, reducing the risk of contagion within the facility.
- Expertise: Long-term care chemists know their residents’ health needs and may offer vaccines accordingly.
- Improved Public Health: These pharmacies boost community immunity and prevent disease transmission by vaccinating a large share of long-term care residents.
Beyond their conventional duties, long-term care pharmacies now provide vital immunizations. Through their knowledge, accessibility, and dedication to preventive care, these pharmacies protect vulnerable long-term care patients. Immunization programs in long-term care pharmacies demonstrate the importance of preventative measures to protect our older population as healthcare evolves.
Contact TIB Pharmacy
Immunizations play a crucial role in disease prevention. Vaccination safeguards you and those around you. At TIB Pharmacy, our primary objective is to ensure that you and your loved ones are current on all recommended vaccinations. We provide a range of immunizations. The following are a few of the immunizations we provide:
- Flu
- Measles, Measles, Rubella
- The pneumococcal organism
- Vaccine-induced erythema
- Hepatitis B or A/B
- TD or Tdap
- Meningococcal disease
- HPV
- Travel vaccinations
Our highly qualified staff can readily administer these immunizations. Call (510) 573-0064, and speak with a staff member about the immunizations offered by TIB Pharmacy.
Vaccinations must be given four to six weeks before departure. This lets the immunizations take effect and protects you while traveling.