Sanford Health
10/03/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/03/2024 07:49
Sanford encouraging COVID, flu, RSV & DTap, Tdap vaccines
Sanford encouraging COVID, flu, RSV & DTap, Tdap vaccines
Contact:
Jon Berg
Sanford Health Media Relations
605-366-2432 / [email protected]
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Sanford Health is now administering COVID-19, influenza and RSV vaccine for eligible patients at its clinic locations across its footprint in North Dakota, South Dakota, Northwest Iowa, Minnesota and Northeast Nebraska.
The health care system is also encouraging everyone to make sure they are up to date on their pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine.
Pertussis (whooping cough) Vaccine
It's recommended children receive their first dose of pertussis vaccine (DTaP) at two months old, receiving a total of five doses by age six. Preteens should receive one dose of the pertussis vaccine (Tdap) between the ages of 11 and 12. Adults should receive an updated Tdap vaccine every 10 years and pregnant people should get the vaccine around 20 weeks of pregnancy to provide protection for their baby.
If a patient believes they or a loved one may have whooping cough, they are encouraged to visit one of Sanford Health's urgent care clinics or schedule an appointment with their primary care provider. Early testing is key to providing treatment for whooping cough, to ease symptoms and reduce spread of the disease to others.
COVID-19/Influenza Vaccine
COVID-19 and Influenza vaccine are available for patients 6 months and older, especially those at higher risk of complications including pregnant women, older adults and young children. Vaccine protection decreases over time, so it's important for patients to stay up to date with annual vaccinations such as flu and COVID-19.
Like the flu vaccine, the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine is updated to give patients the best protection from currently circulating strains of the virus. People who are up to date with their vaccines have a lower risk of severe illness if they contract the virus.
RSV Vaccine
Sanford Health is also administering RSV vaccine for adults 75 and older, or those 60 through 74 years who have chronic underlying health conditions, such as:
- Heart or lung disease
- Weakened immune systems
- Living in skilled nursing or long-term care facilities
These recommendations are for adults who did not get an RSV vaccine last year. The RSV vaccine is currently not an annual vaccine, which means those who already received the vaccine do not need an additional dose this year.
In addition, pregnant people in their third trimester are encouraged to get a single dose of the RSV vaccine during weeks 32-36 of their pregnancy, between September and January.
Infants born during RSV season should receive a single dose of the RSV immunization within one week after birth if the mother was not vaccinated with the RSV vaccine during the third trimester of pregnancy. Parents should talk with their child's pediatrician for further guidance about the infant RSV immunization.
Patients can receive vaccine at their primary care clinic or by scheduling an appointment through My Sanford Chart.
About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America's heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization serves 1.4 million patients and nearly 200,000 health plan members across 250,000 square miles. The integrated health system has 45 hospitals, 211 clinic locations, more than 160 Good Samaritan Society senior living centers, 2,900 Sanford physicians and advanced practice providers, 540 active clinical trials, and nine world clinic locations around the globe. Learn more about Sanford Health's commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.