What’s the right way to wash your hands?
Handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent the spreading of infection and
illness. It’s especially important after being in public places. The Centers for
Disease Control offers these guidelines:
• Use running water and a mild bar or liquid soap.
• Rub your hands together to make a lather and scrub them well; be sure to scrub
the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails.
• Scrub your hands for at lesat 20 seconds. Need a timer? Hum “Happy Birthday”
twice from beginning to end.
• Rinse your hands well under running water.
• Dry hands with a clean, disposable (or single use) towel. Turn the faucet off
using the towel as a barrier between your hands and the faucet handle.
• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that
contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
The information provided in this document is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for your doctor’s care. Please discuss
with your doctor how the information provided may be right for you.. Insurance coverage provided by or through UnitedHealthcare Insurance
Company or its affiliates. Administrative services provided by UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their
affiliates.
© 2011 United HealthCare Services, Inc. OA100-5876 MBU301002-20778-000001A
My vaccine log
Vaccine:
Flu shot
(influenza)
Tdap/Td
(tetanus, diptheria and
pertussis)
Pneumovax®
(pneumococcal
disease)
Shingles vaccine
When to
get it:
Yearly
TDaP, once
Td, every 10 years
1-2 times
during your lifetime
Once during your
lifetime
Date received:
Received from
(health care
provider):
My next
vaccine is due:
Adult Vaccines
You’re all grown up. But you still need your shots.
Kids aren’t the only ones who need to get vaccines. The following shots can help protect you against viruses and diseases
as an adult. Talk with your doctor to learn more about these and other vaccines that may be right for you.
1
Protects
you from:
What is it?
How is it
spread?
What you
need
to know:
Flu shot
2
Tdap/Td
3
Pneumovax
®
4
Shingles vaccine
Several types of influenza
Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis
Infections caused by the pneumococcal
bacteria
Shingles caused by the varicella-zoster virus.
Influenza, better known as
the flu, is a highly contagious
respiratory infection. It can be
caused by a number of viruses.
Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis are
serious and sometimes deadly illnesses
caused by bacteria. Diphtheria can lead
to breathing problems and heart failure.
Pertussis, also known as “whooping cough,”
is very dangerous and can case pneumonia,
seizures, and brain damage. Tetanus is a
serious, painful illness that can lead to
muscle spasms and “locking” of the jaw.
Pneumovax helps prevent pneumococcal
infections which can lead to serious illnesses
such as pneumonia, blood poisoning and
meningitis.
Shingles is a disease caused by the varicellazoster virus. This is the same virus that causes
chickenpox. It can stay inactive in certain nerve
roots in your body for many years. For reasons
unknown, it can become active again, causing
the painful, blistery rash of shingles ­— usually
later in life.
The flu is spread by coughing,
sneezing and nasal drainage.
Diphtheria and pertussis are spread by
coughing and sneezing. Tetanus enters
through a cut or break in the skin.
It’s usually spread through coughing
and sneezing.
Shingles can’t be passed from person to person.
But a person with active shingles can spread the
virus that causes it through direct contact with
fluid from rash blisters. In such a case, the person
exposed to the virus might develop chickenpox,
but not shingles.
• People with chronic health
conditions are more likely
to experience serious
complications — and even
death — from the flu.
• Getting the flu shot every year
not only protects you, it also
helps protect your family
and friends.
• You can’t get the flu from a flu
shot. This is because it isn’t a
“live vaccine.”
• Pertussis can be serious and and even
deadly in babies. Caregivers can be ill with
it for months and pass it on to babies too
young to be vaccinated.
• Most tetanus deaths are among
older adults.
• It’s important to get a tetanus shot every
10 years.
• A one-time Tdap (tetanus, diptheria and
pertussis) vaccine can help protect against
pertussis. Ask your doctor when you
should receive this shot.
®
•P
neumococcal infections kill thousands of
people in the United States each year.
•P
eople ages 65 and older, or those ages 2 to
64 who have a chronic medical condition,
are at greater risk for getting pneumoncoccal
pneumonia.
• The shingles vaccine doesn’t protect against other
forms of herpes, such as genital herpes. And it isn’t
recommended to treat active shingles or postherpetic neuralgia (pain after the rash is gone)
once it develops.
• Almost one out of three Americans will have
shingles in his or her lifetime.
• In 2010, nearly 1 million Americans had shingles.
• Older adults are at greater risk for shingles. In fact,
men and women ages 60 and older account for
about half of all cases.
Don’t wait to protect you and your loved ones by getting important vaccines. Talk with your doctor today about which vaccines are right for you.