August is a time to harvest our gardens, think about the last official month of summer and to plan to go back to school.

August is also National Immunization Awareness Month. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, immunizations (or vaccinations) aren’t just for babies and young kids. We all need shots to help protect us from serious diseases and illness.

Now is the time to review your immunization records for you and your family - children, adults and grandparents all need vaccinations to stay healthy.

What do we need to stay healthy?

Here is a brief sample of what we need at different points in our lives. Everyone older than 6 months needs a seasonal flu shot every year. Here are some other shots people need at different ages:

Young children: • Children younger than 6 get a series of shots to protect against measles, polio, chicken pox and hepatitis.

Preteens: • All 11- and 12-year-olds need shots to help protect against tetanus, pertussis, diphtheria, whooping cough, meningitis and a chicken pox booster. • Also both boys and girls are now recommended to get the HPV vaccine to protect against the most common cause of cervical cancer and genital warts.

Adults: • All adults need a tetanus shot every 10 years. • Also all adults are now recommended to get the pertussis vaccine. • People age 65 need a one-time pneumonia shot and shingles vaccine. • Some adults may want to consider a shingles vaccine. • Talk to your doctor or nurse about which shots you and your family need.

Information is usually available from your primary care physician as well as available through the Washtenaw County website. Of particular interest is becoming protected against whooping cough or pertussis. This is a serious communicable illness that is growing in our community. Here is a link to learn more about how to protect you and your family from this preventable disease. Influenza vaccines will be released this fall and is also an important component of preventing illness.

Insurance usually covers the cost of vaccines. Children on MIChild will have their vaccinations covered. Medicare will cover adults older than 65 for influenza and pneumonia vaccines. For assistance check with your primary care provider or check with the Washtenaw County Health department for the fee schedule and times that immunizations, including flu shots are available.

Many communicable diseases (those illnesses easily transmitted) can now be prevented through vaccines. Many diseases, such as polio have been eradicated in this country and throughout much of the world through vaccination programs. Please be sure you protect yourself and your family by keeping your vaccinations up to date.