by Kristina Morris
Last week I had the pleasure of speaking with an elder in a YK-region village that is experiencing high rates of pertussis, also known as whooping cough. She mentioned that she has been around “long enough” to see what can happen when vaccine-preventable illnesses spread and how happy she is “that we have shots to help protect us”.
She shared that she tells her family and friends in person and in Facebook posts that they should get vaccinated. I greatly appreciated her point of view and the time she has taken to encourage others to protect themselves and their community.
My name is Kristina Morris and I am a family nurse practitioner at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation. During my three years at YKHC, I have had the honor of taking care of many families across the Yukon-Kuskokwim region.
I am writing today to invite you and your family to get their fall vaccinations at YKHC. Every adult and child ages 6 months and older should get flu and COVID shots. Additionally, immunizations to protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are recommended for all babies under 9 months, all Alaskan Native babies and toddlers under 20 months, pregnant women, and people over age 65.
Respiratory illnesses, such as flu, COVID, and RSV tend to increase in the fall and winter as we spend more time inside. Increased spread of respiratory illness happens every fall and winter and this year especially we are also seeing higher than normal rates of whooping cough (pertussis) in the region.
Fortunately, there is a vaccination to protect against this as well! It is the DTAP vaccine for the smaller kiddos and the TDAP vaccine for the older kiddos and adults.
Immunizations are incredibly effective at protecting people against serious illness from diseases. They keep people from getting as sick, help them recover more quickly and reduce the chance of hospitalization. When more people are immunized, there is less disease in a community, which helps protect our vulnerable members like elders and babies.
Once you receive your fall shots you can just sit back and let your body do all the work to improve your immunity! It takes about two weeks for your body to offer increased protection against all the common respiratory germs that are spreading.
YKHC is working hard to ensure everyone has easy access to fall immunizations. You can schedule an appointment by calling your village health clinic or by calling 907-543-6442 in Bethel.
To find out the latest on immunization availability, visit www.ykhc.org/respiratory-illness. I would also encourage you to check and be sure that you and your loved ones are up to date on other recommended routine immunizations as well.
This fall, let us protect each other from preventable illnesses. As the elder in the village does, please reach out and remind your friends and family, either in person or online, “that we have shots to help protect us”.
Be well.
-Kristina Morris, Family Nurse Practitioner at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation.
