National Infant Immunization Week, August 19-26

Visit the CDC's website for information about National Infant Immunization Week.

Flu Vaccine

Why Get Vaccinated?

Influenza ("flu") is a serious disease. It is caused by a virus that spreads from infected persons to the nose or throat of others. Influenza can cause: Anyone can get influenza. Most people are ill with influenza for only a few days, however some require hospitalization. Influenza causes an average of 36,000 deaths, mostly among the elderly. Influenza vaccine can prevent influenza!

The best time to get your vaccine is in October or November. Anyone who wants to lower their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated, although certain high risk groups (PDF) including the elderly are encouraged to be vaccinated. More from the CDC about flu and flu vaccines & What You Need To Know (PDF) about the inactivated vaccine.

Get Your Shot Today!

Here some of the pharmacies in and around Little Rock where you can get your flu shot in 2006! UAMS College of Pharmacy Students will be assisting pharmacists at many of these locations!

To get your shot in Little Rock, visit your local Kroger or Walgreens. Flu shots are $30 at Kroger and $25 at Walgreens.

What Are The Types of Flu Vaccines?

Two types of influenza vaccine are now available. Inactivated (killed) influenza vaccine, given as a shot, has been used in the United States for many years. A live, weakened vaccine was licensed in 2003. It is sprayed into the nostrils. You can read more about the benefits and risk of the intranasal spray on FluMist's site.

HPV Vaccine

Why Get Vaccinated?

Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in women worldwide, resulting in nearly a half-million diagnoses and 240,000 deaths each year. In the United States an average of 10 women die each day from cervical cancer. One of the causes of this condition is a virus known as the Human Papillomavirus or HPV. HPV is a common virus that can cause the cells in the lining of the cervix to change from normal to precancerous. In 2005, it was estimated that 20 million people in the United States had this virus. For most people the virus does not pose a problem, however in certain, high-risk types of HPV, it can lead to cervical cancer.

A new vaccine has been unanimously approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the prevention of certain types of the HPV virus, and ultimately cervical cancer. It is recommended that girls and women ages 11 to 26 years of age be vaccinated with this vaccine. While the vaccine will not replace regular doctor visits or routine pap smears, it is a necessary next step to lessen the burden of this disease. More from the CDC about HPV and HPV vaccines & What You Need To Know (PDF) about the vaccine.