Immunizations are important to keep up Published Aug. 7, 2008 By Danielle Gregory Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- Keeping up with proper vaccinations saves thousands of lives every year. August is recognized as National Immunization Month and is viewed as the perfect time to remind family, friends, co-workers and those in the community to become current on all of their vaccinations. The big push is because schools are beginning the new year and healthcare organizations are preparing for the cold and flu season. On Tinker Air Force Base the Immunization Clinic services all Tri-Care beneficiaries. "As long as the patron has a military ID card we are willing to vaccinate. If the patient is not normally seen in this clinic it is very beneficial for them to bring in a previous shot record, so that we can keep all vaccinations on one form for them. The pediatric clinic can also administer vaccines to children that are seen by a provider there," said Staff Sgt. Tiffany Gordon, 72nd Medical Group Immunization Clinic. According to the Center for Disease Control by immunizing all babies born in the U.S. in a given year will prevent 14 million infections and save 33,000 lives and $10 billion in medical costs by the time children reach adolescence. For adults, it's important to remember that some vaccines need boosters, like tetanus for example, which is needed every ten years. Vaccinations could prevent illnesses that have the potential to hospitalize or kill. "Influenza season usually kicks off in late September, but this time of year is normally busiest for school required vaccines. In Oklahoma that includes tetanus, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, polio, mumps, measles, rubella, and chickenpox. We also see a lot of vaccinations required for international travel as families take vacations. In order to know what vaccinations are needed for foreign travel we first refer them to Force Health," said Sergeant Gordon. Although vaccines are not proven 100 percent effective in every individual, they're the best defense that the medical field currently has to fight epidemics that in the past, affected large numbers of people. "We will be posting additional information for our patients throughout the hospital, and sending flyers to the child development centers so that parents remember to bring their child in to the clinic. It's very important for parents to remember their own immunizations as well as their child's," said Sergeant Gordon. The Immunization Clinic is open Monday thru Friday 7:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The phone number is 736-2225.