Dr. Amy Wright
Amy Wright is currently a second-year Family Medicine resident at the Washington Health System Family Medicine Program. She has spent her life in Southwestern Pennsylvania, growing up in a small town north of Pittsburgh (Ford City) before graduating from Seton Hill University with a degree in Biology. She then attended Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Seton Hill campus, most recently moving to Washington for residency. When not at work or studying, she enjoys spending time with her family, also living in Western PA, hiking/exploring the region, as well as reading, writing, and enjoying music and movies.
National Immunization Awareness Month
August is National Immunization Awareness Month, which is a great time to discuss how important vaccinations are for people of all ages.
Being up to date on your vaccinations is important to protect both yourself and your loved ones, as well as our communities as a whole. You can protect yourself and others from diseases as common as the seasonal flu, as well as more serious diseases such as measles, meningitis, or HPV, a virus that could lead to cancer.
While many of us think of childhood immunizations- which prevent a variety of severe illnesses, help to develop a child’s immune system and are often recommended or mandatory for school, it is important to stay up to date on vaccines throughout the entire lifespan. This is especially true if you have health conditions such as diabetes or you smoking cigarettes or use vaping products. Other situations that are important to consider vaccinations for are if your work or personal life often exposes you to those that are elderly, sick, expecting a child, or if you are considering traveling to other countries.
If you have any questions or concerns about vaccinations, it is totally normal, and you should consult your doctor about what vaccinations would most benefit you or are recommended for someone your age or with your health conditions. If you have more concerns or questions after speaking to your primary care doctor, you should consult the cdc.gov website for more information.