Passport Health Northern Ohio, Local News

What's new in 2012 Flu Vaccine

2012-09-05T10:42:00.001-07:00

What’s New with Flu?

It seems that people have one of two general responses when the subject
of flu and flu vaccination is raised. Either they say, “We always get the flu
shot,” or else something along the lines of, “We don’t believe in the flu
shot.” Regardless of which group you fall into, it’s highly likely that we’re in
for a worse flu season than the incredibly mild one we had this past winter.

In the past year several new developments have occurred regarding flu
(medically known as “influenza”) and flu prevention. There is now a higherpotency
flu vaccine approved for seniors 65 years and older. Check with
your doctor to find out whether it’s available and right for you.

Two of the three components of this year’s flu vaccine have been
changed. Since flu viruses have the ability to adapt and change over time,
this year’s vaccine will provide protection against two newer strains,
influenza B and H3N2. Both of these flu viruses have been spreading over
the past 6-9 months in countries south of the equator, where their winter
flu season is now coming to a close. These viruses are expected to reach
the U.S. this fall. The third component of this year’s flu vaccine will
continue to provide protection against H1N1, the virus responsible for the
worldwide pandemic of 2009-2010.

Public health officials are closely following the emergence and possible
spread of a “variant” swine-related flu strain which has infected twenty or
more individuals in the midwest. Several public health advisories were
issued this summer for the public to avoid close contact with or handling
pigs at venues such as state fairs.

Another recent development has been the approval by the Food and Drug
Administration given to one of the larger pharmaceutical companies for its
vaccine providing protection against four flu strains. Don’t be surprised if
the use of a “quadrivalent” flu vaccine becomes more popular a year from
now.

Lastly, clinics in New York reported that text messaging reminders to
patients to get a flu shot increased the numbers who did. In all likelihood,
savvy businesses and health care systems will figure out ways to employ
newer technologies to increase the number of friends and employees who
get vaccinated this year.

Brad Gascoigne, M.D.
Smart Readers

Beware of Ingesting Wire Bristles from Grill-Cleaning Brushes

2012-08-01T13:16:00.001-07:00

Beware of Ingesting Wire Bristles from Grill-Cleaning Brushes There was an incident which occurred in mid-July involving needles found in sandwiches aboard several airline flights which had departed from Amsterdam to the United States. At least one passenger suffered a puncture wound to the roof of his mouth and required medical treatment. The story received fairly wide coverage in the television and print media. Hopefully the episode was a onetime action on the part of a disturbed or disgruntled individual. There’s another potential metal-ingestion hazard which has received less widespread attention than the Amsterdam airline incident but which may be an even more common threat. In early July a public health journal issued a report about the accidental swallowing of wire bristles contained in food cooked on home barbeque grills. The source of the bristles were grill-cleaning brushes. Between the months of March 2011 and June 2012 a total of six patients were treated in two Rhode Island emergency departments after unknowingly ingesting wire bristles. Three of the individuals complained of severe pain on swallowing. X-rays revealed the presence of the metal foreign objects, and removal of the wires with the aid of a laryngoscope was successful in all three patients. The other three individuals had severe abdominal pain as their main symptom. CT (computed tomography) scans were able to detect the source of the problem. In two patients the ingested wire had perforated the small intestine, and abdominal surgery was required to remove the object. In the third patient, the wire had traveled to the distal colon and was pressing upon the bladder. It was successfully removed via colonoscopy. All six patients had eaten meats cooked on home barbeque grills which they had cleaned before grilling with brushes containing wire bristles. Five of the six individuals were males. The patients’ ages ranged from 31-64 years. In at least one case the grilled meat was steak. Hamburger patties were suggested as another possible food source. While such accidental ingestions are uncommon, they may occur more often than is generally recognized. Since 2009 at least seven other patients have been described with similar accidents. One medical report in 2009 described a wire which had caused an abscess infection in an individual’s mouth below the tongue. The next time you or your friends grill food on a home barbeque and a grill-cleaning brush with wire bristles has been used to clean the grill, double check the surface of the grill to be sure wire bristles haven’t been accidentally left behind to become part of the meal you’ll be consuming. Brad Gascoigne, M.D. Smart Readers Health Column

Dengue fever reported in Pakistan earlier than previous years

2012-03-21T08:08:00.002-07:00

Pakistan reporting dengue fever cases earlier than normal
Published on March 19, 2012 by Jeffrey Bigongiari

Dengue fever
Even without monsoon rains and high temperatures, public health experts have already started registering cases of dengue fever this year in Karachi, Pakistan.

Dr. Shakeel Aamir Mullick, the head of the Dengue Surveillance Cell at Civil Hospital, said that 29 cases of the fever have been reported and treated since the beginning of January. Four cases of dengue were identified last week, according to Tribune.com.

“This disease is like influenza, which affects people throughout the year,” Mullick said, Tribune.com reports.

Dengue cases are expected to surge in between August and November. Typically, according to the provincial surveillance authorities, the first quarter of the year sees relatively few cases.

Mullick said that 15 cases were reported in the first six months of 2011, but that the number then skyrocketed in the second half of the year.

All of the cases reported so far in Sindh province have occurred in Karachi. Last year, out of 1,079 dengue cases in the region, 858 were located in city, Tribune.com reports.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne infection that is a leading cause of illness and death in the tropics and subtropics. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that as many as 100 million people are infected with dengue every year.
This entry was published in Medical Countermeasuresvaccinenewsdaily.com/medical_countermeasures/318255-pakistan-reporting-dengue-fever-cases-earlier-than-normal/

Where are my (or my child's) immunization records?

2012-03-14T12:55:00.000-07:00

There is no central repository of vaccination records. The only records that exist are the ones you or your parents were given when the vaccines were administered, and the ones in the medical record of the doctor or clinic where the vaccines were given. Sometimes schools hold the vaccination records of children who attended, but these records are usually not kept for more than a year or two.

If you cannot locate your personal record or the record from your doctor, it may be necessary to repeat some of the vaccines or arrange blood tests to determine your immunity.
Where can I look for existing immunization records?

Children's records

* Try calling your local or state health department's immunization program.
* Sometimes schools hold the vaccination records of children who attended, but these records are generally not kept for more than a year or two or, at the longest, until graduation. After a student graduates, records are sent to storage and may not be accessible.
* Look for family records such as a baby book.
* Check for records with your doctor or public health clinic. Please keep in mind, however, that immunization records are maintained for a limited number of years, and then usually only by the medical provider who actually administered the vaccines.

College student's records

* Many colleges provide vaccinations (often, certain vaccinations are required for enrollment). Contact your college's medical services department (student health) for further information. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/immuniz-records.htm

Traveling Safely with Infants & Children - Passport Health Can Help

2012-02-28T07:35:00.000-08:00

Traveling Safely with Infants & Children (partial article from CDC Yellow Book 2012)

Nicholas Weinberg, Michelle Weinberg, Susan A. Maloney
OVERVIEW

"The number of children who travel or live outside their home countries has increased dramatically. An estimated 1.9 million children travel internationally each year. Although data about the incidence of pediatric illnesses associated with international travel are limited, the risks that children face while traveling are likely similar to the risks that their parents face. The most commonly reported health problems among children are:

Diarrheal illnesses
Dermatologic conditions
Systemic febrile illnesses, especially malaria
Respiratory disorders

Motor vehicle and water-related accidents are also major health problems for child travelers. In assessing a child who is planning international travel, clinicians should:

Review routine childhood and travel-related vaccinations. The pre-travel visit is an opportunity to ensure that children are up to date on routine vaccinations.
Assess all travel-related activities.
Provide preventive counseling and interventions tailored to specific risks, including special travel preparations and treatment that may be required for children with underlying conditions, chronic diseases, or immunocompromising conditions.
Give special consideration to the risks of children who are visiting friends and relatives in developing countries. These conditions may include increased risk of malaria, intestinal parasites, and tuberculosis.
Consider counseling adults and older children to take a course in basic first aid before travel."

Good News on Breast Cancer

2012-02-07T11:11:00.000-08:00

Some Good News Regarding Breast Cancer

Amongst all the tragic stories dealing with breast cancer, one published last month provided some clarity and perhaps some hope. The Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a foundation dedicated to research and education related to breast cancer, commissioned the study asking what environmental factors affect breast cancer. Here are some of the facts regarding what is known and what is yet to be determined.

Members of the study commission concluded that the following are not responsible for causing breast cancer: hair dyes, microwave ovens, and cell phones. That information may provide some measure of peace of mind for some women.

Then there is another group of environmental exposures, such as pesticides and industrial chemicals, about which too little is currently known to say whether or not they are a risk for breast cancer. Further research is clearly needed.

Then there are the causes about which there is general agreement that they do increase the risk for breast cancer. Postmenopausal hormones containing both estrogen and progestin are a risk. Once this association was recognized a decade ago, the use of these hormones decreased sharply in the U.S. and the incidence of breast cancer began to decline.

A second recognized risk factor for developing breast cancer is “gaining excess weight after menopause.” The report doesn’t specify exactly how much is too much.

A third risk about which there is general agreement is ionizing radiation resulting from overuse of CT (computed tomography) scans. One scientist quoted in the Jan. 4, 2012 issue of JAMA noted that “the amount of ionizing radiation from 3 abdominal CT scans is equivalent to levels that Japanese women were exposed to in the World War II atomic bomb explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.”
The next time your physician or emergency department doctor tells you that you need a CT scan, be sure to question why and ask whether watchful waiting is an option.

Brad Gascoigne, M.D.
Smart Readers Health Column

Machu Pichu, Peru

2012-01-17T13:03:00.000-08:00

Christine writes "Great trip - can't recommend it enough! We crossed Salkantay Pass at 15,000+ feet, an alt. record for our hiking. Thanks to Eileen (Passport Health Northern Ohio) for "hooking us up with the good stuff" before we left! One less thing to worry about!"

Travel to India, China, Indonesia in your future? Think Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine!

2012-01-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

From the Center for Disease Control recently....

Japanese encephalitis vaccine is recommended for travelers to Asia who:

plan to spend at least a month in areas where JE occurs
are traveling to these areas for less than a month but plan to visit rural areas or engage in outdoor activities.
go to areas where there is a JE outbreak or are not sure of their travel plans.
Laboratory workers at risk for exposure to JE virus should also get JE vaccine.
JE vaccine is approved only for people 17 years of age and older. Younger people needing protection from Japanese encaphalitis should talk with their doctor.
The vaccine is given as a 2-dose series, with the doses spaced 28 days apart. The second dose should be given at least 1 week before travel.

A booster dose of JE vaccine may be given to anyone who was vaccinated more than one year ago and is still at risk of exposure, or might be re-exposed. Your doctor can give more information.

See; CDC / Japanese encephalitis vaccine

Why Hepatitis B vaccine highly recommended for those with diabetes

2012-01-10T15:31:00.000-08:00

Hepatitis B Vaccine Recommended for Diabetics

As you’re probably aware, more and more Americans are being diagnosed with diabetes. The reasons include more obesity, less physical exercise, and genetics.

You’re probably also aware of hepatitis B, a potentially serious and sometimes fatal infection of the liver caused by hepatitis B virus. We don’t usually think of diabetes and hepatitis as being related, but there is an increased risk of becoming infected with hepatitis B if you’re a diabetic. The risk is present whether one has type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

Since the early 1990s newborns and infants in the United States have routinely been vaccinated against hepatitis B, so most children and teenagers in the U.S. are now protected against this infection. Most adults are not.

This past fall the influential ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) recommended that all previously unvaccinated adult diabetics from 19 through 59 years of age be vaccinated with the hepatitis B vaccine “as soon as possible after a diagnosis of diabetes is made.” The recommendation was given an “A” category rating, its highest endorsement, based on the strength of the data. In late December 2011 the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) published this recommendation in its weekly report.

For those who like figures, here are the benefits according to the CDC if 10% of unvaccinated adult diabetics in the U.S. got vaccinated against hepatitis B: 4271 fewer hepatitis B infections, 467 fewer hospitalizations, 33 cases of liver cancer prevented, 13 liver transplants avoided, and 130 fewer deaths. And that’s if only 10% of those eligible got vaccinated.

For diabetics 60 and older, the evidence supporting vaccination isn’t as strong. Part of the reason has to do with immune response in seniors. The younger one is when vaccinated, the better the vaccine works. (I wouldn’t be surprised if that recommendation were to change to a full endorsement of hepatitis B vaccination for seniors with diabetes in the not-too-distant future.)

For now, the vaccine is strongly “recommended” for adult diabetics 19-59 which means that your health insurance will likely cover its cost for you if you’re in this category. Millions of American adults are.

Brad Gascoigne, M.D.
Smart Readers Health Column

Yellow Fever spreads in Brazil...get your vaccine before travel.

2011-12-20T13:24:00.000-08:00

CDC / Yellow Fever in Brazil
Center for Disease Control and Prevention: update December 19, 2011

Current Situation

Yellow fever is a risk for travelers to most areas of Brazil, except coastal regions. During 2009, an outbreak of yellow fever, including a number of deaths, occurred in parts of southeastern Brazil that had not been affected by yellow fever for many years.

In response, the Brazil Ministry of Health has gradually expanded the list of municipalities for which yellow fever vaccination is recommended in the four southeastern states of São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul
.
Globally, yellow fever occurs in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America and is spread to people through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Symptoms can include sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, backache, nausea, and vomiting.

Yellow Fever Risk Areas in Brazil
Currently, Brazil and CDC recommend yellow fever vaccination for travelers to the following states:

All areas of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Distrito Federal (including the capital city of Brasília), Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, and Tocantins.
Other designated areas of the following states: Bahia, Paraná, Piauí, Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo. Vaccination is also recommended for travelers visiting Iguassu Falls.

Source: CDC / Yellow Fever in Brazil, update

A Doctor's Vaccine Christmas Wish List

2011-12-06T11:17:00.000-08:00

Christmas Wish List

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had a vaccine to prevent tooth cavities? That possibility isn’t as far-fetched as you might think. For cavities to occur, they need sugar, plaque and bacteria, and the bacteria responsible for cavities in humans are lactobacillus and a type of streptococcus. I checked this week with three of my favorite dentists to confirm that there has been a lot of effort expended towards developing a vaccine that would protect us from ever getting cavities.

How about a vaccine against acne? The germ responsible for pimples and scars is propionibacterium acnes. It’s a bacteria against which we have antibiotics such as tetracycline and erythromycin. A vaccine which prevented acne would be welcome news for the complexions of millions of teenagers and young adults.

Here are a few others on my wish list. We currently have great vaccines against hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Whoever invents a vaccine against hepatitis C will be a rich man or woman.

Some day we’ll likely have a herpes vaccine. It’s a bit complicated, however, because there’s genital herpes and oral herpes and a few other cousins. A herpes vaccine might not help the more than 80 million Americans already infected with this virus, but it would be a boon for those in the future.

In many parts of the world, malaria is an everyday threat. An effective malaria vaccine could prevent an estimated 300-500 million infections per year.

It’s been more than twenty years since AIDS was first recognized as a new disease and HIV was identified as the virus responsible. Many thought that we would have a vaccine against HIV by the mid-1990s. Unfortunately, this virus has proven to be exceedingly resistant thus far to researchers’ efforts to come up with a safe and effective vaccine.

Lastly, MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus) is a miserable bacteria that’s responsible for pneumonia and bloodstream infections, both in hospitals and in our communities. My Dad died as a result of an overwhelming staph infection, so I’ve always had a healthy respect for this particular bacteria. Selfishly, a vaccine against staph is at the top of my list.

Brad Gascoigne, M.D.
Smart Readers Health Column

Better Hearing and Speech Month

2011-11-19T13:18:00.000-08:00

May is “Better Hearing and Speech Month,” and in the fall we have “National Protect Your Hearing Month.” Both of these designations help remind us that good hearing is
not something we should take for granted.

The American Audiology Association (www.audiology.com) provides a helpful chart of levels of noise. Faint noises, like leaves rustling, are in the 20 decibel (dB) range. At the other end of the spectrum are “Painful & Dangerous” noises, e.g. fireworks and jackhammers, in the 130-140 dB range. Here’s a more complete listing:
20 dB leaves rustling
30 dB whispers
40 dB quiet library
50 dB moderate rainfall
60 dB normal conversation
70 dB traffic, vacuums
80 dB alarm clocks
90 dB lawnmowers, power tools, hair dryers
100 dB snowmobiles, MP3 players at full volume
110 dB concerts, car horns, sporting events
120 dB jet planes during take off
130 dB jackhammers, ambulances
140 dB fireworks, gun shots, custom car stereos at full volume

A large study released last summer reported that the prevalence of hearing loss in adolescents in the U.S. has increased in recent years. However, as the list above suggests, it’s not just teenagers who are being exposed to a myriad of loud noises.

Exposure to any noise over 85 decibels for a period of 30 minutes or longer is considered dangerous and can result in permanent hearing loss. Noise at 120 dB and above can damage one’s hearing in 30 seconds or less.

I recently asked Dr. Gail Murray, Director of Audiology Services at University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, for her advice. She said that she had ear plugs form- fitted for her ears and that she carries them with her to use when she finds herself exposed to unavoidable loud noise.

What have you done lately to protect your hearing?

Brad Gascoigne, M.D.
Smart Readers Health Column

Try Adding Up Your Calcium Intake

2011-09-20T12:26:00.000-07:00

Much has been written over the past couple of years about the important role vitamin D plays in our overall metabolism and the health of our bones. Overlooked to some degree, perhaps, has been the fact that it’s calcium which is the real key when it comes to maintaining bone strength.

The Institute of Medicine early this year updated its recommendations regarding calcium. For the first time ever the recommendations cover both the lower limits (RDA or Recommended Daily Allowances) as well as safe upper limits. In regards to calcium intake, how do you fare?

Think back over the past 24 hours and try to recall how much calcium you’ve consumed. Here are some common calcium sources:

______ 8 ounce glass of milk (300 mg)
______ 6 ounce serving of yogurt (about 200 mg)
______ 6 ounce glass of calcium-fortified juice (200 mg)
______ 1 ounce of hard cheese (200 mg)
______ salmon, tuna or sardines (varies) (about 200 mg)
______ 1/2 cup of turnip greens (100 mg)
______ 1/4 cup of almonds (100 mg)
______ 1 cup of beans or chickpeas (about 100 mg)
______ adult daily multiple vitamin (100-500 mg)
______ calcium supplement (e.g. TUMS) (200-600 mg)

Now add up your past-24-hour calcium intake. Teens are supposed to get 1300 mg/day. Men need 1000 mg till age 70 and then 1200 mg per day thereafter. Women are advised to take in 1000 mg/day till age 50 and then 1200 mg/day. How close are you to the new RDAs?

Intakes over 2000 mg per day might put you at risk for kidney stones or other problems, so check with your physician if you think you might be consuming too much calcium. Most of us, however, have the opposite problem: too little daily calcium. If you’re falling short of your body’s calcium requirements, drink an extra glass of milk this evening. When you get older, your bones will thank you.

Brad Gascoigne, M.D.
Smart Readers Health Column

Super-Flu Shots for Seniors

2011-09-06T09:35:00.000-07:00

Two autumns ago Americans were anxiously awaiting the arrival of what had first been called “swine flu” and then officially became known as novel H1N1 influenza. In June 2009 the World Health Organization had issued its warning about an official “world pandemic.” By the end of the 2009-2010 winter flu season, millions of Americans had come down with the flu and between 10,000 and 20,000 had died from flu-related illnesses. A surprisingly large percentage of those who died were teenagers and young adults who had previously been in the prime of health.

Last winter’s flu season was comparatively mild. The peak of the flu season didn’t arrive until February, and numbers of flu cases were down in all regions of the country.

What can we expect this fall and winter? It’s reasonable to assume that our flu season won’t be as mild as last year’s was, as viruses have a way of mutating over time and becoming more infectious. On the other hand, it’s also not likely that we’ll see a flu season as bad as we had two years ago, since no dramatically new flu strains have appeared thus far in the Southern Hemisphere where it’s been winter south of the equator.

Flu vaccination will continue to be recommended for just about everyone 6 months of age and older. Those for whom flu vaccination is especially important are seniors, infants and young children, pregnant women, and health care workers. And for anyone else not wishing to miss a week or more of work or school.

This year there is now available a “senior strength” flu virus vaccine with the brand name “Fluzone High-Dose.” It was actually licensed by the Food and Drug Administration a year ago, and it will be more widely marketed by its producer Sanofi Pasteur this year. It has been known for many years that those 65 and older don’t produce as high an antibody response to the flu vaccine components (known as antigens) as do younger adults. The new higher-dose vaccine has 4 times the amount of antigen in it and produces approximately 40% higher antibody levels than does the standard flu vaccine. The new vaccine has been shown to be safe in clinical trials, but it has not yet been proven that higher antibody levels will necessarily result in less flu.

The cost of Fluzone High-Dose is covered for those with Medicare Part B. It will be interesting to learn over the coming one to two flu seasons whether this senior-strength vaccine is as great a value as is the usual flu vaccine.

Brad Gascoigne, M.D.

The Next Epidemic

2011-08-24T12:19:00.001-07:00

All of us know about AIDS and the terrible toll this infection has taken around the world over the past two to three decades. Most of us are aware that tuberculosis remains a major threat. How many of us realize the extent of the worldwide spread of hepatitis?

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently established the first World Hepatitis Day which was observed on July 28, 2011. Among the nearly seven billion people living on this planet, nearly 500 million suffer from chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C. That figure translates to 7% of the world’s population.

There are several different types of hepatitis virus ranging from hepatitis A to G. All can cause inflammation of the liver and lead to yellow jaundice, nausea, lethargy and weight loss. Severe cases can be fatal. If a person’s body successfully fights off the infection, the individual recovers within a few weeks and the infection is viewed as “acute.” If the infection persists for six months or longer, it is termed “chronic” and will often last for years and even decades. According to the WHO, approximately one million people died from chronic hepatitis B or chronic hepatitis C last year.

If there’s good news to be found in this regard, it’s that a large majority of hepatitis cases are preventable. There are effective vaccines available against hepatitis A and hepatitis B. These vaccines are commonly given to infants and children in the United States (and hopefully, someday, to children throughout the world). Several types of hepatitis are totally preventable by practicing safe sex, by not injecting drugs of abuse, and by not sharing razors or blood-sugar-testing devices.

For further information about acute or chronic hepatitis, go to http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis. By the time we reach the second World Hepatitis Day in July 2012, it will be interesting to see how we have fared both in the U.S. and in the rest of the world against this under-recognized epidemic.

Brad Gascoigne, M.D.
Smart Readers Health Column

The Daily Beast ranks Cleveland as the #7 sickest city

2011-03-22T12:18:00.000-07:00

Online news site The Daily Beast compiled a list of the 20 sickest cities in America.

Cleveland came in at #7.

The index took into consideration a variety of factors, including a city's SDI Health ranking, statewide vaccination coverage, Influenza and pneumonia deaths per 100,000 people and estimated flu activity during the rest of flu season.

Cleveland's vaccination rate is under 65%. Vaccination is the cheapest and most effective forms of preventative medicine available and can not only keep you out of the hospital, but can save your life. Don't put it off!

Source: The Daily Beast

Flu on the rise in Northeast Ohio

2011-02-15T11:05:00.000-08:00

After a relatively uneventful start of flu season in the United States, it looks like the seasonal flu is finally starting to strike Northeast Ohio. The CDC is now showing that flu is widespread in 30 states - including Ohio.

"Cuyahoga County saw a doubling in flu cases last week, said Richard Stacklin, a researcher with the county Board of Health." The CDC this year offers a universal recommendation for flu vaccination. It's cheap, quick, and the most effective way of ensuring you don't get the flu this winter.

Passport Health still carries the flu vaccine. Call our office at 216.295.9400 for an appointment. Mention this blog and receive $5 off.

Source: Cleveland.com

Vaccines and Autism: A Story of Medicine, Science and Fear

2011-02-08T09:16:00.000-08:00

We can't emphasize enough the importance of routine vaccinations for children. Vaccines are the most effective and most economical way to prevent deadly diseases - they helped us exterminate the scourge of smallpox and nearly eliminate polio.

Diane Rehm's show from February 2 talks about the fear associated with vaccines and addresses much of the misinformation surrounding them. I encourage everyone to listen to this important program in order to understand the truth about vaccines and the risks we face as a society by choosing not to vaccinate our children against preventable illnesses.

Click the listen link on this page to hear the episode of the Diane Rehm show from NPR/WAMU.

If you or your child are not up-to-date on routine vaccines--particularly for critical illnesses such as whooping cough--please call Passport Health to schedule an appointment today.

The flu vaccine: separating the truth from myth

2011-01-25T09:02:00.000-08:00

There's a lot of misinformation out there about flu vaccines. It's important to know what the truth it as we make decisions about the health and wellness of our families.

The article linked below was published in this morning's edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and addresses the following three myths about the flu vaccine:
1) Flu myth: The flu shot gives you the flu. "But the shot itself giving you the flu? Impossible, all three docs say."

2) Only unhealthy/old/sick/infirm people are really in danger from the flu. "...while it's true that the very young, the elderly, pregnant women and those with certain chronic health conditions are at greatest risk from influenza, healthy people get seriously ill and even die from the flu every year."

3) Flu myth: The flu vaccine is dangerous. "Study after study after study has shown no link between vaccines and autism,"

4) Flu myth: I got vaccinated last year, so I don't need a shot this year. "...last year's vaccine may offer you some protection this year, Congeni says, but it's unlikely you'll be fully protected." Some people are lucky enough to only have mild illness or have what is called a "subclinical" infection, one that is so mild it doesn't even cause noticeable symptoms

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2011/01/the_flu_vaccine_separating_the.html

George Clooney Contracted Malaria In Sudan

2011-01-20T12:38:00.000-08:00

Don't be like George Clooney and travel unprepared to the Sudan. The actor recently contracted malaria on a recent trip. Make sure that when you travel to malaria-stricken regions, you bring along proper anti-malaria medication!

Malaria caught on camera breaking and entering cell

2011-01-20T11:52:00.001-08:00

From the New Scientist:
"The video above captures the moment when a malaria parasite invades a human red blood cell - the first time the event has been caught in moving pictures."

Two Doses of Chickenpox Vaccine Recommended

2011-01-11T09:59:00.000-08:00

Recent outbreaks of the chickenpox among vaccinated children suggest a need for a second vaccine in order to preserve immunity.

As reported by NPR: "A study that measured antibodies and the disease history of more than 200 kids found that two doses of vaccine was 98 percent effective in preventing chicken pox compared with 86 percent for a single dose. The results appear in the latest issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases."

If you have any questions, call Passport Health or your child's pediatrician. Passport Health Northern Ohio actively carries the chickenpox vaccine.

Source: NPR.org

Medical journal: Study linking autism, vaccines is 'elaborate fraud'

2011-01-06T06:48:00.000-08:00

As reported in just about every news source imaginable this morning (CNN, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and The Telegraph to name a few), the infamously inimitable study by Andrew Wakefield linking MMR vaccination and autism in children has been declared an "elaborate fraud," according to the British Medical Journal BMJ:

BMJ, which published the results of its investigation, concluded Dr. Andrew Wakefield misrepresented or altered the medical histories of all 12 of the patients whose cases formed the basis of the 1998 study -- and that there was "no doubt" Wakefield was responsible. The journalist who wrote the BMJ articles said Thursday he believes Wakefield should face criminal charges.

Wakefield's fraudulent research helped to ignite an anti-vaccination movement in the UK and United States that has led to a resurgence of diseases such as whooping cough, killing and sickening scores of people.

The British government stripped Wakefield of his medical license in May, around the same time that the

Britain stripped Wakefield of his medical license in May, following the February 2, 2010 full retraction of the original article by its publisher, The Lancet. In May, The American Journal of Gastroenterology retracted a study making further use of Wakefield's data.

Uganda plans to vaccinate 2.5m against Yellow Fever to fight outbreak

2010-12-30T09:54:00.000-08:00

Following the first yellow fever outbreak in Uganda since 1972, the government of the country has announced that it will vaccinate 2.5 million people against the disease. The current outbreak, which is reported to have started approximately 2 months ago, has killed 48 people.

"We are doing all we can to contain the disease," Kenya-Mugisha said. "We are working with our partners to mobilize our resources to vaccinate (in) the affected areas."

Yellow Fever, a disease transmitted by mosquito bites, can cause liver failure, which leads to the skin-yellowing jaundice for which the condition is named as well as hemorrhage.

Prior to this current outbreak, the CDC has recommended that all US travelers be vaccinated for Yellow Fever before entering Uganda, but this current outbreak only gives this recommendation greater urgency.

If you plan to travel to Uganda in the near future, be sure to call Passport Health to schedule an appointment for your Yellow Fever vaccination.

Sources: CIDRAP, CNN

7 health woes brought on by winter

2010-12-29T11:29:00.000-08:00

This piece on MSNBC describes 7 health risks posed by winter, including the flu. Remember: the flu is preventable!!!

The flu: "In the northern hemisphere, people always seem to get sick during the winter months, from November to March. One reason is the influenza virus's ability to survive: A 2007 study on guinea pigs in the journal PLoS Pathogens found that influenza is more stable in cold, dry air."

7 health woes brought on by winter