Planning a trip in 2016? You might just want to renew your passport now.

But, that renewal may be more difficult this year as the U.S. State Department is anticipating a surge in renewals and new passports due to unusually high passport activity in 2006 and 2007. Add to this an increased interest in travel and the Real ID Act making travelers from some states use passports instead of state ID; travelers could be in for some real delays.

The State Department hopes to avoid being overwhelmed again a decade after the 2006-2007 travel seasons by requesting travelers renew their passports as soon as possible. Most countries require at least six months validity on passports in order to enter the country. This means you may need to renew your passport before your trip, even if it may not have expired.

If you are thinking about traveling in 2016, even if you haven’t booked a flight, consider renewing your passport now to avoid any travel hiccups. A late passport could cause you to have to delay or cancel your trip, especially if you are going to a country that requires a visa.

Passport Health’s Travel Document Services can help you start your passport renewal process today. Simply contact us and we will work with you to get everything organized and ready for your new passport.

What is Hepatitis C?

Hepatitis C is a viral infection that affects 3.2 million Americans. The virus spreads from person-to-person through contact with blood, often as a result of:

• Injections (such as through drug-use)
• Sharing of Tattoo Needles
• Sexual Activity
• Blood Transfusion (rare cases)

Victims of hepatitis C will often develop an acute illness with symptoms that include:

• Fever
• Body aches
• Jaundice
• Elevated liver enzymes

More often, the infection becomes chronic and over time, the virus causes damage to the liver. Hepatitis C can result in cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. According to the CDC, 16,000 Americans died of hepatitis C infection in 2010.

Who Is Most at Risk?

Hepatitis C is the most common blood-borne pathogen in the United States. Intravenous drug users are at the highest risk of infection. This includes individuals who may have used drugs only in their youth. People who received blood transfusions before 1992 are also at an increased risk of hepatitis C infection. If you fall into one of these groups, getting a hepatitis C titer test is good advice.

How can you get tested?

Many people do not know that they are infected with hepatitis C. Screening for the disease is important for anyone who falls into a risk category. Those who need a titer test can get one from a Passport Health clinic or from their primary care physician. Some local health departments also offer hepatitis C testing.

The hepatitis C titer test helps those infected understand how their bodies are managing the infection. This test measures the viral load of hepatitis C in a person’s bloodstream. Passport Health clinics offer this test to anyone who wants to have the peace of mind that comes with the results.

What are the other types of Hepatitis?

Hepatitis C is not the only type of viral hepatitis. Hepatitis B is also a blood-borne pathogen. It is spread through sexual activity, intravenous drug use, and during childbirth. It also affects the liver and is the leading cause of liver cancer worldwide.

Hepatitis A is a food-borne disease spread by eating fecally contaminated food. It causes an acute illness that can be severe.

Though uncommon, hepatitis D and E do exist. Hepatitis D is an incomplete virus that requires parts of hepatitis B to cause illness. People co-infected with hepatitis B and D may have a more severe course of the disease. Hepatitis E is another food-borne disease most common in people who have contact with pigs, such as farmers.

Passport Health offers titer testing for hepatitis A and B infection, as well as vaccinations against these diseases. Hepatitis A is a two-shot series while hepatitis B vaccination requires three shots for complete immunity.

To learn more about hepatitis A and hepatitis B as well as their vaccines, see their respective pages.

Autism is a developmental disorder that is present at birth. Symptoms often develop during early childhood and have a lifelong effect. Recently, some parents have asserted that autism results from early childhood vaccinations.

Cases of autism have risen over the last 20 years, from about one in 200 children in the 1990’s to one in 88 today. This increase has lead doctors and researchers to trying to find out what is causing autism. But, much undue blame has fallen on vaccinations, especially from parents. Multiple CDC studies have debunked the link between vaccines and autism.

What’s the Link Between Vaccines and Autism?

In the 1990s, as autism diagnoses in young children increased. Parents and some medical professionals began to raise concerns about pediatric vaccinations. Many people took issue with thimerosal, a preservative included in childhood vaccinations.

A 1998 study published by a British scientist claimed a link between vaccines and autism. The study was later proven to be erroneous, unscientific, and fraudulent. The doctor who wrote it was even brought up on charges and lost his license. But, the damage was already done, and the erroneous vaccine-autism link spread.

Recent studies show up to a third of parents still believe in a link vaccines and autism. Ten percent of parents do not follow the recommended vaccination schedule for their children.

Due to health concerns, thimerosal was removed from almost all vaccines in 2001. Even after the removal, autism cases rose. This has made the supposed link even more dubious.

Debunking of the Vaccine – Autism Link

Many parents choose to ignore the CDC’s recommended vaccination schedule or to forgo vaccination. This is many due to the erroneous 1998 study and other myths surrounding vaccines.

Because of this disturbing trend, the CDC conducted a study comparing vaccination histories. They looked at which vaccines children received and when they received them. That was then compared with which children were and were not autistic. The researchers did the following:

• Examined 1008 children, 256 in the autism spectrum
• Used vaccination records to determine the amount of vaccines the child received
• Subdivided the children into groups based on when they received these vaccines

CDC researchers found the number and timeframe of vaccination had no link to autism. Exposure to many vaccines on the same day also had no link to the development of autism disorders. Researchers also compared vaccination history to regressive autism and didn’t find a link.

The CDC and other organizations have shown no link exists between vaccinations and autism. But, more outreach is needed. The California measles outbreak and mumps in Ohio prove studies alone won’t persuade parents. We need to show the good vaccines can do before many people will take notice.

We invite you to share you positive vaccination experiences with us! How have vaccinations kept you and your family safe? Did you experience the effects of a vaccine-preventable illness? Share your story to help others understand why vaccination is important.

To learn more about routine vaccination, see our page on the subject.