Colors, happiness, joy, family that is what Diwali is all about! Every year in the Fall, India and other nations in the region of Southern Asia celebrate Diwali, a holiday that focuses on how light overcomes darkness and celebrates new beginnings. This year it falls on Oct. 23 and provides an amazingly fun opportunity to learn more about Hindu culture as well as about the other groups that participate in the festivities. This is especially true if you find yourself traveling to India or another country in the region.

In some ways Diwali is similar to Christmas. Many different sects and groups celebrate the holy day but almost everyone does it in their own special way. The largest groups among the Hindu sects celebrate Diwali as the return of Lord Rama (and his wife and brother) from exile as is told in the Ramayana. This story is explained in this video:

Diwali celebrations happen across Southern Asia from Suriname to Singapore and while many celebrate a wide variety of traditions they all have the general theme of new beginning and the arrival of a new light in our lives.

Celebrations vary in scope and scale as well. In many places it is not uncommon for there to be enormous fireworks displays or parades. Generally, festivities include: spring-cleaning, wearing new clothes, exchanging gifts (often candies and dried fruits), eating and sharing festive meals, decorating homes with fancy lights, making varying colored displays before doorways as well as the previously mentioned fireworks.

These factors combined create a beautiful festival that is a must see for anyone.

Since the early 2000’s Diwali has been slowly spreading around the world where large celebrations have happened in New York City, London and even Dallas, TX. If we’ve piqued your interest check online and see if there will be a Diwali celebration near your own home. But, we’d also like to hear from you! Share your Diwali experiences in our comment section and let everyone know your favorite part of the Festival of Light!

Passport Health, HealthMap Vaccine Finder, and Uber are partnering today to deliver no-cost flu vaccinations and flu prevention packs to Uber users in Boston and Washington, D.C. The partnership is a one-day pilot project.

The flu impacts up to 20 percent of Americans each year, and finding innovative ways to deliver flu vaccines and a “Be FluFree” message is a priority not just for Passport Health, but for immunization advocates everywhere.

Today’s first-ever UberHEALTH project pairs Uber driver partners with Passport Health nurses to deliver no-cost flu vaccines and flu-prevention packs to UberHEALTH users in Boston and Washington, D.C. The project is in conjunction with HealthMap Vaccine Finder. Uber has also partnered with Pager to provide flu prevention packs and flu vaccines in New York City.

The CDC recommends that everyone over 6 months of age receives a flu vaccine each year. Still, less than 40 percent of Americans get the flu shot. Healthy People 2020, which provides a 10-year agenda for improving the nation’s health, has set a target vaccination rate of 70 percent for all Americans.

With fewer Americans seeking flu vaccines in a traditional setting, we know that making a 70 percent vaccination rate a reality will take innovation and partnership. That’s why Passport Health is excited to be working with UberHEALTH and HealthMap Vaccine Finder to bring flu prevention packs and flu vaccines directly to Uber users with a single touch of a button.

The service will be available at no cost today only from 10 am until 3 pm EST in Boston, Washington, D.C. and New York. Riders will have the option to select “UberHEALTH” in the Uber app, and once confirmed, a registered nurse will deliver a flu prevention pack and provide the option to receive a flu shot. For every shot given, Uber will donate $5 to the Red Cross to support vaccination efforts for children including its Measles & Rubella Initiative.

“We’re always looking at ways to improve flu vaccination rates,” said Melanie Kohr, Passport Health’s Vice President of Clinic Operations. “Pairing our nurses with Uber driver partners gives us the chance to really make an impact on people’s health this flu season, and for us that’s truly exciting.”

For over 20 years, Passport Health has provided its clients with protection against vaccine-preventable diseases, including the flu. This year, Passport Health launched FluFree.com, a web site designed to address the growing gap between the need for vaccination and the number of people who actually chose to get vaccinated.

“We all know the flu is miserable, but not everyone who has access to the flu vaccine gets one,” said Fran Lessans, RN, MS, Founder, President and CEO of Passport Health. “FluFree’s mission is to educate people on just how serious the flu is, and to promote awareness of and accessibility to the flu vaccine.”

Passport Health has taken on large-scale public health partnerships and initiatives in the past. Passport Health was a first responder to the Anthrax attacks in 2001, and our company has participated in numerous vaccine trials. Now, with its focus turned to influenza, Passport Health is excited to be working with UberHEALTH and HealthMap Vaccine Finder to help make Boston and Washington DC FluFree. To learn more about the UberHEALTH campaign, visit https://blog.uber.com/health.

For more information on influenza, flu vaccines and flu safety, visit passporthealthusa.com or contact a Passport Health immunization specialist at 1-844-FLU-FREE.

A new blood test will soon provide a fast and accurate way of diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) in children, a new study reports. Published in Lancet Infectious Diseases, the study found that the new TAM-TB test is fast, specific and sensitive, making it the perfect diagnostic tool for areas in which TB is prevalent.

The test works by identifying the lack of a surface marker bacteria called CD27 in the blood. Results are available within 24-hours of sampling the patient’s blood.

First used in Tanzania, researchers are now ready to try it out in other regions with the hope of refining the test to optimize performance, especially in high risk populations.

“This rapid and reliable test has the great potential to significantly improve the diagnosis of active tuberculosis in children,” says Klaus Reither of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, one of the study coordinators.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one-third of the world’s population is infected with the tuberculosis bacteria, and nearly nine million people were diagnosed with TB last year. 1.3 million deaths were reported world-wide from the disease.

While a test like TAM-TB can help curb infection rates, TB treatment can still be very difficult and costly.

For more information on tuberculosis, or if you have any questions about other diseases with global impact like pneumonia or malaria, a Passport Health vaccine specialist is here to help at 1-888-499-PASS (7277).

Physicians, government agencies, school systems, child care centers and pharmacists all make recommendations and requirements to various groups of people for getting vaccinated. When you arrive at the clinic or office of a health care provider, you are expressing trust in them that they have handled the vaccines properly. Inadequate vaccine storage and handling can render the vaccine less effective or even useless, thereby putting you at risk of disease. Understanding the standards for proper vaccine management can help you choose your health services wisely.

Proper Vaccine Storage

Federal health authorities in the United States have developed protocols for proper vaccine storage. These protocols are in use throughout North America and the rest of the world. The vaccine storage guidelines include the following:

• Refrigerated vaccines should be stored at 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Frozen vaccines should be stored at a temperature range of -58 degrees Fahrenheit to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Refrigerator and freezer temperatures should be recorded twice a day, in the morning and at night.
• If the refrigerator or freezer temperature is ever out of range, local health authorities or the vaccine manufacturer should be contacted. They will need to know the duration of time the vaccine spent out of the ideal temperature range.

Vaccine Handling Standards

Once a vaccine is taken out of its storage area, it needs to be handled properly. This includes maintaining a cold chain as well as other factors, including:

• Keeping portable vaccine containers shut as much as possible
• Using gel packs or frozen water bottles when transporting vaccines off-site
• Using motorized portable refrigerator units for vaccine storage when out in the field
• Using a calibrated thermometer to check temperatures of vaccine when off-site
• Rotating vaccine supplies to avoid expiration of expensive vaccines or accidental administration of expired vaccine
• Properly reconstituting and distributing multi-dose vaccine vials
• Transporting vaccines in the vehicle’s passenger cabin rather than the trunk
• Avoiding the use of dry ice when transporting vaccine
• Placing vaccine into a recommended storage unit as soon as possible after transportation

How to Make Sure the Vaccines You Receive Were Handled Properly

When you’re getting a vaccine, you have the right to know how it was stored and handled. You may want to ask to see the temperature logs or the expiration date of the product. You may also inquire about the calibration of the thermometer used to take the temperature in the storage unit. Other questions to ask include whether there is a backup power supply in case of loss of electricity, what is done with vaccines that experience a temperature excursion, and the maintenance record of the refrigerator or freezer where the vaccine was stored.

Getting Vaccinated

Before you embark on an international trip, travel vaccinations can help you develop immunity to infectious and contagious diseases endemic or in the process of an outbreak at your destination. Passport Health travel health clinics offer vaccinations to international travelers. The travel health specialists adhere to national guidelines for proper vaccine handling and storage, so you can rest assured knowing the vaccine you receive is effective and safe. Passport Health travel health specialists also offer guidance on packing first aid supplies, sunscreen, mosquito repellant, over-the-counter and prescription medications, and water purification kits to help you stay healthy during your travels.

A recent study released by Pediatrics has shown that while vaccination against the human papilloma virus (HPV) is highly recommended many individuals are not receiving the necessary protection because many doctors were not making the needed recommendation. Of those surveyed, 44% said that their children had not been vaccinated because no physician had offered to do so.

“The most common reason for non-vaccination,” says the article, “was never being offered the vaccine (44%); many stated they would have accepted the vaccine if offered.” In some cases parents would opt to delay the vaccination due to their child’s age. However, Pediatrics notes that this generally led to no vaccination at all. “Most providers and parents who delayed vaccination at age 11 or 12 years did so with the intention that the child would receive the vaccine later. In many cases, however, vaccination never occurred.”

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection and is so common that nearly all sexual active men and women get it at some point in their lives. The virus is spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex and can be passed when an infected person has no signs or symptoms. Anyone who is sexually active can contract the HPV and symptoms may not develop until years later making it difficult to know when one first became infected.

Usually, HPV goes away on its own but, in some cases, it can cause health problems like genital warts and cancer. Vaccination is highly recommended. However, according to the Pediatrics study, most doctors and parents felt the vaccine was unnecessary to even suggest due to age or lack of sexual activity. “HPV could lead to more serious health issues down the line,” says Vicki Sowards, Director of Nursing Resources for Passport Health, “Even if a person isn’t sexually active yet it is still recommended that they be vaccinated. Boys and girls, men and women, it’s important that everyone know the risks and takes the necessary precautions to prevent problems later in life.”

The HPV vaccination provides lifelong protection meaning that boys and girls 12-years and older should be vaccinated whether they are sexually active or not. The CDC estimates that about 79 million Americans are infected with HPV and that 14 million more are infected each year. About 21,000 HPV-related cancers could be prevented annually by simply vaccinating against the virus.

To find Passport Health locations as well as travel health information, please visit www.passporthealthusa.com, or call 1-877-499-PASS(7277).