Getting sick during or after traveling is nothing new. Washing hands frequently, wearing a mask, and being careful what you eat and drink can help protect you from illness when in a new place.
Most travelers do not think about protecting their eyes when they travel. Pink eye — also known as conjunctivitis — can be irritating, possibly painful, and will make travel less fun. Knowing how to safeguard your peepers from pink eye can save you from this annoyance while on vacation.
A new CDC report on the 2013-2014 flu season shines a surprising light on certain parts of the nation. Last year, 46.2% of the US population were vaccinated against the flu, but some states and demographics fell way below that national average.
One standout was Utah where only 41.5% of the population received a flu shot. At five percent below the national average, Utah’s vaccination rate is nowhere near the worst in the nation, but what is going on with younger individuals in this state is far more surprising. The flu vaccination rate in children ages 6 months to 17 years old was 9% below the national average.
Why are so many children in Utah going unvaccinated? And, why is the same thing happening in Idaho?
Indeed, the state most famous for its potatoes is 13.4% below the national average for child vaccinations, nearly double its deficit for adults which sits at 6.9% below average.
It is troubling that in both states, a large number of adults are deciding not just to forego vaccinations for themselves, but also for their children.
Meanwhile, states such as New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island are far above the national average vaccination rate, and 12 to 19 percent more children living in these areas receive flu vaccines than their counterparts out West.
Although the CDC has not released any reasons for the vaccination gaps among various locales, questions need to be asked. Is this an East vs. West difference? A difference in availability? A difference in culture? Or simply a difference in parenting?
We’d like to hear from you, so please leave a comment on why you decide to get your child a flu vaccination and why you think these differences might exist.
To schedule your own flu vaccination, contact one of Passport Health’s flu specialists at 1-888-499-PASS (7277).
Since childhood, we have been immunized against a range of diseases to keep our bodies healthy and well. However, it can be challenging to keep record of all of these vaccines throughout the years, especially as we move and change healthcare providers. No one wants to get an extra shot or pay for an immunization that is not necessary, and this is precisely where antibody titer testing comes in. A titer test is a measure of antibodies in the blood, providing a check of disease immunity. The results of a titer test then allow a clinician to determine whether a vaccination is required.
A titer test involves a simple blood draw. The sample is analyzed, and results are returned within 24 to 72 hours. All Passport Health clinics offer a full range of laboratory test services, including all antibody titer testing.
Perhaps you can’t remember for certain whether you had a case of a given disease in the past, have misplaced your immunization records over the years, or can’t get in touch with your Primary Care Provider to get your medical records. A titer test, however, will give your clinician a measure of your immunity and solve these memory and record keeping problems. Therefore, titer testing and vaccinations go hand in hand.
Titer Testing: Cost Savings
Passport Health makes every effort to not re-vaccinate if vaccination is not, in fact, necessary by offering titer testing at all locations and to all patients. As a result, our experienced clinicians are able to save individual patients a significant amount of money by first checking immunity to Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Varicella, Rabies, and MMR, for example.
Moreover, a titer test is virtually no risk – it merely involves a simple blood draw with results available almost immediately.
Titer testing is similarly beneficial for Passport Health’s corporate clients. Cost savings are evident when comparing the cost of a titer test to the cost of vaccination. Titer testing is a crucial component of any vaccine credentialing program; call Passport Health today to learn how to integrate this service into your company’s wellness program!
Source:
https://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/test/antibody-titer/overview.html
Scientists in British Columbia, Canada, have found the path of a 2010 measles outbreak linked to the Vancouver Olympics, but their research has also given us a look into the importance of vaccination.
The research, which was published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases, followed the spread of the measles virus almost immediately after the 2010 Olympics. Through genome sequencing, the researchers were able to track the virus’s spread and identify where it likely originated from.
Of the two strains, one spread throughout a general area while the other took a slightly different route and could be seen following a single highway, slowly spreading north.
Heroes are cool, but it’s really easy to rally around a good villain.
The Lex Luthors. The Hans Grubers. The Lord Voldemorts.
It’s much harder to pinpoint the bad guy when it comes to disease.
While germs and bacteria make up the illness, they don’t provide a visible target to resent.
No, the blame and contempt for an epidemic often falls on “patient zero”.
This is how we get legends like Typhoid Mary. Vilified for carrying the deadly disease throughout New York, even though she had no idea what her actions could create.
