Flu season is here, and now is the best time to get your flu vaccine to ensure that you, your family, and your coworkers are protected. Flu is a common, seasonal illness that has devastating impact every year. Shockingly, an average of 24,000 Americans die from the flu and related complications each year. In an effort to provide a little extra protection, vaccine manufacturers have introduced a new flu vaccine this year, called the quadrivalent vaccine, that protects against the four flu strains experts expect to be the most common and serious this season.

About the Quadrivalent Flu Vaccine

The quadrivalent flu vaccine is unlike the traditional flu vaccine in that instead of protecting adults and children against three circulating strains of the flu virus, it protects against four. This may be especially important for children because children are highly susceptible to the fourth virus strain that only the quadrivalent vaccine contains. For the past approximately 30 years, the flu vaccine has included protection against two circulating strains of Type A influenza virus and one strain of Type B influenza virus. However, the quadrivalent vaccine includes the two Type A strains plus two Type B strains for additional protection against illness.

Who Should Get Vaccinated Against the Flu?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urges that everyone aged 6 months and older be vaccinated against the flu each year. Vaccination is especially important for pregnant women; people over the age of 65; people with diabetes, chronic lung diseases and asthma; and household contacts and caregivers of any of those at-risk groups. The human body takes about two weeks to develop full immunity after receiving the flu shot, so earlier is better when it comes to vaccination. Children may receive the most benefit from the quadrivalent vaccine, since the Type B strain tends to strike this age group more than middle aged people. However, it is important to note that the CDC does not recommend one type of vaccine over the other, and even the American Academy of Pediatrics agrees that the most important preventative measure to take is getting vaccinated, regardless of the type of flu vaccine received.

Other Flu Vaccines Available This Season

The 2013-2014 flu season will see an unprecedented number of vaccine options available. There is an egg-free shot, for individuals who are allergic to eggs, and there has been growing interest in the High Dose flu shot, made especially for people age 65 and older. Additionally, options are available for the needle-phobic crowd since the flu vaccine can be delivered via a tiny pin-prick and as a nasal mist. However, don’t let all of these options cause confusion; the best means to protect your health this flu season is to receive the flu vaccine, regardless of the specific form! Visit your local Passport Health clinic to get vaccinated!

Sources:
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/03/quadrivalent-flu-vaccines-protect-4-strains_n_3859959.html
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/vaccine-selection.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm

Flu can spread like wildfire in the workplace, which is why a great many employers are already holding on-site flu vaccination clinics. A workplace vaccination clinic against the flu makes it convenient and simple for employees to receive their annual flu vaccination. Employers appreciate the cost-effectiveness of on-site flu vaccination clinics as preventing even just one infection with the flu could save thousands of dollars in lost productivity and healthcare costs. Follow these tips to ensure your workplace flu clinic is a success.

Make Vaccination a Priority

Employers should communicate to employees that flu vaccination is a priority. Employees should be given leeway to attend the clinic without having to use their lunch hour or break time to get their vaccine. Giving employees this benefit shows that the employer really cares about their health and well-being. Turn the event into something that makes employees excited to attend. Provide some light snacks such as fresh fruit and bottled water to further encourage participation and healthy behavior. Create ambiance in the flu clinic location with banners, balloons or even some music. Make the vaccination clinic a true event.

Promote the Flu Clinic

Use multiple means of communication to promote the workplace flu clinic. Use company email, and place flyers by the drinking fountain, break area, elevator, rest rooms and anywhere else that people congregate. Announce the clinic at staff meetings and during other gatherings.

Encourage Healthy Behaviors

During the clinic, provide employees with information to help keep them healthy throughout flu season. These tips will also encourage good health all year long.

• Encourage good hygiene among employees. Provide ample hand soap in restrooms. Set up hand sanitizer near elevators, stairwells, in meeting rooms and other common areas. Encourage staff to sneeze and cough into their elbows to avoid the spread of germs.
  

• Provide cleaning supplies so that employees can keep their workstations clean. Using disinfectant wipes on surfaces such as phones, keyboards and common printers can cut down on the spread of disease.
  

• Advise employees to increase the physical distance between one another. In the event of a flu outbreak, avoidance of handshaking and other close contact can help prevent infection.

Communicate Workplace Sick Policies

If an employee does become sick with the flu, he or she should be allowed to go home at the first signs and symptoms of illness. Because a person is contagious from one day before symptoms through five to seven days after illness onset, keeping sick people out of the office is essential in stopping the spread of the disease. Giving employees sick leave not only helps them get better faster, but it can stop other staff from becoming ill.

Flu season is upon us again, and it is time to protect your health and the health of those you love. You know a seasonal flu shot is the best means of preventing the flu each flu season, but for senior populations this shot may not provide adequate protection.

The high dose vaccine is the only flu shot specifically formulated for people over 65. Indeed, studies have shown that the traditional, seasonal flu shot does not prevent the flu as well in senior populations as it does in younger people. As the body ages, the immune system gets weaker. This means the body’s ability to bounce back from disease decreases with age as well. A weakened immune system can have very serious complications during flu season.
Seniors are more likely than their younger counterparts to have existing health problems, and the flu is more likely to cause serious complications, hospitalization, or even death when someone is already unwell.

Thousands of people (between 3,000 to 49,000 in particularly bad years) die from the flu each season in the US alone. Almost 90% of these deaths occur in people over age 65.

For these reasons, it is crucial that seniors take extra care of their health. After consulting with a healthcare professional to determine if this vaccine is appropriate given specific health issues or allergies, seniors should consider the only flu vaccine made specifically for them.

Remember, even a mild case of the flu results in ample unpleasantness: coughing, sore throat, fever, chills, headache and more. However, it is possible to prevent all of these nasty symptoms and more. According the CDC, the best means of preventing the flu each season is with a seasonal flu shot.

Traveling internationally with an infant requires careful planning in advance of your departure. According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 2 million children travel internationally every year. Attention to detail prior to departure will allow you and your family to enjoy a successful and healthy trip abroad.

1. Applying for a Passport

Children of all ages are required to have a U.S. passport in order to travel abroad, but, remember, it can take as long as six weeks to receive this documentation. Therefore, it is advised that parents begin the application process well in advance of an international trip. A passport for an infant can be obtained without a social security number. In such instances, an official copy of the child’s birth certificate will prove to be sufficient.

When applying for an infant passport, the child must be present along with both parents. If one parent is unavailable, additional documentation may be required, such as a notarized statement from the absentee parent, custody decree, or death certificate. The application process can be accelerated by downloading the application document online before visiting an authorized passport application center. Finally, investigate the visa and passport requirements for your destination in order to avoid any surprises along the way.

2. Airline Seating Standards

An FAA-approved car or infant seat will be required for any child that will be occupying a seat rather than sitting on the lap of a parent. Approved safety devices can be secured by using an airline seat belt, and be sure to follow all seating guidelines.

3. Supply Checklist

There are a number of items that anyone traveling with an infant will want to pack for the trip. Here are a few necessities and conveniences that will make international travel safer and easier for your family:

• Purchase an electrical converter unit for use in hotels.
• There is a good deal of concern about children being transported illegally across international borders. In the event that a child is traveling with one parent only, it’s wise to carry custody documents or a notarized permission statement signed by the absentee parent.
• Take care to pack vital travel supplies, including items such as sunscreen, insect repellent, a water purification kit, and bug netting for the stroller.
• Determine whether your existing health insurance will provide reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred abroad. If not, consider purchasing a temporary health insurance policy.
• Be sure to pack copies of relevant health records in the event that medical care becomes necessary. It may also be advisable to contact the US Embassy in your destination to obtain a list of local physicians.

4. Disease Prevention

Consulting with a Travel Health Specialist before embarking on an international excursion is vital. A consultation will allow for review of the child’s vaccination record, and your specialist will make important health recommendations.
Note that infant travelers are susceptible to diarrhea and gastrointestinal disorders. Parents should take the following precautions:

• Use only purified water for drinking and infant formula. Breast feeding is the safest option.
• Thoroughly clean toys and pacifiers before giving them to an infant.
• Avoid consumption of unpasteurized dairy products.

It’s important to watch an infant closely for any sign of illness, especially diarrhea. This is particularly true for destinations where malaria, tuberculosis and intestinal parasites are prevalent. The presence of a fever in excess of 101.5°F or an inability to retain liquids is cause for concern. The attention of a local physician is recommended in such cases.

Remember, extra careful preparations and special care are required when traveling abroad with an infant child. Nothing is more important than the health of your little ones, and returning home with a healthy baby and happy memories is more than worth the extra effort!

Source:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2012/chapter-7-international-travel-infants-children/traveling-safely-with-infants-and-children

There are countless things to remember when planning a trip to Africa; don’t forget to plan for good health as well. Follow these Top Ten health tips to ensure your trip to Africa is memorable in nothing but the best ways.

1. Get the Proper Travel Vaccines
You may well need travel immunizations for your trip to Africa. Diseases that are uncommon in the United States, such as yellow fever, are endemic in much of the African continent. A visit with a travel health specialist will ensure you are up-to-date on all recommended and required vaccines.

2. Bring Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medications
Access to pharmaceuticals, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, is much different in Africa than in the United States. Be sure to pack a sufficient amount of your medications in your carry-on bag. Keep a written list of your medications as well as your physician and home pharmacy’s contact information with you.

3. Malaria Awareness
Your travel health specialist may prescribe anti-malarial medication for you to bring on your trip. It is of utmost importance that you take the medication as recommended. Bring a mosquito net if your travels will have you staying in open-air accommodations. Use insect repellents, and pack pants and long sleeved pajamas to further protect yourself from insect bites.

4. Sunscreen
Africa’s equatorial location means intense exposure to the sun. Without adequate protection, you could experience painful sunburn. Bring plenty of sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30.

5. Water Borne Illness
The safety of the water supply in Africa is different from what you may be used to at home. Intestinal infections are a common result of drinking contaminated water or eating foods that have been exposed to contaminated water. Be sure to drink only bottled, distilled, or treated water during your travels. Pack anti-diarrheal medication as well as oral rehydration packets should you develop an intestinal illness.

6. HIV and AIDS
HIV and AIDS are serious public health concerns in many Africa countries. Be smart, and avoid risky activities.

7. Protect Your Feet
Bring sandals to wear in the shower to protect yourself from fungal infections and parasitic infections. A pair of inexpensive flip flops will do the job. If you are planning on hiking and trekking, pack comfortable, sturdy walking shoes so sore feet do not cut your explorations short.

8. Protect Your Safety
Scams and pickpockets are not uncommon experiences in Africa. Take steps to protect yourself from credit card fraud and theft. Take care with how much cash you carry on your person at any time. If staying in a hotel, leave valuables in the hotel safe, or, better yet, do not bring them at all. Keep a low profile so as to not attract an undue amount of attention to yourself. Be aware of your surroundings, avoid unsavory parts of cities, and travel with a companion whenever possible.

9. Be Prepared for Jet Lag
After hours on the plane and arriving to a different time zone, you are likely to experience jet lag. Leave time in your travel schedule to allow your body to rest and adjust to your new surroundings.

10. Pack a First Aid Kit
Bring first aid essentials that may not be available in your destination such as a digital thermometer, latex gloves, bandages, antibiotic ointment, aspirin, hydrocortisone, lip balm, tweezers, and iodine wipes or alcohol swabs. You will be prepared for any situation!

For more Africa-specific travel tips and news, please visit the Africa Travel Association’s website, and be sure to sign up for their newsletter! Passport Health is proud to be the digital marketing partner of choice for the ATA.