Grundy County Health Department
1716 Lincoln / Trenton, MO 64683
PH: 660.359.4196 FAX: 660.359.5470
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Grundy County Health Department 1716 Lincoln / Trenton, MO 64683 PH: 660.359.4196 FAX: 660.359.5470
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Public Health PostJuly - September 2004
Contents Pneumococcal Vaccine for Children GCHD Participates in Preparedness Exercise
Vaccines Are Still ImportantIt seems that almost every month newspaper articles and television programs depict the horrors of vaccines. The villains of these stories are greedy vaccine manufacturers, disinterested doctors, and burdensome regulatory agencies. The focus of the stories is that children are hurt unnecessarily by vaccines, and the tone is one of intrigue and cover-up. Perhaps the most dangerous part of these stories (apart from the fact that they may cause many children to miss the vaccines they need) is that the explanations are presented in a manner that seem believable. In some ways, public health is a victim of its own success. Our grandparents or great-grandparents can tell us stories about an infant sibling or cousin that died of measles or whooping cough or was disabled by polio. Since the development of vaccines, most young parents today have never seen a case of measles, mumps, German measles, polio, diphtheria, tetanus, or whooping cough and do not realize how devastating these illnesses once were. Some of these parents question the continued need for vaccines. Diseases are becoming rare due to vaccinations. It's true, some diseases (like polio and diphtheria) are becoming very rare in the U.S. Of course, they are becoming rare largely because we have been vaccinating against them. But it is still reasonable to ask whether it's really worthwhile to keep vaccinating. It's much like bailing out a boat with a slow leak. When we started bailing, the boat was filled with water. But we have been bailing fast and hard, and now it is almost dry. We could say, "Good. The boat is dry now, so we can throw away the bucket and relax." But the leak hasn't stopped. Before long we'd notice a little water seeping in, and soon it might be back up to the same level as when we started. Keep immunizing until disease is eliminated. Unless we can "stop the leak" (eliminate the disease), it is important to keep immunizing. Even if there are only a few cases of disease today, if we take away the protection given by vaccination, more and more people will be infected and will spread disease to others. Soon we will undo the progress we have made over the years. Japan reduced pertussis vaccinations, and an epidemic occurred. In 1974, Japan had a successful pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination program, with nearly 80% of Japanese children vaccinated. That year only 393 cases of pertussis were reported in the entire country, and there were no deaths from pertussis. But then rumors began to spread that pertussis vaccination was no longer needed and that the vaccine was not safe, and by 1976 only 10% of infants were getting vaccinated. In 1979 Japan suffered a major pertussis epidemic, with more than 13,000 cases of whooping cough and 41 deaths. In 1981 the government began vaccinating with acellular pertussis vaccine, and the number of pertussis cases dropped again. What if we stopped vaccinating? So what would happen if we stopped vaccinating here? Diseases that are almost unknown would stage a comeback. Before long we would see epidemics of diseases that are nearly under control today. More children would get sick and more would die. We vaccinate to protect our future. We don't vaccinate just to protect our children. We also vaccinate to protect our grandchildren and their grandchildren. With one disease, smallpox, we "stopped the leak" in the boat by eradicating the disease. Our children don't have to get smallpox shots any more because the disease no longer exists. If we keep vaccinating now, parents in the future may be able to trust that diseases like polio and meningitis won't infect, cripple, or kill children. Vaccinations are one of the best ways to put an end to the serious effects of certain diseases. From the Centers for Disease Control and the National Immunization Coalition
The ABC's of Skin CancerThe spring and summer months bring outdoor activities and time for fun in the sun. Did you know there is no such thing as a safe tan? A tan is the skin's response to injury from ultraviolet light. Of all skin cancers in the United States, 95% are caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation. If caught early, however, skin cancer has an almost 100% cure rate. Besides exposure to strong sunlight or tanning lamps, risk factors for skin cancer include fair skin. People with skin that freckles or burns easily have an especially high risk. In addition, family history, a weakened immune system, and large or numerous moles may also be contributing factors. Early warning signs of skin cancer are the ABCDs: A - Asymmetry (common moles are round and symmetrical) B - Border (skin cancers may have uneven borders) C - Color (watch for varied shades of brown, tan or black and also red, white, and blue) D - Diameter (if a spot is larger than a pencil eraser, 6mm or 1/4" diameter, it might be suspicious) There are several things you can do to protect your skin.
Skin cancer can take many forms. Anything that changes, grows, or fits any of the ABCDs should be taken seriously. Consult your physician.
Move For Your HealthThis spring the Grundy County Health Department organized a community wide walking program called MOve for Your Health. The purpose of the program was not only to increase the amount of time people spent being physically active, but also to increase awareness of the importance of physical activity. There were approximately 20 businesses, organizations and school buildings that participated. All participants were teamed up against an organization similar in size to determine which team would have the highest physical activity average at the end of the eight week program. A little friendly competition really helped spark the interest of the more than 300 participants. All those who signed up were asked to complete a post test assessment of their activity level. By asking participants to complete a post test assessment the Health Department has a better sense of the strengths and weaknesses of the program. Knowing the strengths and weaknesses will allow us to put together an even better competition for the spring of 2005. According to post test responses 76% of the people involved in this year’s MOve for Your Health walking program were participating in some form of weekly exercise at the completion of the program. Our goal for next year is to not only increase the percentage of people engaging in a weekly exercise program during the organized competition, but to keep people exercising throughout the year.
Pneumococcal Vaccine for ChildrenInfection with Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria can cause serious illness and death. This disease causes about 200 deaths a year in children under age five and is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in the U.S. Before a vaccine was available, each year pneumococcal infection caused:
It can also lead to other health problems, including pneumonia, deafness and brain damage. Children under 2 are at the highest risk for serious disease. The bacteria are spread from person to person through close contact. Prevention is important because bacteria have become resistant to some of the drugs that have been used to treat the infections. The pneumococcal vaccine for children is called Prevnar and is given in four doses. The doses are given at 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months. Children who were not vaccinated at these ages can still receive the vaccine. Mild reactions such as redness, tenderness or swelling at the injection site, low grade fever, fussiness, drowsiness or loss of appetite may occur but usually last only a day or two. To date, no serious reactions have been associated with this vaccine. Those who have Medicaid or are uninsured can receive the vaccines free through the Vaccines for Children Program. For families with private health insurance, the charge is $70 per dose, which is our cost. We can provide a receipt to send to your insurance company for reimbursement. It is best to check with your insurance company first to see if they will cover this vaccine.
Bicycle HelmetsDoes your child wear a bicycle helmet? Bike accidents can cause serious head injuries whether kids are riding on sidewalks, driveways, bike paths, parks or city streets. New research unveiled by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign shows that nearly half (47 percent) of children hospitalized for bike-related injuries suffer from a traumatic brain injury. Helmet use can reduce the risk of head injury by 85% and can protect and save your child's life. Bicycle helmets are inexpensive ($10-$15) and can be purchased at major retail stores. Establish a helmet rule early. As soon as your children begin to ride a bicycle it is important to foster a habit of wearing a helmet. Let your child know that bikes are vehicles, not toys and an accident can result in permanent brain damage or even death. Be consistent, if you allow your children to ride occasionally without their helmets, they won't believe that helmet use is really important. For more information about helmet use and bicycle safety, visit www.bhsi.org.
Service Spotlight--WICDid you know that you could be receiving free, nutritious food and nutrition education through the WIC program? WIC is sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services and is administered locally by the Grundy County Health Department. WIC stands for women, infants, and children. It is a nutrition education program open to pregnant women or families with children under age five. The program offers food packages at no cost, which include foods such as infant formula, cereal, cheese, peanut butter, milk and fruit juice. The program also offers information on diet and nutrition, meal preparation, and stretching your food budget. Although this program is income-based, the guidelines are very generous. For example, a family of four can earn as much as $37,000 annually and still participate. Our staff is qualified, enthusiastic, and makes learning more about nutrition fun. Standards for participation in the WIC program are the same for everyone regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability.
GCHD Participates in Preparedness ExerciseStaff from the Grundy County Health Department, along with more than 600 state and local public health employees and 200 hospital staff and volunteers, took part in the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) exercise in Kansas City. In the event of a bioterrorism attack or large-scale crisis, state and local public health agencies must be prepared to quickly distribute mass quantities of lifesaving pharmaceuticals, antidotes, vaccines and other medical supplies to the public. The federal government established the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) program to deliver large and continuous quantities of medical items to the site of a national emergency within 12 hours. During an emergency, state, local and private stocks of medical material could be depleted quickly. Therefore, the SNS Program stands ready for immediate deployment to any U.S. location in the event of a national emergency. The Missouri state health department not only tested its ability to receive, repackage and distribute the SNS 12-hour push package, but the local public health agencies practiced how to quickly dispense these medications to the public. Each SNS 12-hour push package weighs about 50 tons and is packed in over 100 specialized cargo containers. The package fills a wide-body aircraft and contains an assortment of medical products to help in a variety of possible biological, chemical or nuclear terrorism events. "As we conduct these exercises throughout the state, we realize how important it is that we have developed strong partnerships at the federal, state and local levels," said Dick Dunn, Director of the Department of Health and Senior Services. Each local health department, including the Grundy County Health Department, must be prepared to fulfill their role if the Strategic National Stockpile were needed in Missouri.
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Grundy County Health Department is an Equal Opportunity
Provider.
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