The flu vaccine: separating the truth from myth

There's a lot of misinformation out there about flu vaccines. It's important to know what the truth it as we make decisions about the health and wellness of our families.

The article linked below was published in this morning's edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer and addresses the following three myths about the flu vaccine:
1) Flu myth: The flu shot gives you the flu. "But the shot itself giving you the flu? Impossible, all three docs say."

2) Only unhealthy/old/sick/infirm people are really in danger from the flu. "...while it's true that the very young, the elderly, pregnant women and those with certain chronic health conditions are at greatest risk from influenza, healthy people get seriously ill and even die from the flu every year."

3) Flu myth: The flu vaccine is dangerous. "Study after study after study has shown no link between vaccines and autism,"

4) Flu myth: I got vaccinated last year, so I don't need a shot this year. "...last year's vaccine may offer you some protection this year, Congeni says, but it's unlikely you'll be fully protected." Some people are lucky enough to only have mild illness or have what is called a "subclinical" infection, one that is so mild it doesn't even cause noticeable symptoms

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2011/01/the_flu_vaccine_separating_the.html

George Clooney Contracted Malaria In Sudan

Don't be like George Clooney and travel unprepared to the Sudan. The actor recently contracted malaria on a recent trip. Make sure that when you travel to malaria-stricken regions, you bring along proper anti-malaria medication!

Malaria caught on camera breaking and entering cell

From the New Scientist:
"The video above captures the moment when a malaria parasite invades a human red blood cell - the first time the event has been caught in moving pictures."

Two Doses of Chickenpox Vaccine Recommended

Recent outbreaks of the chickenpox among vaccinated children suggest a need for a second vaccine in order to preserve immunity.


As reported by NPR: "A study that measured antibodies and the disease history of more than 200 kids found that two doses of vaccine was 98 percent effective in preventing chicken pox compared with 86 percent for a single dose. The results appear in the latest issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases."

If you have any questions, call Passport Health or your child's pediatrician. Passport Health Northern Ohio actively carries the chickenpox vaccine.

Source: NPR.org

Medical journal: Study linking autism, vaccines is 'elaborate fraud'

As reported in just about every news source imaginable this morning (CNN, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and The Telegraph to name a few), the infamously inimitable study by Andrew Wakefield linking MMR vaccination and autism in children has been declared an "elaborate fraud," according to the British Medical Journal BMJ:

BMJ, which published the results of its investigation, concluded Dr. Andrew Wakefield misrepresented or altered the medical histories of all 12 of the patients whose cases formed the basis of the 1998 study -- and that there was "no doubt" Wakefield was responsible. The journalist who wrote the BMJ articles said Thursday he believes Wakefield should face criminal charges.

Wakefield's fraudulent research helped to ignite an anti-vaccination movement in the UK and United States that has led to a resurgence of diseases such as whooping cough, killing and sickening scores of people.

The British government stripped Wakefield of his medical license in May, around the same time that the 

Britain stripped Wakefield of his medical license in May, following the February 2, 2010 full retraction of the original article by its publisher, The Lancet. In May, The American Journal of Gastroenterology retracted a study making further use of Wakefield's data.

Uganda plans to vaccinate 2.5m against Yellow Fever to fight outbreak

Following the first yellow fever outbreak in Uganda since 1972, the government of the country has announced that it will vaccinate 2.5 million people against the disease. The current outbreak, which is reported to have started approximately 2 months ago, has killed 48 people.

"We are doing all we can to contain the disease," Kenya-Mugisha said. "We are working with our partners to mobilize our resources to vaccinate (in) the affected areas."

Yellow Fever, a disease transmitted by mosquito bites, can cause liver failure, which leads to the skin-yellowing jaundice for which the condition is named as well as hemorrhage.

Prior to this current outbreak, the CDC has recommended that all US travelers be vaccinated for Yellow Fever before entering Uganda, but this current outbreak only gives this recommendation greater urgency.

If you plan to travel to Uganda in the near future, be sure to call Passport Health to schedule an appointment for your Yellow Fever vaccination.

Sources: CIDRAP,  CNN

7 health woes brought on by winter

This piece on MSNBC describes 7 health risks posed by winter, including the flu. Remember: the flu is preventable!!! 

The flu: "In the northern hemisphere, people always seem to get sick during the winter months, from November to March. One reason is the influenza virus's ability to survive: A 2007 study on guinea pigs in the journal PLoS Pathogens found that influenza is more stable in cold, dry air."

7 health woes brought on by winter