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Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Whooping Cough, Make sure you're vaccinated!
Eight children in Hunterdon have recently been diagnosed with whooping cough — including those whose families declined to have them vaccinated or failed to get all of their necessary shots, state and county health officials said today.
An Ocean County health department spokeswoman also confirmed two infants who developed symptoms in December have been diagnosed with the highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection.
The infected children in Hunterdon County range in age from 4 to 15, and are all getting treated at home, said Carl Rachel, spokesman for the Hunterdon County Division of Public Health.
Whooping cough mimics the symptoms of a cold but then develops into "uncontrolled coughing spells," according to the county website. Nationally, the illness annually kills 10 to 20 people who are typically less than a year old, the website said.
New Jersey requires children enrolled in preschool or day care public to be vaccinated against whooping cough, also known as pertussis. But state law allows parents to cite religion and medical conditions as a reason to seek an exemption.
Most people can avoid contracting the infection — spread by coughing and sneezing — with a series of four shots beginning when a child is two months old. Public health professionals recommend people ages 10 to 64 get booster shots.
Of the eight children sickened in Hunterdon County, "several were immunized; of those immunized cases, some did not have the complete series of pertussis vaccines appropriate for their age," said state health department spokeswoman Donna Leusner.
"Vaccines in general are not 100 percent effective in preventing infections, but vaccinations still can lessen the degree of illness, even if a child is not fully immunized," she said.
Rose Puelle of the Hunterdon County Division of Public Health Preparedness, confirmed some of the sick children "were vaccinated in the past, and some not for personal or medical reasons."
"Most people who complete a vaccine series including the recommended boosters have the maximum protection available to prevent illness," Puelle said. "It affords everyone in the community, including those most susceptible such as infants and immuno-compromised, the best chance of avoiding the serious consequences of disease."
In Ocean County, neither of the infected infants was vaccinated against whooping cough, county health department spokeswoman Leslie Terjesen. Both babies required hospital care, although one has since been discharged, she said.
A vocal minority of parents oppose mandatory vaccines. Sue Collins, co-founder of the New Jersey Alliance for Informed Choice in Vaccination, said vaccines are not guarantees against disease. "I know that Hunterdon had several cases a few years ago and those were in vaccinated children," she wrote in an e-mail. "From what I understand now, the strain of pertussis seems to be circulating in some communities and other states does not match the strain in the vaccines."
Since January 2011, 51 confirmed cases of whooping cough in New Jersey have been reported to the state health department. In 2009, health officials confirmed 39 cases of whooping cough in Hunterdon County.
The outbreak in Hunterdon began in the fall, according to the state.
An Ocean County health department spokeswoman also confirmed two infants who developed symptoms in December have been diagnosed with the highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection.
The infected children in Hunterdon County range in age from 4 to 15, and are all getting treated at home, said Carl Rachel, spokesman for the Hunterdon County Division of Public Health.
Whooping cough mimics the symptoms of a cold but then develops into "uncontrolled coughing spells," according to the county website. Nationally, the illness annually kills 10 to 20 people who are typically less than a year old, the website said.
New Jersey requires children enrolled in preschool or day care public to be vaccinated against whooping cough, also known as pertussis. But state law allows parents to cite religion and medical conditions as a reason to seek an exemption.
Most people can avoid contracting the infection — spread by coughing and sneezing — with a series of four shots beginning when a child is two months old. Public health professionals recommend people ages 10 to 64 get booster shots.
Of the eight children sickened in Hunterdon County, "several were immunized; of those immunized cases, some did not have the complete series of pertussis vaccines appropriate for their age," said state health department spokeswoman Donna Leusner.
"Vaccines in general are not 100 percent effective in preventing infections, but vaccinations still can lessen the degree of illness, even if a child is not fully immunized," she said.
Rose Puelle of the Hunterdon County Division of Public Health Preparedness, confirmed some of the sick children "were vaccinated in the past, and some not for personal or medical reasons."
"Most people who complete a vaccine series including the recommended boosters have the maximum protection available to prevent illness," Puelle said. "It affords everyone in the community, including those most susceptible such as infants and immuno-compromised, the best chance of avoiding the serious consequences of disease."
In Ocean County, neither of the infected infants was vaccinated against whooping cough, county health department spokeswoman Leslie Terjesen. Both babies required hospital care, although one has since been discharged, she said.
A vocal minority of parents oppose mandatory vaccines. Sue Collins, co-founder of the New Jersey Alliance for Informed Choice in Vaccination, said vaccines are not guarantees against disease. "I know that Hunterdon had several cases a few years ago and those were in vaccinated children," she wrote in an e-mail. "From what I understand now, the strain of pertussis seems to be circulating in some communities and other states does not match the strain in the vaccines."
Since January 2011, 51 confirmed cases of whooping cough in New Jersey have been reported to the state health department. In 2009, health officials confirmed 39 cases of whooping cough in Hunterdon County.
The outbreak in Hunterdon began in the fall, according to the state.
Call or click Passport Health today
800-741-0504
Monday, December 5, 2011
Passport Health opens an additional location in Bridgewater NJ
We are expanding and will be opening an additional office to better serve you in Bridgewater New Jersey at 991 US highway 22 suite 200.
Hours by appointment only, call us at 732 345 0029 today!
Click us www.passporthealthusa.com/new-jersey
Monday, November 7, 2011
Varicella Lollipop Scam Alert
Authorities and doctors are warning parents who want to avoid chicken pox vaccines for their children that a new mail-order scheme to share lollipops licked by children infected with the disease as a way to create immunity in their kids is not only unsafe but illegal.
“Can you imagine getting a package in the mail from this complete stranger that you know from Facebook because you joined a group, and say here, drink this purported spit from some other kid?” U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Jerry Martin told The Associated Press.
News reports from Phoenix’s KPHO-TV and Nashville’s WSMV-TV this week looked into groups forming on social media sites like Facebook that offer ways to get “natural immunity” from chicken pox by deliberately exposing children to the disease.
Concerns about the vaccine range from worries about whether some of the ingredients are harmful to children, to fears that the vaccine itself is ineffective and would only be creating only short-term immunity to the disease.
Facebook groups such as “Find a Pox Party in Your Area” have popped up — offering ways for people to connect and share the virus through infected items, according to the TV news reports.
Doctors warn that the practice is not only impractical, but it’s dangerous.
Isaac Thomsen, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, told the AP that shipping the infected items is “theoretically possible” but “probably not an effective way to transmit it. It typically has to be inhaled.”
But Thomsen also warned that the lollipops could carry other more dangerous viruses, like hepatitis.
It is also federal crime to send diseases, viruses or a contagion through the post office or any mail transport service and carries a sentence between less than a year to 20 years if convicted, according to Martin.
In 1995, the chickenpox vaccine, varicella, was approved for use in the United States. Every state requires every child be vaccinated before they can enter day care or school.
There are some exceptions that vary state to state, including proof that the child has contracted the virus on his or her own and as parents who refrain from getting their children vaccinated due to religious reasons.
ABC News’ Emily Friedman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
“Can you imagine getting a package in the mail from this complete stranger that you know from Facebook because you joined a group, and say here, drink this purported spit from some other kid?” U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Jerry Martin told The Associated Press.
News reports from Phoenix’s KPHO-TV and Nashville’s WSMV-TV this week looked into groups forming on social media sites like Facebook that offer ways to get “natural immunity” from chicken pox by deliberately exposing children to the disease.
Concerns about the vaccine range from worries about whether some of the ingredients are harmful to children, to fears that the vaccine itself is ineffective and would only be creating only short-term immunity to the disease.
Facebook groups such as “Find a Pox Party in Your Area” have popped up — offering ways for people to connect and share the virus through infected items, according to the TV news reports.
Doctors warn that the practice is not only impractical, but it’s dangerous.
Isaac Thomsen, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, told the AP that shipping the infected items is “theoretically possible” but “probably not an effective way to transmit it. It typically has to be inhaled.”
But Thomsen also warned that the lollipops could carry other more dangerous viruses, like hepatitis.
It is also federal crime to send diseases, viruses or a contagion through the post office or any mail transport service and carries a sentence between less than a year to 20 years if convicted, according to Martin.
In 1995, the chickenpox vaccine, varicella, was approved for use in the United States. Every state requires every child be vaccinated before they can enter day care or school.
There are some exceptions that vary state to state, including proof that the child has contracted the virus on his or her own and as parents who refrain from getting their children vaccinated due to religious reasons.
ABC News’ Emily Friedman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Please call 1-800-741-0504 for an appointment for the varicella vaccine
Click us www.passporthealthusa.com/new-jersey
Friday, September 23, 2011
Anyone Can Get Influenza
On average, 1 out of 5 Americans suffer from influenza every year. In addition, influenza and its related complications result in approximately 226,000 hospitalizations in the US each year. Depending on virus severity during the influenza season, deaths can range from 3000 to a high of about 49,000 people.
We all are at risk for contracting influenza. The results for some will be lost work or school days. But for those at highest risk, the results can be more serious – leading to hospitalization and even death. The best way to prevent influenza is with an annual flu shot.
Combined with pneumonia, influenza is the nation's eighth leading cause of death.
Influenza is serious – get vaccinated
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Corporate flu clinics
Every year millions of dollars are lost by American Business due to loss of productivity with employees being out sick with the flu.
Don't let your company be a part of that statistic
Call or click now for more information
www.passporthealthusa.com/new-jersey
1-800-741-0504
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
First Class Medical Care for Travel Anywhere
Exciting destinations, exotic foods, engaging customs. . . International travel, whether for personal or business reasons, can be challenging if you are not prepared. Disease, illness, crime, and injury happen unexpectedly to even the most experienced traveler. Planning for good health on an international trip is as important as buying tickets or obtaining a visa and passport. That is why Passport Health's mission is to provide information, travel vaccines, and travel medications for you, the international traveler.
Passport Health is the largest provider of travel medical services in the United States with convenient locations nationwide. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure we can prepare you for your trip with destination-specific travel information, immunizations, travel shots, specialty travel products, and international travel health insurance in all our travel clinics.
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