Features
Preteen Vaccine
Week is Coming Feb. 12-18!
Preteen Vaccine Week is a
yearly observance to highlight the importance of
vaccinations for preteens and also the preteen
doctor’s visit.
Immunizations help protect against a number of
serious diseases, and 11-12 year olds should
have these:
-
Tdap: Tetanus,
diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough)
-
HPV: (Human
papilloma virus) vaccine (for girls and
boys—protects against genital warts and
cancer, including cervical cancer, later in
life)
-
Flu
-
Meningococcal: (protects
against meningococcal meningitis, a
bacterial infection which can cause brain
damage, arm and leg amputations, kidney
damage and death)
-
Chickenpox: (varicella)—(more
than just an itchy rash; it can cause
pneumonia or serious skin infections.
Preteens can get these
vaccines, and talk to their doctor about all
sorts of health-related issues like nutrition at
a doctor visit. Many preteens don’t see their
doctor at this time of their lives unless
there’s an injury or illness.
more...
Flu
Season 2011-12
Flu season is here, and it's time for everyone
6 months of age and older to get flu vaccine.
Have you
received flu vaccine for this flu season? What about your
family and friends? Coworkers? If not, why not?
Did
you know that the single best way to protect
against the flu is to get flu vaccine every
year?
According to the Federal Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, seasonal flu vaccines
protect against the three influenza viruses that
research indicates will be most common during
the upcoming season. The viruses in the vaccine
can change each year based on international
surveillance and scientists' estimations about
which types and strains of viruses will
circulate in a given year. About 2 weeks after
vaccination, antibodies that provide protection
against the influenza viruses in the vaccine
develop in the body. Information specific to the
2011-2012 season, including the vaccine
formulation, can be found at 2011-2012
Flu Season.
Immunization
Video PSA (click to play)!
Vaccines.gov:
New Consumer-Based Immunization Information
Website!
The
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
today unveiled an innovative new website to help
parents and other consumers learn about the most
effective way to protect themselves and their
children from infectious diseases and learn
about immunization. Vaccines.gov
brings together the best in federal resources on
vaccine and immunizations to provide consumers
with easy-to-understand health information
specifically for their needs.
