Every August, for National Immunization Month, the Ocean County Health Department (OCHD) reminds residents it’s a vitally important time to start vaccinating the whole family from a variety of infectious diseases. However, due to the recent measles outbreaks, the message is more important than ever.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that there have been more than 17,000 cases of measles reported in the United Sates so far in 2019. In Ocean County, there have been a total of 8 confirmed cases and 4 cases in one Monmouth County household that had a direct epidemiologic link to Ocean County. Protecting your children with the vaccines recommended by the CDC immunization schedule is one of the most important things parents can do to keep them safe not only from measles, but other serious diseases such as whooping cough, chicken pox and mumps.
“August is the perfect time for families to make sure that all of their loved ones have access to the recommended vaccines and are protected for the upcoming year,” explains Gerry P. Little, liaison to the Ocean County Board of Health. “We must be persistent in raising awareness about the importance of immunizations and timely vaccination for people of all ages.”
Typically we think of children being at high risk, but older adults are the most vulnerable to many infectious diseases and illnesses – especially those that can be deadly like flu and pneumonia. 36,000 people die from seasonal flu with an alarming 90 percent occurring in people over the age of 65.
“Immunizations really do save lives. While most of us associate this time of year with immunizing children for the start of a new school year, we have to recognize that older adults are often disproportionately at risk from certain infectious diseases. All seniors should speak with their healthcare providers about what immunizations are right for them,” advises Daniel E. Regenye, OCHD Public Health Coordinator.
The Ocean County Health Department is reminding people that vaccines are safe, effective and the best protection against so many diseases – from infancy to early adulthood and into old age. Getting vaccinated is not only protection for ourselves but can keep disease from spreading to our children, families and communities.
“Our goal is to continue to spread awareness about the benefits of immunizations. For vaccines to be most effective, vaccination rates must remain high,” Regenye added.
For more information about National Immunization Month, or a list of immunization schedules, please visit the Ocean County Health Department website at www.ochd.org. Also, please check out our new website at www.phu2.org, to access and learn more about our Public Health is You Too! campaign to help equip you to take simple steps to improve your health.
If the CDC says one out of every 1,000 measles’ cases ends up in a death that would mean there should have been 17 deaths from the measles out of the 17,000 cases. Is anyone aware of any deaths from the measles this year in the U.S. since January?
Also did you know that a medical study shows that “repeated vaccination at a young age substantially increases the risk of influenza in older age”? Google “Repeated Influenza vaccination of healthy children and adults: borrow now, pay later?”
Did you know that when the CDC announces their flu death statistics they are allowed to include in that figure anyone who died from pneumonia even if it wasn’t flu related? For example, in 2001 they reported 62,034 deaths from “influenza and pneumonia.” The statistics showed 61,777 were from pneumonia, 257 from the flu, and in only 18 cases was flu virus positively identified. Read more at: “CDC Influenza Deaths – Request for Correction.” And then you can read the HHS response at “CDC – Influenza deaths: HHS response to RFC.” Then use your “gemara kup” and see what makes sense to you!
Any may I respectfully request that any comments on this story should be written respectfully…especially so close to after Tisha B’Av! Thank you in advance!
A smarter way to prevent the flu is by washing your hands before you eat anything, and make sure schools, yeshivos and workplaces have soap in the bathroom! And do not overload your body with sugar-loaded food because it impacts on your immune system to fight any germs that may come your way.