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Massachusetts lawmakers are considering a bill to make circumcising your son illegal unless its for medical reasons. You think:
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Total votes: 10
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Tue, 01/26/2010 - 3:00pm
By Heather Kempskie
In late October and early November, parents flooded phone lines at their pediatrician office looking for the H1N1 vaccination for their children. Flash forward to present day and local Walgreen stores are inviting the public in to receive their shot. As a parent, I was most concerned with getting my young children vaccinated. Why am I driving by Walgreens without so much as a second thought to enter and get myself protected to?
An informal survey of parents revealed their reasoning to include:
1) Kids are the priority group, I don't really need it.
2) I don't have time/Time has run out
3) I can't afford to get sick from the flu and vaccinations can cause it
I interviewed Laura E. Scott, executive director of Families Fighting Flu - a volunteer-based corporation which works to improve the rates of annual childhood influenza vaccinations- for a reality-check. She advocates the Normal 0 cocoon effect.
"We believe in building the coccon effect by having the entire family get vaccinated," says Scott. "Children are only half the battle, parents need to be vaccinated too." The flu is contagious and can spread to your family and those you love.
Think you've run out of time? Now is the time to make sure you are protected. February is a big month when it comes to the flu including the seasonal flu. Some experts also think there could be a third peak of H1N1.
"A lot of parents don't realize that they could bring the virus home and expose their children to it," explains Scott. "As a result, your children could get (H1N1) even in they are vaccinated. No vaccination is 100 percent effective but it does lessen the symptoms."
In a media briefing held last week, Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of CDC’s National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, confirmed, "The H1N1 virus is still circulating and it is still causing disease, hospitalizations and deaths. Many people are still susceptible to this virus. And would benefit from vaccination. We want to avoid complacency."
As of today the CDC reports: Overall flu activity in the United States decreased again slightly during the week of January 10-16, 2010, as reported in FluView. Though flu activity, caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses, may rise and fall, it is expected to continue for several more months.
Dr. Schuchat's briefing concludes with a message for the public: "I would hate for people to make decisions thinking there is no risk and then make get sick or severely ill. We have the chance for people to protect themselves and reduce the risk of serious complications. So I think complacency is probably our top enemy right now."
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Flu.gov
Families Fighting Flu, Inc. (FFF) is a non-profit, volunteer-based corporation made up of families and healthcare practitioners who have experienced first-hand the death of a child due to the flu, or have had a child experience severe medical complications from the flu. Through education and advocacy, FFF hopes to improve the rates of annual childhood influenza vaccinations and help reduce the number of childhood illnesses and deaths caused by the flu each year.
Should Parents Get Vaccinated?
By Heather Kempskie
In late October and early November, parents flooded phone lines at their pediatrician office looking for the H1N1 vaccination for their children. Flash forward to present day and local Walgreen stores are inviting the public in to receive their shot. As a parent, I was most concerned with getting my young children vaccinated. Why am I driving by Walgreens without so much as a second thought to enter and get myself protected to?
An informal survey of parents revealed their reasoning to include:
1) Kids are the priority group, I don't really need it.
2) I don't have time/Time has run out
3) I can't afford to get sick from the flu and vaccinations can cause it
I interviewed Laura E. Scott, executive director of Families Fighting Flu - a volunteer-based corporation which works to improve the rates of annual childhood influenza vaccinations- for a reality-check. She advocates the Normal 0 cocoon effect.
"We believe in building the coccon effect by having the entire family get vaccinated," says Scott. "Children are only half the battle, parents need to be vaccinated too." The flu is contagious and can spread to your family and those you love.
Think you've run out of time? Now is the time to make sure you are protected. February is a big month when it comes to the flu including the seasonal flu. Some experts also think there could be a third peak of H1N1. "A lot of parents don't realize that they could bring the virus home and expose their children to it," explains Scott. "As a result, your children could get (H1N1) even in they are vaccinated. No vaccination is 100 percent effective but it does lessen the symptoms."
In a media briefing held last week, Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of CDC’s National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, confirmed, "The H1N1 virus is still circulating and it is still causing disease, hospitalizations and deaths. Many people are still susceptible to this virus. And would benefit from vaccination. We want to avoid complacency."
As of today the CDC reports: Overall flu activity in the United States decreased again slightly during the week of January 10-16, 2010, as reported in FluView. Though flu activity, caused by either 2009 H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses, may rise and fall, it is expected to continue for several more months.
Dr. Schuchat's briefing concludes with a message for the public: "I would hate for people to make decisions thinking there is no risk and then make get sick or severely ill. We have the chance for people to protect themselves and reduce the risk of serious complications. So I think complacency is probably our top enemy right now."
Resources
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Flu.gov
Families Fighting Flu, Inc. (FFF) is a non-profit, volunteer-based corporation made up of families and healthcare practitioners who have experienced first-hand the death of a child due to the flu, or have had a child experience severe medical complications from the flu. Through education and advocacy, FFF hopes to improve the rates of annual childhood influenza vaccinations and help reduce the number of childhood illnesses and deaths caused by the flu each year.
