We received our first shipment of intranasal flu vaccine

We received our first shipment of the Intranasal Influenza Vaccine for the 2011-2012 Influenza Season... It is available to your child if he/she is older than 2, does not have a chronic medical condition or egg allergies. Its effect lasts 12 months or so so it is not too early to get it! Before school starts!!!!

Update on Reported Measles Cases in the U.S.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an official health advisory on June 22, 2011 reporting that the U.S. is experiencing a high number of reported measles cases in 2011, many of which were acquired during international travel.

From January 1 through June 17 this year, 156 confirmed cases of measles were reported to the CDC. Of these cases, 136 were associated with importations from measles-endemic countries or countries where large outbreaks are occurring.

The imported cases involved unvaccinated U.S. residents who recently traveled abroad, unvaccinated visitors to the U.S., and people linked to these imported cases. To date, 12 outbreaks (3 or more linked cases) have occurred, accounting for 47% of the 156 cases. Of the total case-patients, 133 (85%) were unvaccinated or had an undocumented vaccination status.

Of the 139 case-patients who were U.S. residents, 86 (62%) were unvaccinated, 30 (22%) had undocumented vaccination status, 11 (8%) had received 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, 11 (8%) had received 2 doses, and 1 (1%) had received 3 (documented) doses.

The increase in measles cases and outbreaks in the U.S. this year underscores the ongoing risk of importations, the need for high measles vaccine coverage, and the importance of prompt and appropriate public health response to measles cases and outbreaks.

For the entire health advisory, please visit the CDC website.

A group of doctors filed suit to overturn a new law that prohibits medical professionals from asking patients about gun ownership

According to the Miami Herald, pediatricians are fighting back against the National Rifle Association. A group of physicians on Monday filed suit in a Miami federal court to nullify a controversial measure prohibiting health practitioners from routinely asking their patients if they own guns and have them properly stored.

Physicians say questions about gun ownership is often part of routine screenings done in many doctor’s offices, included in a battery of questions including such safety questions as whether poisons are kept in the home or if medicines are safely stored.

Backers say ownership is a constitutionally protected right, making it different from other possible potential hazards doctors might ask about.

Dr. David Sprayberry MD from the Survivor Pediatrics Blog, wrote an interesting piece regarding the matter. We like Dr. Sprayberry's post for several reasons. But we'd like for you to make up your own mind. 

If [Bob Barr] had been to a pediatrician’s office in the last 20 years, he would be aware that pediatricians are so busy making sure they cover all the things they are supposed to cover that they really aren’t going to waste their time interrogating parents and their children about guns.

Pediatricians may counsel about gun safety verbally or, more likely, in written format, because prevention of injury is part of what we do. We will also warn about the dangers of certain sleep positions, we will advise the use of helmets when biking or skating, and we will counsel about water safety.

To read Dr. Sprayberry's Op Ed piece, click on this link.

Consequences of Refusing Vaccines

The USA Today published an article that discusses how parents refusing vaccines for their children are actually increasing childhood illnesses that were once thought to be eradicated. 

As of June 10, 152 chases of measles have been reported across the USA: 53 patients (35%) had to be hospitalized.

Parents who decline vaccines may not realize that they're gambling with the lives of not just their kids, but all the children around them, says Patsy Stinchfield, director of pediatric infectious disease at Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, where Landon was treated. Measles can kill by causing pneumonia, brain inflammation and other complications, Stinchfield says. Babies too young to be vaccinated and people with compromised immune systems, such as those with cancer, are especially vulnerable. They rely on others around them to keep the virus out of circulation, a phenomenon known as "herd immunity," which protects even those who can't be vaccinated, she says.

 Measles is a preventable disease.

Click here to read the USA Today Article.

Too Much TV Leads To Heart Issues, Diabetes Report Says

Harvard Public Health researchers released a study showing TV watching was highly associated with developing Type II Diabetes, heart disease, and death from all causes.  From the article:

For every two hours of TV watching, the researchers found the risk of type 2 diabetes increased by 20% over 8.5 years of follow-up, the risk of heart disease rose by 15% over a decade and the odds of dying from any cause increased 13% during a seven year follow-up.

Here is the MedPage today link:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/228652.php