To highlight the importance of annual influenza vaccination, and to foster greater use of influenza vaccine in the months of December, January, and beyond, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, and other agencies will be conducting educational and promotional activities during National Influenza Vaccination Week, December 2–8, 2012. As of mid-November, approximately 123 million doses of 2012–2013 seasonal influenza vaccine had been delivered to vaccination providers in the United States (1). The [...]
It’s official…the winter flu season has finally begun. The latest start to in 24 years and so far one of the mildest
CDC has made if official! The winter flu season has finally begun, making this the latest start to the season in 24 years — and thus far it is one of the mildest. CDC is speculating that our unusually warm winter this year might be playing a role in this season’s slow, mild start. Flu viruses survive longer on surfaces in cold, dry weather, and cold weather makes people huddle indoors, where they are more [...]
How To Reduce Illness? Canadian Research Shows An Effect Way Of Managing Pandemic Influenza – Close Schools
Canadian researchers have found compelling evidence that closing schools is an effective way to control flu epidemics. Scientists at McMaster University in Ontario and elsewhere compared patterns of flu transmission with weather and school calendars in Alberta from April to December 2009. The study, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, found that transmission rates were linked to weather, but even more strongly to the closing of schools in the spring and their reopening in the [...]
2012 Immunization Schedule Issues For All Ages – Avoid Preventable Illnesses By Keeping Your Vaccinations Current
The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s ACIP has issued the 2012 adult immunization schedule in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Recommendations and Reports. The CDC website has very easy to understand and downloadable immunization schedules for all age groups on their web site at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/adult-schedule.htm#everyone The new recommendations include broader recommendations for human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination. In addition, the adult schedule and the child and [...]
