tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23914690411928355352024-03-14T03:54:51.400-04:00Nurses Who VaccinateNurses Who Vaccinate: Evidence Based, Public Health Advocates within the workplace, community, and social mediaMelodyRNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17839261453986068642noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-55498327982409740812021-02-08T10:38:00.001-05:002021-02-08T10:38:04.948-05:00My Journey as a Clinical Trial Participant<span> </span>The<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/events-as-they-happen" target="_blank"> COVID 19 pandemic</a> has been trying for the entire planet and especially so for those working on the front line caring for those in the hospital. They worry that their patients may not live until the end of their shift. They talk to family members, sometimes with reports of their loved ones improving, too often to deliver the worst news. They’ve watched <a href="https://khn.org/news/lost-on-the-frontline-health-care-worker-death-toll-covid19-coronavirus/" target="_blank">colleagues succumb to this disease</a>, and sometimes have mourned the loss of their own. I have watched this with the luxury of being slightly off-sides. I work in a private practice, only having to occasionally round in the hospital. I see the stress and anxiety of my colleagues, worrying about their patients, their colleagues, whether there is enough PPE to keep them safe. My heart aches for them and I longed for a way to help make a difference for them, for those who survived this disease but will live with long term complications and those we have lost to it. Then, the opportunity to make a difference presented itself to me. I had the opportunity to<a href="https://www.niaid.nih.gov/clinical-trials/covid-19-clinical-trials" target="_blank"> enroll in a clinical trial for one of the COVID Vaccine</a> candidates.<br /><br /><span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M6IBETj4Lx8/YCFXCot_MwI/AAAAAAABwHs/uuM0NIfzxNs8lazt05yxzxK_vx6tZNIhwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_2203.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M6IBETj4Lx8/YCFXCot_MwI/AAAAAAABwHs/uuM0NIfzxNs8lazt05yxzxK_vx6tZNIhwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_2203.heic" /></a></div> </span>I live in New Jersey. I got my masters degree from Rutgers University. I used to do infections disease rounds in Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, attached to Rutgers. And once again, I am a Rutgers student in their Doctor of Nursing Practice Program. When the university announced that they were <a href="https://www.rutgers.edu/news/rutgers-recruiting-participants-johnson-johnson-phase-3-covid-19-vaccine-clinical-trial" target="_blank">seeking volunteers to participate in a clinical trial </a>for the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine, I jumped at the chance. All I needed to do was to fit it into my work/school schedule. <br /><br /><span> </span>I responded to an email sent out by the university and answered preliminary questions that the study team wound evaluate to determine if I were an appropriate candidate to participate in the trial at the end of October. On November 12, I was informed that I was approved for inclusion in the trial and I made my first appointment with the study team for December 3. <br /><br /><span> </span>The study team emailed me a copy of the informed consent form ahead of time to review. It was 35 pages long and very detailed. The email did state that a member of the trial team would be reviewing the whole form with me at my appointment. The trial participants would be followed for two years after receiving their injection. As with any<a href="https://www.verywellhealth.com/double-blind-placebo-controlled-clinical-trial-715861" target="_blank"> randomized double blind placebo controlled study</a>, neither I, nor the people at the trial site would know if I were getting a real vaccine or a placebo. With other vaccines on the verge of receiving emergency use authorization, I was well aware that by enrolling in the trial there was a very real chance that I wound not be eligible to receive another vaccine while participating in this trial, and again there was a 50/50 chance that I would get a placebo. Still, I was very excited to be a part of this process.<br /><br /><span> </span>On December 3rd, I pulled into the Robert Wood Johnson Hospital parking lot and made my way into the atrium. I was quite familiar with the building having done infectious disease rounds there for a couple of years. It was almost like coming home. I made my way to the research center and met a lovely nurse named Fey. We bonded over Star Trek (I as wearing my Starfleet medical insignia mask). She went over all the details of the consent form with me. She paid special attention to the part that talked about the one serious adverse event that had been documented with the vaccine in trail arm in Europe and made sure I was ok with continuing to proceed. I was, of course, still on board. We went over my complete medical history and current medications. <br /><br /><span> </span>Then I went into another room and my vital signs were checked, a Covid nasal swab was done and blood drawn. Next a nice young man came in and helped me download register on the trial participant app that I would use to track any symptoms I may have while participating in the trial. <br /><br /><span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o959qXuFlKc/YCFW0IVtXWI/AAAAAAABwHk/rrM807108C0jcplSSj-4hBWIwArR8YLAgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_2207.heic" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o959qXuFlKc/YCFW0IVtXWI/AAAAAAABwHk/rrM807108C0jcplSSj-4hBWIwArR8YLAgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_2207.heic" width="320" /></a></div></span>Finally, I went to another room, sat in a recliner and another nurse gave me my shot. I barely felt a thing. I was told to wait there for the next 15 minutes for observation before I went on my way.<br /><br /><span> </span>A week later the Pfizer vaccine was approved for <a href="https://www.fda.gov/media/144412/download" target="_blank">Emergency Use Authorization</a>. Front line health care providers were first on the list. Since I occasionally do hospital rounds for vascular patients, I was on that list. BUUUUTTTT, I’m in a trial. What a conundrum! Well, I had decided to wait. I joined a <a href="https://www.patientcentra.com/patient-recruitment-insights/facebooks-health-support-groups-can-improve-clinical-trial-outreach" target="_blank">Facebook group for people participating in various clinical trials</a>. The question had come up and some frontline health care workers participating in trials for other vaccines reported that they had been unblinded so that they could get a vaccine and be protected, since they had the received a placebo in their trial. At my follow up visit I will ask what the study coordinators for my trial have in mind for us. I could of course drop out of the trial, but I’m hoping to avoid that as I entered the trial not to get a vaccine, but to contribute to the science. We’ll see what happens in a couple of weeks….<br /><br /><br /><div><b><i>Lori Boyle, MSN, APN, CWS, WCC</i></b></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lori has been in nursing for more than 20 years. While in graduate school, she became aware of how many people were misunderstanding the science of vaccination and falling for misinformation. Since that time she has made it her mission to help people understand that the value and safety of vaccination as recommended, far outweighs the risks. In addition to <a href="https://nurseswhovaccinate.org/become-a-nwv-member" target="_blank">Nurses Who Vaccinate</a> she is also a member of <a href="https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/" target="_blank">Voices for Vaccines</a> and the <a href="https://www.immunizenj.org/" target="_blank">NJ Immunization Network</a>.</span></div><br />MelodyRNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17839261453986068642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-7110335847610557392020-11-15T22:18:00.005-05:002020-11-15T22:58:17.535-05:00A NWV Nurse's First Hand Account of COVID Vaccine Trial<p><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>I am a nurse, like many, working in the hospital during this pandemic. I see the weight nurses carry as we all continue to adapt to demands of hospital administration as we grapple with patient surges, short staffing, with no reprieve. As a strong supporter of immunizations and public health, active in volunteer groups such as <a href="https://www.coparents4vax.org/" target="_blank">Colorado Parents for Vaccinated Communities</a>, the COVID vaccine is the only light I see at the end of the tunnel. When I saw the <a href="https://www.jnj.com/our-company/johnson-johnson-prepares-to-resume-phase-3-ensemble-trial-of-its-janssen-covid-19-vaccine-candidate-in-the-us" target="_blank">JANSSEN ENSEMBLE COVID</a> vaccine trial needing volunteers, I became very interested in helping.<br /><br /></p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3OCCRCu6BjU/X7H0CxA_R9I/AAAAAAABqVk/PV31LeqszaoPvT9jXTZ_UdqrCsY5MJL2gCNcBGAsYHQ/s299/covidvaccine%2Bvial.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="299" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3OCCRCu6BjU/X7H0CxA_R9I/AAAAAAABqVk/PV31LeqszaoPvT9jXTZ_UdqrCsY5MJL2gCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/covidvaccine%2Bvial.png" width="400" /></a></div></div>I never anticipated being a nurse in a pandemic. I never volunteered for a medical trial before the ENSEMBLE trial. But I have been working in the hospital during this entire pandemic, and thankfully, luckily, unbelievably almost, have not contracted COVID yet. Once I do, I would be ineligible for the study. I felt like I could not waste my health to miss this opportunity. I reached out via email, and had a health screening on the phone, followed by a pre consent phone appointment that lasted about an hour to ensure I understood my rights, the ethics and legalities of the study, as well as any risks. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qT72I2y5Bkk/X7HuN14Y8YI/AAAAAAABqVM/8GsN2bIqLK8hay2P68hEjx5Yod1m7pdDQCNcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="345" data-original-width="450" height="307" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-qT72I2y5Bkk/X7HuN14Y8YI/AAAAAAABqVM/8GsN2bIqLK8hay2P68hEjx5Yod1m7pdDQCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h307/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Next, I had an in person appointment in the clinic, where I had more consent discussions, nasal swabs, a pregnancy test, blood work, a physical exam, as well as training and education on the study process. It is a randomized, <a href="https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-a-Double-Blind-Trial.aspx" target="_blank">double blind study</a>, so once it was determined that I was a candidate, I was randomized and the pharmacy made my injection, which had a 50/50 chance of being either placebo or the immunization. <br /><p></p><p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>The next day, I felt crummy and woke up with a low grade fever, muscle aches, and soreness that improved toward the end of the day and resolved completely within 24 hours. I am hopeful this means I received the vaccine! I am in the study for the next two years, voluntarily and able to leave at any time. I have 5 visits in the first year, with 2 in the second year. I will be unblinded at the end, which could be sooner than 2 years. I have an app on my phone by <a href="https://www.iqvia.com/about-us/commitment-to-public-health/covid-19-resources" target="_blank">IQVIA</a> to monitor my symptoms and should I contract COVID, a home health agency is contracted with the researchers for extra support. Overall, it was a good experience and I am so glad that I was able to do it!</p><div><i><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: small; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LqCDHYDLMZE/X7H0FFZXiiI/AAAAAAABqV0/BZ05VLkrLoo9gdOiKBRNhH7NxubnvQAdwCPcBGAYYCw/s320/Elizabeth%2BBrown%2B%25281%2529.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="257" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LqCDHYDLMZE/X7H0FFZXiiI/AAAAAAABqV0/BZ05VLkrLoo9gdOiKBRNhH7NxubnvQAdwCPcBGAYYCw/w321-h400/Elizabeth%2BBrown%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="321" /></a></div><br />Elizabeth Brown lives in Colorado where she works as a charge nurse in Women’s Services and a clinical adjunct professor in nursing, while raising three children with her spouse, who is in the military. She is an advocate in all areas of her life- for her children, for her nursing students, for her patients, and for her fellow healthcare staff. </span></i></div></div></span></i></div>MelodyRNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17839261453986068642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-74670361826663552112020-10-19T01:36:00.001-04:002020-10-19T01:36:17.503-04:00Petrificus Influenzus! #FightFlu<p>It’s that time of year again! Time for what you say? Time for Nurse Lori’s annual Flu Vaccine Meme! This year I am channeling my inner Professor McGonagall, that calm and wise mentor to young wizards and witches. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oqGwU62YKyY/X40gZuXwKII/AAAAAAAAAt0/NliDmuRFS-gftIME1iQ5g1JSWlosYbaiQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1123/121335214_10223636540725221_6596908563305085099_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="1123" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oqGwU62YKyY/X40gZuXwKII/AAAAAAAAAt0/NliDmuRFS-gftIME1iQ5g1JSWlosYbaiQCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h640/121335214_10223636540725221_6596908563305085099_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: start;">Muggle Please!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: start;" /><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"type":104,"tn":"*N"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/getyourflooshot?__eep__=6&source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG" style="background-color: white; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="font-family: inherit;">GetYourFlooShot</span></span></a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: start;" /><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"type":104,"tn":"*N"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/nurseswhovax?__eep__=6&source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG" style="background-color: white; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="font-family: inherit;">NursesWhoVax</span></span></a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: start;" /><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"type":104,"tn":"*N"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/vaxwithme?__eep__=6&source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG" style="background-color: white; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="font-family: inherit;">VaxWithMe</span></span></a><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: start;" /><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"type":104,"tn":"*N"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/flufighter?__eep__=6&source=feed_text&epa=HASHTAG" style="background-color: white; color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="color: #365899; font-family: inherit; unicode-bidi: isolate;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="font-family: inherit;">FluFighter</span></span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;">We don’t need any fancy spells or incantations to protect ourselves and others from the flu. But we do need to follow some <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/prevention.htm" target="_blank">basic guidelines</a>:<br /><br />• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.<br />• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.<br />• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw it in the trash<br />after you use it and wash your hands.<br />• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not<br />available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.<br />• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.<br />• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs that can cause<br />respiratory illnesses like flu.<br />• For flu, CDC recommends that you (or your child) stay home for at least 24 hours after the<br />fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. The fever should be gone<br />without the use of a fever-reducing medicine. The stay-at-home guidance for COVID-19 may be<br />different.<br />• In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, local governments or public health departments<br />may recommend additional precautions be taken in your community. Follow those instructions.<br />•<b> And most importantly, the best potion for protection is your annual Floo Shot!<br /></b><br />This year as with the previous three years memes (Wonder Woman, Danaerys Targaryen and<br /><a href="https://nurseswhovaccinate.blogspot.com/2019/10/princess-leia-joins-resistance-to-fight.html" target="_blank">Princess Leia</a>), my goal is to be fun and engaging and use familiar and fun characters to remind<br />people to do what they can to protect themselves and others from this devastating illness.<br />This year was more important for me to vaccinate against flu than ever before. CoVid19 has put<br />added emphasis on <a href="https://khn.org/news/covid-influenza-this-is-a-good-year-to-get-a-flu-shot-experts-advise/" target="_blank">the need for flu vaccine this year</a>. <br /><br />As an adult/geriatric nurse practitioner, I lost more patients than I want to think about to CoVid19. Influenza circulating in the community on top of CoVid19 has the potential to be disastrous. So, ensuring that I, and those I love, and patients I care for are protected against flu is some of the most important healthcare work that I do.<br /><br />This has become a tradition for me now and I hope to keep it up for at least a few more years,<br />as long as I have ideas and costumes!</div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i>Do you have a vaccine selfie you want us to share? Email us at <a href="mailto:NursesWhoVaccinate@gmail.com">NursesWhoVaccinate@gmail.com</a> or tag us on social media! Find us on <a href="https://twitter.com/NursesWhoVax" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nurseswhovax/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NursesWhoVaccinate/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>!</i></b></div><p></p><p><br /><br /><br /><i><b>Lori Boyle, MSN, APN, CWS, WCC</b></i><br />Lori has been in nursing for more than 20 years. While in graduate school, she became aware of how many people were misunderstanding the science of vaccination and falling for misinformation. Since that time she has made it her mission to help people understand that the value and safety of vaccination as recommended, far outweighs the risks. In addition to Nurses Who Vaccinate she is also a member of <span style="background-color: white;"><em style="color: #7e7e7e; font-family: Copse; font-size: 15.4px;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/VoicesForVaccines/" style="color: #7e7e7e; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Voices for Vaccines </a></em></span>and the <span style="background-color: white;"><em style="color: #7e7e7e; font-family: Copse; font-size: 15.4px;"><a href="http://www.immunizenj.org/" style="color: #7e7e7e; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">NJ Immunization Network</a></em><em style="font-family: Copse; font-size: 15.4px;">.</em></span></p>Nurses Who Vaccinatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366311888929155867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-45370877492813653462020-05-11T11:46:00.000-04:002020-05-11T11:55:41.004-04:00Even in a Pandemic, We Cannot Forget the Importance of Routine Immunization<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re focused on this one, novel infection. It’s almost as if time has stopped and we’ve forgotten about the <a href="https://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/ss/slideshow-vaccine-preventable-diseases">many childhood diseases</a> that, thanks to science, we can prevent! Is it just me, or does it feel like flu season was eons ago? But it’s our job to remember.</div>
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During the school year, I’m a substitute school nurse for kids from K-12. I was shocked in September when I started seeing flu cases in many of my students. Multiple kids were coming into my clinic in one day with fevers and malaise, and I’d find out that whole families were later diagnosed with flu. I felt awful for these kids <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/204004">missing so much school</a> and the cases continued to rise throughout the season. In fact, many of my close friends and their kids ended up contracting influenza this season.<br />
To my dismay, of those I asked who had contracted influenza, most hadn’t received their influenza vaccine. People either don’t see it as a priority, or they have fears based on the massive amount of misinformation available online.<br />
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For years I worked in pediatric hospitals and one sound I’ll never forget is an infant struggling to breathe with respiratory illnesses such as influenza and whooping cough. My heart would break for the babies as well as the parents because nothing is worse than watching your child suffer. I always worried for the children we had to transfer to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), knowing they may suffer long-term effects to their little lungs.<br />
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I know that we need to be concerned about more than influenza and whooping cough, too. Growing up, I never met anyone my age who experienced measles, whooping cough, mumps or any of the other vaccine-preventable illnesses that we’re starting to see reoccur today. I’m old enough to remember the torture that was chickenpox. I spent a good week bathing in calamine lotion and I still have the scars on my face to show for it. I’m actually looking forward to hitting the age where I can get the shingles vaccine!</div>
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Throughout this pandemic, we’re hearing stories of all <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/05/covid19-vaccine-researcher-questions/">sorts of vaccine trials</a> but in actuality, a widely-available COVID-19 vaccine is likely years away. Experts are estimating that about 60%+ of the population will need to be infected before we can achieve <a href="https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-05-01/why-we-cannot-rush-coronavirus-herd-immunity">herd immunity</a>. Knowing this, you may be asking yourself if you even can bring your kids in for routine vaccinations.<br />
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I have an adorable 5-year-old boy and a 3-year-old girl. We’ve been fortunate enough since Florida’s safer-at-home order was implemented not to need to visit our pediatrician. We’re due for a well-check in the summer, and our doctor announced that they’re seeing routine/vaccine appointments in the mornings and sick visits in the afternoons. They’ve been great about keeping us updated on how they’re handling the pandemic. Because of their transparency, I trust that we have the ability to take the kids into their office if we do need to be there, even for routing exams and vaccinations. I encourage you to talk with your pediatrician to learn of their office hours and rules for seeing non-sick patients for routine visits.<br />
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In this scary, uncertain time, I can imagine that thinking about something as routine as childhood vaccinations may not feel like a priority. Just remember: What we’re going through right now with lockdowns, quarantines, and a lack of uncertainty, this is all due to just ONE novel disease in our community without herd immunity. Our lives have been changed, our kids aren’t going to school or having their normal play dates. And this is from just one disease where the community doesn’t have herd immunity. How much more awful and isolating would this experience be if COVID-19 been as <a href="https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2020-05-01/why-we-cannot-rush-coronavirus-herd-immunity">contagious as measles</a>? If this has taught me anything, it’s that we need to keep encouraging parents to keep their kids up to date on their shots. If you’re feeling powerless to protect your children right now, this is one small thing you can do to protect them and the public as a whole.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This guest blog has also been posted our partners <a href="https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/even-in-a-pandemic/">Voices for Vaccines</a> in honor of Nurses Week </span></i></b><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Shannon Keever is a Certified Pediatric Nurse with a background in pediatric and maternity nursing. She is currently a substitute school nurse with a passion for educating families about children's health. When she's not working in schools, she enjoys spending time with her 3 children and husband at their home in sunny Bradenton, Florida. Shannon has been a member of Nurses Who Vaccinate since 2018. </span></i></div>
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MelodyRNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17839261453986068642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-79871407778688770322020-04-13T17:50:00.003-04:002020-04-13T17:51:57.228-04:00NWV Fights COVID-19 Misinformation <br />
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It is hard to escape the very serious situation that has been going on around the world these past few months and will likely continue for several more. To add to the actual medical problem are the rebound effects of social distancing and isolation. Humans by their very nature are social beings and remaining this isolated for this long is difficult even for the introverts of the world. One of the benefits of the 21st century in this regard is the internet and social media. It keeps us together in the virtual world despite having to remain physically apart. Social media and other healthcare related apps have allowed medical providers to implement telehealth to continue to see and treat patients without undue risk, allowed isolated nursing home residents to “visit” with family members and allowed government and medical institutions to rapidly disseminate critical information. <br />
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Sadly, along with the good comes the bad. There have been numerous posts on social media with incorrect, unverifiable information copied and pasted repeatedly. Often, they start with leading statements such as “<i>From a Stanford Researcher</i>” or “<i>From a John’s Hopkins Infectious Disease expert</i>”. Many offer ways to avoid infection with supplements, herbal remedies or alkaline diets. Some offer ways to prevent getting sick if you are exposed using gargling, specific diets or supplements, allowing a high fever to continue to kill the virus, etc.<br />
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We at Nurses Who Vaccinate are no strangers to the way in which misinformation can spread like wildfire across social media and often appear to be credible at first glance. We have been dealing with dispelling misinformation regarding vaccination for years and the way CoVid19 misinformation spreads is no different. Many who share these “copy/pasta” posts are well intentioned. People are concerned and some downright frightened by what they see on the news. They want to help and want people to feel like something is still within their power to fight this disease that is cruelly ravaging the world. What concerns us at Nurses Who Vaccinate is that sharing misinformation is at best useless, and at worst can cause harm by giving people false hope, avoiding appropriate medical care or direct injury by using non evidence-based remedies.<br />
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Please be wary of any posts on social media that claim to be from credible medical authorities without a link to the institution mentioned. DO NOT share any of them without verifying the source and the source’s source. We at Nurses Who Vaccinate promise to only share accurate, evidence-based information, from credible sources with citation to support them. If we do not have the answers at the ready, we do have access to numerous credible resources that can help us find accurate information.<br />
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As always, we encourage you to continue to vaccinate your children and yourselves as per recommendations from the ACIP and your physician. Now is not the time to skip vaccines as a measles outbreak on top of CoVid19 would be especially devastating<br />
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Below are several links to credible sites addressing some misinformation currently circulating on social media.</div>
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Coronavirus: Johns Hopkins Expertise- <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/articles/coronavirus-myths-rumors-misinformation.html?fbclid=IwAR2FktBM7kJrYUZw1v06lTFSydQUDVgTVRtG8ZSI_kyHwC4JY3k8V9Gaf0s" target="_blank">Coronavirus Myths, Rumors and Misinformation</a></div>
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WHO Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/myth-busters" target="_blank">Myth busters</a></div>
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Harvard University Health Publishing- <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/be-careful-where-you-get-your-news-about-coronavirus-2020020118801" target="_blank">Be careful where you get your news about coronavirus</a></div>
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CDC’s Coronavirus Disease Page - <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/share-facts.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fsymptoms-testing%2Fshare-facts.html" target="_blank">Facts about coronavirus disease</a></div>
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<b>Our thoughts are with you all during this difficult time</b></div>
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Love to you all from 6 feet away,<br />
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<i><b>Lori Boyle, MSN, APN, CWS, WCC</b></i><br />
Lori has been in nursing for more than 20 years. While in graduate school, she became aware of how many people were misunderstanding the science of vaccination and falling for misinformation. Since that time she has made it her mission to help people understand that the value and safety of vaccination as recommended, far outweighs the risks. In addition to Nurses Who Vaccinate she is also a member of <span style="background-color: white;"><em style="color: #7e7e7e; font-family: Copse; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/VoicesForVaccines/" style="color: #7e7e7e; font-family: Copse; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Voices for Vaccines </a></em></span>and the <span style="background-color: white;"><em style="color: #7e7e7e; font-family: Copse; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;"><a href="http://www.immunizenj.org/" style="color: #7e7e7e; font-family: Copse; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">NJ Immunization Network</a></em><em style="font-family: Copse; font-size: 15.4px;">.</em></span></div>
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Nurses Who Vaccinatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366311888929155867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-24234457082127428732019-10-03T21:57:00.000-04:002019-10-03T22:06:05.847-04:00Princess Leia Joins the Resistance to Fight.... the Flu <b>A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...</b><br />
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It is a period of increasing flu activity. <br />
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Rebel forces, striking from local doctors offices and pharmacies, have won their first victory against the evil Galactic Influenza Virus. <br />
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During the battle, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/star-wars-vaccination-poster-2015-2" target="_blank">Rebel spies managed to vaccinate </a>against the Virus's ultimate weapon, Influenza, a debilitating virus with enough power to incapacitate healthy people. <br />
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Pursued by the Virus's sinister strains, Princess Leia races home aboard her starship, custodian of quadrivalent vaccine that can save her people and maintain health in the galaxy... <br />
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There are a few things in my life that define me. I am a mother and a wife, I am a nurse, and I am a geek and a glutton for attention. Several years ago I <a href="https://nurseswhovaccinate.org/become-a-nwv-member" target="_blank">joined Nurses Who Vaccinate</a> and became a fierce vaccine advocate, eventually having the honor of being appointed Advocacy Coordinator. I strive to dispel misinformation and help people understand the benefits of vaccination. But, I have to be me! </div>
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As a self proclaimed geek and attention glutton I probably have more costumes than a woman of advancing years should. It seems only natural to combine my passions! I recently began putting out an annual pop culture flu vaccine advocacy meme. This year’s theme is Star Wars, specifically Princess Leia. Leia is a leader, fighting to lead her people through difficult times. Sometimes she just <span style="text-align: center;">knows that she just has to tell people like it is. That was what I was hoping to achieve this year. </span></div>
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Tell it like it is. </div>
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Flu can be deadly. <br />
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While the vaccine may not always prevent flu, it can reduce hospitalizations by <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p0327-flu-study.html" target="_blank">74% for children,</a> <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/news/study-vaccination-hospitalization.htm" target="_blank">57% for the elderly</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2809006/" target="_blank">79% for diabetics </a>and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2692112/" target="_blank">52% for those with chronic lung conditions</a>. It can also protect newborns if the mother is vaccinated while pregnant <br />
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So listen to Leia. </div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Roll up your sleeve flyboy! </span></b></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Get your flu shot! </span></b></h2>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And May The Vax Be With You!</span></b></h2>
<b><br /></b><strong style="background-color: #d3e6f4; font-family: Copse; font-size: 15.4px;"><u><i>Lori Boyle, RN, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, WCC, CWS</i><br /></u></strong><em style="background-color: #d3e6f4; font-family: Copse; font-size: 15.4px;">Lori has been in nursing for more than 20 years. While in graduate school, she became aware of how many people were misunderstanding the science of vaccination and falling for misinformation. Since that time she has made it her mission to help people understand that the value and safety of vaccination as recommended, far outweighs the risks. In addition to Nurses Who Vaccinate she is also a member of </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/VoicesForVaccines/" style="background-color: #d3e6f4; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: Copse; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><em>Voices for Vaccines </em></a><em style="background-color: #d3e6f4; font-family: Copse; font-size: 15.4px;">and the </em><a href="http://www.immunizenj.org/" style="background-color: #d3e6f4; color: #7e7e7e; font-family: Copse; font-size: 15.4px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><em>NJ Immunization Network</em></a><em style="background-color: #d3e6f4; font-family: Copse; font-size: 15.4px;">.</em></div>
Nurses Who Vaccinatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366311888929155867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-53556966936912491362019-06-09T23:59:00.000-04:002019-06-10T11:13:19.754-04:00Measles in Hampton Bays: Why the Public Should Wake-Up and not Wake-Field<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
On Saturday, <a href="https://www.newsday.com/news/health/measles-suffolk-county-1.30243740" target="_blank">April 20, 2019,</a> Suffolk County Health Officials confirmed that Hampton Bays residents were exposed to an individual with measles. This case was isolated from the outbreak in Rockland County, NY as the individual was briefly visiting the area from outside of the United States where he was exposed to measles.<br /><br />
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The Rockland County Health Department has dealt with an eight-month outbreak leading to a total of 259 confirmed cases. Even more startling than the number of cases is the fact that more than <a href="https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/doh/downloads/pdf/han/alert/2019/update-measles-outbreak.pdf" target="_blank">79% of those infected have not been vaccinated</a> with even one dose of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u_B1gq1uXvA/XP3Uid6I7CI/AAAAAAAAAn0/4cdDbF52ZGwWHK3e4XLuPV89EH16ahk2ACLcBGAs/s1600/measles%2Bstates%2B2019%2Bjune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="992" height="250" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u_B1gq1uXvA/XP3Uid6I7CI/AAAAAAAAAn0/4cdDbF52ZGwWHK3e4XLuPV89EH16ahk2ACLcBGAs/s400/measles%2Bstates%2B2019%2Bjune.jpg" width="400" /></a>The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that from <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html" target="_blank">January 1 to May 31, 2019, 981** individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 26 states</a>. The CDC states that this is the greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since 1994, and since 2000 when measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. The resurgence of measles is no coincidence; the story begins with a fraudulent (and now unlicensed) doctor and ends with the public mistakenly believing that measles is just a “harmless childhood disease.” This couldn’t be further from the truth.<br /><br />
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Dr. Bruce Farber, Chief of Infectious Diseases at North Shore University Hospital, delivered an important comment to <a href="https://www.newsday.com/news/health/measles-suffolk-county-1.30243740" target="_blank">Newsday</a> regarding this measles case: “There are cases cropping up all over and the solution is vaccination… Measles is extraordinarily contagious. It is one of the most contagious, if not the most contagious infectious disease.” <br /><br />
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Dr. Farber thankfully represents the majority of the public’s consensus that <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/index.html" target="_blank">vaccinations are safe,</a> <a href="https://www.vaccines.gov/basics/work" target="_blank">effective</a> and <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/howvpd.htm" target="_blank">necessary against all infectious diseases</a> in their aim to eliminate preventable suffering. While all vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control are necessary to avoid public health outbreaks and global pandemics, MMR vaccination is quite possibly the most important public health initiative.<br /><br />
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The <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/hcp/index.html" target="_blank">measles virus,</a> described since the 9th century, is a highly communicable infection of the nose and throat which spreads through coughing and sneezing and is airborne for up to two hours. The <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/index.html" target="_blank">CDC reports</a> that “measles is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune will also become infected.” More than 92% of the population must be vaccinated against measles to maintain “herd” immunity against this virus which spreads like wildfire.<br /><br />
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The misconception that measles is just a “<a href="https://ecdc.europa.eu/en/measles/prevention-and-control/addressing-misconceptions-measles" target="_blank">harmless childhood disease</a>” is dangerous; while measles can be a harmless infection for most, it can cause serious complications and even death. Measles can cause ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, encephalitis, premature births and low-birth-weight.<br />
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Measles kills one to two children out of every 1,000 infected. Perhaps the worse complication associated with measles is <a href="https://www.aappublications.org/news/2016/10/28/Measles102816" target="_blank">Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)</a>, a rare but fatal central nervous system disease which develops 7 to 10 years after a person has been infected with measles.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ism3ht_U-MI/XP3Uia3qJrI/AAAAAAAAAn4/QqfyZlQZvao1VBCtmG6S5g4_A7MCHs-7wCLcBGAs/s1600/measles%2B1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ism3ht_U-MI/XP3Uia3qJrI/AAAAAAAAAn4/QqfyZlQZvao1VBCtmG6S5g4_A7MCHs-7wCLcBGAs/s320/measles%2B1.jpeg" width="320" /></a>So how on earth did this misconception of measles being a “harmless childhood disease” come to be? It all started with the fraudulent activity of a former British Gastroenterologist, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, whose unethical behavior is likely to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136032/" target="_blank">go down as one of the most serious crimes in medical history</a>.<br /><br />
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In 1998, Dr. Andew Wakefield and 12 colleagues published a case report in the British medical journal, the Lancet, which claimed that the MMR vaccine caused autism. The <a href="https://www.healio.com/pediatrics/vaccine-preventable-diseases/news/print/infectious-diseases-in-children/%7B24b5933b-b212-4b86-b170-d8097c205a64%7D/wakefield-study-linking-mmr-vaccine-autism-uncovered-as-complete-fraud" target="_blank">case study was fundamentally flawed</a>, as proper consent was not obtained from the invasive testing that a small group of children underwent outside of medical facilities. Following Wakefield’s Lancet publication, numerous large-scale studies were conducted which profoundly refuted the link between the MMR vaccine and autism.<br /><br />
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Shortly after the original publication in the Lancet, 10 of the 12 authors removed themselves from the<br />
case study and the <a href="https://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.c5347" target="_blank">Lancet retracted the article in February 2010</a>, admitting the failure to disclose the financial interests of Dr. Andrew Wakefield who was a paid expert for parents in litigation with manufactures of the MMR vaccine over claims that it caused their children’s autism. What’s more is that Wakefield was submitting a patent for his own version of the MMR vaccine. Based on all of his fraudulent activity, Dr. Andrew Wakefield was stripped of his medical license; he currently resides in<br />
Texas and often contributes commentary for the anti-vaccine movement which has named him their<br />
martyr. Andrew Wakefield just might be <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/02/us/a-discredited-vaccine-studys-continuing-impact-on-public-health.html" target="_blank">Public Health Enemy Number One</a>, as every single measles<br />
outbreak following his retracted publication has been linked to unvaccinated children.<br /><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AMbmhNGqthc/XP3U9Bjft3I/AAAAAAAAAoM/3iLc2nKet54VrMwhNLc8GhxbX-NWaTkPwCLcBGAs/s1600/mmr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AMbmhNGqthc/XP3U9Bjft3I/AAAAAAAAAoM/3iLc2nKet54VrMwhNLc8GhxbX-NWaTkPwCLcBGAs/s320/mmr.jpg" width="320" /></a>The evidence in support of vaccinations is profound. V<a href="https://www.historyofvaccines.org/index.php/content/articles/vaccine-development-testing-and-regulation" target="_blank">accines are the most studied medical</a><br />
<a href="https://www.historyofvaccines.org/index.php/content/articles/vaccine-development-testing-and-regulation" target="_blank">intervention, ever</a>, and they have been proven to be safe and effective. There is no doubt that<br />
vaccination programs are the key to preventing global pandemics. The <a href="https://www.vaccinateyourfamily.org/questions-about-vaccines/vaccine-research/" target="_blank">MMR vaccine is safe </a>and effective and families should refer to the CDC’s recommended schedule of vaccines and have a discussion with their provider if they have any concerns. If you are unsure of your vaccination status, please speak to your provider so that titers can be drawn to determine the potential need for additional vaccination.<br />
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<i>“Scientists who publish their research have an ethical responsibility to ensure the highest standards of research design, data collection, data analysis, data reporting, and interpretation of findings; there can be no compromises because any error, any deceit, can result in harm to patients as well harm to the cause of science, as the Wakefield saga so aptly reveals. We sincerely hope that researchers will keep this ethical responsibility in mind when they submit their manuscripts...” </i></blockquote>
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--<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136032/" target="_blank">T. S. Sathyanarayana Rao and Chittaranjan Andrade, of the Indian Journal of Psychiatry</a></blockquote>
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You can stay up-to-date about Rockland County’s measles outbreak here:<br />
<a href="http://rocklandgov.com/departments/health/measles-information/">http://rocklandgov.com/departments/health/measles-information/</a><br />
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You can read the Newsday article which quoted Dr. Bruce Farber here:<br />
<a href="https://www.newsday.com/news/health/measles-suffolk-county-1.30243740">https://www.newsday.com/news/health/measles-suffolk-county-1.30243740</a><br />
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You can read more about Dr. Andrew Wakefield here:<br />
<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136032/">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136032/</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Angela Daly is a Cardiovascular Research Nurse at Southampton Cardiology. She is also a Board Member for Nurses Who Vaccinate, a Long-Island based Non-Profit which aims to position nurses as strong public health advocates for their families, their patients, their communities and the world.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span>**Cases as of May 31, 2019. Case count is preliminary and subject to change.</div>
Nurses Who Vaccinatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366311888929155867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-82411270385210674512019-05-10T23:04:00.000-04:002019-05-10T23:07:20.641-04:00National Nurse Act Soars Since Introduction<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RywDl2IGMqM/XNY5wOD7LFI/AAAAAAAAAnE/2_lggdqlzEYuI0R-vQ14_5tWr-w6UumCACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_0030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RywDl2IGMqM/XNY5wOD7LFI/AAAAAAAAAnE/2_lggdqlzEYuI0R-vQ14_5tWr-w6UumCACLcBGAs/s200/IMG_0030.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><br />
Nurses Week 2019 continues with the Nurses Who Vaccinate blog highlighting the progress and sheer determination of the leaders and supporters of the <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://nationalnurse.org/" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">National Nurse Act of 2019</a></span>, <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1597?s%3D3%26r%3D41&source=gmail&ust=1557284840935000&usg=AFQjCNGDA6k-gAt_e3TDcEiPq5HmG5OsBw" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1597?s=3&r=41" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">H.R. 1597</a></span>and <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/696&source=gmail&ust=1557284840935000&usg=AFQjCNFzMn-5iZXy_PESCKqosh9FTwvo5Q" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/696" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">S. 696</a><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></span><br /><br /><br />As one Congressional staffer noted, “This bill is flying since its introduction on March 7th!” The <span style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;">i</span><a href="http://nationalnurse.org/faq.pdf" style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;" target="_blank">ntent of the National Nurse Act</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: times, "times new roman", serif;"> </span>is to strengthen the influence of the Chief Nurse Officer (CNO) of the USPHS to address public health initiatives with emphasis on being a leading voice for public health for nurses and to encourage greater involvement of nurses, without any additional economic or time burden on the existing role. <br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BATJXlWKh_0/XNY5wHq_0_I/AAAAAAAAAnI/ZlqYXo91bYwNMLwN0mbTK1tuswb4X6vxACLcBGAs/s1600/MelodyPeteKing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BATJXlWKh_0/XNY5wHq_0_I/AAAAAAAAAnI/ZlqYXo91bYwNMLwN0mbTK1tuswb4X6vxACLcBGAs/s200/MelodyPeteKing.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><br />
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<br />Advocates, including many members of Nurses Who Vaccinate, strongly believe the designation of National Nurse for Public Health will increase awareness among nurses and the public so that it becomes well established this nurse leader already contributes a vital role in public health, particularly focused on health promotion and prevention.<br /><br /><br /> Health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, e-cigarette vaping, opioid addiction, and the measles outbreak pose threats to the health of Americans, young and old, as well as to their economic burden bankrupting our healthcare dollars. Nurses provide key services for the management of these conditions. The public views nurses as the trusted, credible messengers. As the largest sector of the healthcare workforce, our nation’s 4 million nurses are poised to lead in a national movement towards improved public health. The National Nurse for Public Health would provide the uniting voice and leadership necessary to do so.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<br /> Currently, the National Nurse Act of 2019 boasts the bipartisan support of <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1597?s%3D3%26r%3D41&source=gmail&ust=1557284840935000&usg=AFQjCNGDA6k-gAt_e3TDcEiPq5HmG5OsBw" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1597?s=3&r=41" target="_blank">96</a><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1597?s%3D3%26r%3D41&source=gmail&ust=1557284840935000&usg=AFQjCNGDA6k-gAt_e3TDcEiPq5HmG5OsBw" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1597?s=3&r=41" target="_blank"> House cosponsors</a></span></span>, <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/696&source=gmail&ust=1557284840935000&usg=AFQjCNFzMn-5iZXy_PESCKqosh9FTwvo5Q" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/696" target="_blank">9</a><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/696&source=gmail&ust=1557284840935000&usg=AFQjCNFzMn-5iZXy_PESCKqosh9FTwvo5Q" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/696" target="_blank"> Senate cosponsors</a></span></span>, and <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://nationalnurse.org/endorsements.shtml&source=gmail&ust=1557284840935000&usg=AFQjCNFsmxa3JBY3ApKjMD91eUs8WhgvqQ" href="http://nationalnurse.org/endorsements.shtml" target="_blank">100 endorsing nursing and healthcare organizations</a></span></span>. <br /><br /><br />To learn more and how you can get involved to support this important legislation, visit <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://nationalnurse.org&source=gmail&ust=1557284840935000&usg=AFQjCNFZNS2Bvs_qZSzRRKajZR7YH7UB9w" href="http://nationalnurse.org/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://nationalnurse.org</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Picture 1- Teri Mills MS, RN, CNE-Ret. (President National Nursing Network Organization); Mia Keeys (Health Policy Advisor-Rep. Robin Kelly IL-2); and Savannah Jensen BSN, RN, PHN, CMSRN (NNNO Advocacy Team)<br />Picture 2- Pictured: Melody Butler and supporters of the National Nurse Act (HR 1597) visit with the co-lead of this legislation, Congressman Pete King (NY-R-2)</span></div>
Nurses Who Vaccinatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366311888929155867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-38144423570964089002019-04-24T15:22:00.001-04:002019-04-24T15:22:50.875-04:00Educating through Art- Importance of VaccinatingMPH@GW, the online Master of Public Health from the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University, recently published two articles that focus on the importance of<br />immunization and vaccinating against measles. <div>
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The graphics in both pieces were created by 2U Inc. on behalf of MPH@GW. In January 2019, Washington state declared a local public health emergency after confirming 26 cases of measles. These resources from MPH@GW were created to spread awareness, illustrate the state of measles in the U.S., and answer questions the public may have about the development of vaccines.<br /><br />
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<a href="https://publichealthonline.gwu.edu/blog/measles-history-in-the-united-states/" target="_blank">“A History of Measles in the United States”</a> depicts the visual timeline of measles in the U.S., beginning with the first outbreaks reported in 1765, to the elimination of the disease in 2000, to its recent resurgence.</div>
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<a href="https://publichealthonline.gwu.edu/blog/producing-prevention-the-complex-development-of-vaccines/" target="_blank">“Producing Prevention: The Complex Development of Vaccines” </a>provides readers with the definitions of useful terms, as well as an easy-to-understand walkthrough of the phases of vaccine development. For anyone that’s ever wondered who, besides scientists, is involved in the production of vaccines, this resource also delves into the various people and the roles they play in bringing vaccines to the public.</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kP4js21UqDc/XMCzZjLZ4nI/AAAAAAAAAmY/meKNPat5xdYXlDGgj0dBeGWTbOZqBDIJgCEwYBhgL/s1600/lifespan-of-vaccines_stakeholders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="768" height="123" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kP4js21UqDc/XMCzZjLZ4nI/AAAAAAAAAmY/meKNPat5xdYXlDGgj0dBeGWTbOZqBDIJgCEwYBhgL/s200/lifespan-of-vaccines_stakeholders.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />Together, these resources reinforce the importance of immunization, particularly as measles outbreaks continue to occur. With this information, readers can gain a better understanding of the power that immunizations have to keep communities safe and healthy.<br />
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Nurses Who Vaccinate would like to encourage the sharing of these graphics and messages. Post them to your social media accounts and share with your friends, families and colleagues. Help get the message out about the importance of vaccinating!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">We would like to thank the George Washington University's </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://publichealthonline.gwu.edu/&source=gmail&ust=1556218597350000&usg=AFQjCNFEqUdy7oJ0EuECy_5BWy_YNQ8ZXg" href="https://publichealthonline.gwu.edu/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;" target="_blank">online MPH program</a><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"> for providing the graphics and information. For more information on their Public Health Program, please see- <a href="https://publichealthonline.gwu.edu/" target="_blank">https://publichealthonline.gwu.edu </a></span></div>
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Nurses Who Vaccinatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366311888929155867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-75954543434502236462019-04-17T01:16:00.000-04:002019-04-17T01:20:39.369-04:00Important: Measles Outbreak Message- April 2019<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<b><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The following is a letter from Dr. Melinda Wharton, the Director of Immunization Services Division, part of the National Center for Immunization & Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Please share with your colleagues and workplaces. </span></i></b><br />
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As you may know, there have been multiple outbreaks of measles in the U.S. So far this year there have been <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html" target="_blank">465 cases in 19 states</a>. This is the second-greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since measles was eliminated in 2000. The majority of measles cases are in New York City and New York state, which are primarily among unvaccinated people in <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/10/nyregion/newyorktoday/nyc-news-measles-outbreak-brooklyn.html" target="_blank">Orthodox Jewish communities </a>and associated with travelers who brought measles back from Israel.<br />
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With the upcoming Passover holiday, which begins the evening of Friday April 19 and ends the evening of Saturday, April 27, we anticipate there may be more opportunities for measles to spread.<br />
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Please be aware that many people celebrating Passover do not stay at home. Families may travel to resorts, hotels, or take cruises for the holiday. And there will likely be an influx of international travelers before Passover, including many from Israel where measles is circulating. Popular destinations include New York, New Jersey, Florida, Las Vegas, Arizona, and Washington, D.C.<br />
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<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html" target="_blank">Measles</a> is highly contagious and spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Healthcare professionals should be vigilant about measles—<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Ensure all patients are up to date on MMR vaccine.</li>
<li>Consider measles in patients presenting with febrile rash illness and clinically compatible measles symptoms (cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis). Patients exposed to measles while traveling for Passover could begin to develop symptoms between late April through mid-May.</li>
<li>Ask patients about recent travel internationally or to domestic venues frequented by international travelers, as well as a history of measles exposures in their communities.</li>
<li>Promptly isolate patients with suspected measles to avoid disease spread and immediately report the suspect measles case to the health department.</li>
<li>Obtain specimens for testing from patients with suspected measles, including viral specimens for genotyping, which can help determine the source of the virus. Contact the local health department with questions about submitting specimens for testing.</li>
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<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/contagious-infographic.html" target="_blank">Measles is so contagious</a> that if one person has it, up to 9 of 10 people around them will also become infected if they are not protected. The virus can cause serious health complications, such as pneumonia or encephalitis, and even death.<br />
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CDC continues to encourage parents to get their children vaccinated on schedule with the MMR vaccine. People 6 months and older should be protected with the vaccine before leaving on international trips.<br />
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We appreciate your help spreading this message. <b>Please share this letter as needed among your public health and community organizations</b>. For additional information and resources on measles please visit the CDC’s measles website (<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html">https://www.cdc.gov/measles/index.html</a>).<br />
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Thank you,<br />
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<i>Melinda Wharton, MD, MPH</i><br />
Director, Immunization Services Division<br />
National Center for Immunization & Respiratory Diseases<br />
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</div>
MelodyRNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17839261453986068642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-39387010287425967422019-03-15T10:18:00.000-04:002019-03-15T11:08:27.591-04:00Nurses Who Vaccinate at the February 2019 ACIP Meeting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last month, I had the opportunity to attend the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/index.html" target="_blank">Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices</a> (ACIP) meeting. I was fortunate enough to be chosen as one of 21 individuals permitted to make a public comment to address the committee. Of those commenters, myself and one other - Alison Singer, co-founder of the <a href="https://autismsciencefoundation.org/" target="_blank">Autism Science Foundation</a> - were the only voices in support of vaccination. I’d like to share the overall impact that the meeting had for me.<br />
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What struck me first was the data presented. To reference one of my favorite 80’s songs, they <a href="https://vimeo.com/70051022" target="_blank">blinded me with science</a>! Even though I lost sleep stressing over my statistics classes and nursing research classes while in college, it was clear that without an understanding of statistics, study design and medical ethics, much of the scientific data presented may not have made sense or could be easily misinterpreted. Each working group focused on a particular vaccine – <a href="https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20190306acipmtg.html" target="_blank">Japanese encephalitis</a>, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/recs-by-date.html" target="_blank">Anthrax</a>, the new <a href="https://vaxopedia.org/2018/09/29/what-is-a-hexavalent-vaccine/" target="_blank">Hexavalent </a>vaccine (TDaP, HepB, Polio and HiB combo), meningococcal group B, etc. After the working group presented the data and their suggestions for any revisions to current recommendations based on that data, the remainder of the committee made comments and asked questions. <br />
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I also really appreciated the questions and comments as those remarks helped to clarify details in the data and verbiage of proposed changes to recommendations. Watching the process, it was clear that a tremendous amount of work goes into ensuring that the evidence for safety and efficacy is robust before making any changes to current recommendations.<br />
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The other major factor that made an impression on me was large contingent of anti-vaccine public speakers. The majority of these people were parents of children who were dealing with a variety of challenges including <a href="http://howdovaccinescauseautism.com/" target="_blank">autism</a>, auto-immune disorders, gastrointestinal disorders and more. It was clear to me that these people were in pain. The day-to-day challenges they faced raising children with special needs created stress and anxiety in their lives. I do not think that they are crazy. I think they are misguided. While the science has repeatedly shown no connection between these conditions and vaccines, they continue to channel their anger with their situation toward the only tangible demon they have – vaccination. While listening to them I heard many misinterpretations of science and the research process. They are angry and in pain and they want there to be a reason for the challenges that they and their children face. <br />
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As a mother myself, I can only sympathize with that. When unfortunate events happen we want to know why. What was the most disappointing to me were the four medical professionals among their group (one physician, one nurse practitioner and two registered nurses) who validated their inaccuracies by means of their credentials. <strong></strong></div>
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<strong>Because of rogue medical professionals, these parents feel justified in blaming vaccination even though the evidence says otherwise. This brings me to my own statement before the committee.</strong></div>
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Lori Boyle, RN, providing a pro-science, evidence based statement at February 2019 ACIP Meeting in Atlanta, GA. <br />
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My statement focused on the trust that the people of the United States have bestowed upon the <a href="https://www.aha.org/news/insights-and-analysis/2018-01-10-nurse-watch-nurses-again-top-gallup-poll-trusted-professions" target="_blank">profession of nursing</a> as a whole. As the guardians of that trust, nurses have an obligation to adhere to evidence based practice. Anything short of that is a betrayal of that trust. I urged any nurses listening to remember their role as servants to the public and to adhere to evidence based practice and to <a href="https://nurseswhovaccinate.org/become-a-nwv-member" target="_blank">join Nurses Who Vaccinate</a>.<br />
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While there I had the opportunity to meet and speak with other advocates of evidence-based practice including members of the <a href="http://www.immunize.org/" target="_blank">Immunization Action Coalition</a>, <a href="https://www.chop.edu/doctors/offit-paul-a" target="_blank">Dr. Paul Offit </a>Director of Pediatric Infectious Disease at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Karen Ernst founder of <a href="https://www.voicesforvaccines.org/home/" target="_blank">Voices for Vaccines</a>, <a href="https://www.uchastings.edu/people/dorit-reiss/" target="_blank">Dorit Reiss Rubinstein</a> law professor at UC Hastings, Amy Pisani, Director of <a href="https://www.vaccinateyourfamily.org/" target="_blank">Vaccinate Your Family</a> and a lovely docent at the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/museum/index.htm" target="_blank"> David J. Sencer CDC Museum at CDC Headquarters</a> who gave me a tour.<br />
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The whole experience was invaluable to me and I hope to be able to attend the meeting again in the future to remind both the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/acip/meetings/index.html" target="_blank">ACIP</a> and the public of <a href="https://nurseswhovaccinate.org/" target="_blank">Nurses Who Vaccinate</a> and our devotion to the health and well being of the public that we serve.<br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Lori Boyle's Full Statement</span></u></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">My name is Lori. I am a mother of two fully vaccinated successful young adults and a registered nurse of 21 years, the last five of those as an advanced practice nurse. I am here today representing the organization Nurses Who Vaccinate. We are a grassroots organization that works to provide up to date accurate, science based information to the public and to our fellow health care workers regarding vaccination. I first became aware of misinformation regarding vaccination as I entered grad school at Rutgers. There I received a strong foundation in evidence based practice that has stayed with me to this day. It was disheartening to see so many people, including nurses, fall prey to sensationalist headlines and misinformation while I was learning to research and evaluate, evidence based medicine. I found Nurses Who Vaccinate while in grad school and through them found a way to share those critical thinking skills I was acquiring. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> My first job as an APN was with the largest infectious disease practice in the North East. While in that practice the need for sharing evidence based information on vaccines was reinforced. I saw young otherwise healthy college students in the ICU with flu, countless people with pneumococcal disease, people at risk of losing limbs due to meningococcal disease. Imagine my disbelief after caring for those people, then encountering nurses who refused the flu shot, or advised others against vaccinating based on misinformation? </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Nurses are the number one most trusted profession in the United States for 17 years straight. We have a duty and an obligation to adhere to evidence based practice. Anything short of that is a betrayal of the trust granted to us by the people of this country and diminishes the credibility of the profession as a whole. Nursing as a community has the ability to make a difference in this current climate of distrust that many of the public have with the medical establishment. The majority of us know the importance of adhering to evidence based practice. We understand that the vast preponderance of evidence world wide is in favor of vaccines as the safest, most effective means of preventing the diseases which they target. We can provide evidence based education to the public and our fellow healthcare workers to ease their concerns about misinformation that spreads like wildfire across social media. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> I urge my fellow nurses to join me in this endeavor to keep people healthy, reduce the spread of preventable diseases and become Nurses Who Vaccinate. </span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> I’d like to thank the Committee for their tireless hard work and dedication to the health and well being of people of the United States and for allowing me this moment to speak. Thank you.</span></blockquote>
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<strong><u>Lori Boyle, RN, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, WCC, CWS</u></strong><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-Uz6eeDOMg/XIuu-Kefw0I/AAAAAAABPxc/TvNeXWeyyQIu2hPJLtVp7896kMDkbm1XwCEwYBhgL/s1600/lori%2Bboyle%2Bnurse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-Uz6eeDOMg/XIuu-Kefw0I/AAAAAAABPxc/TvNeXWeyyQIu2hPJLtVp7896kMDkbm1XwCEwYBhgL/s200/lori%2Bboyle%2Bnurse.jpg" width="133" /></a><span class="_5yl5"><em>Lori has been in nursing for more than 20 years. While in graduate school, she became aware of how many people were misunderstanding the science of vaccination and falling for misinformation. Since that time she has made it her mission to help people understand that the value and safety of vaccination as recommended, far outweighs the risks. In addition to Nurses Who Vaccinate she is also a member of </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/VoicesForVaccines/" target="_blank"><em>Voices for Vaccines </em></a><em>and the </em><a href="http://www.immunizenj.org/" target="_blank"><em>NJ Immunization Network</em></a><em>.</em></span></div>
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MelodyRNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17839261453986068642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-49587748245988755912018-11-08T12:20:00.000-05:002018-11-08T12:23:19.826-05:00Training the Next Generation of Vaccinators <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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There has been a steady <span style="font-family: "times";"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">increase in the number of individuals affected by the influenza virus. It has been estimated that 80,000 Americans died and 900,000 people were hospitalized for flu-related complications (</span><a href="http://www.nfid.org/newsroom/news-conferences/2018-nfid-influenza-pneumococcal-news-conference/press-release.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">National Foundation for Infectious Disease, 2018</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">) this past year. Although older adults carry the heaviest burden for flu-related deaths, all ages can be impacted.<u></u><u></u></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In preparation for the 2018 flu season, Clayton State University School of Nursing partnered with the Georgia Institute of Technology Health Services for their Flu Campaign. Professors Elicia Collins, Han Dong and Sue Gronka along with Dr. Victoria Foster took 20 second semester nursing students to assist with providing flu shots for the student body. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><strong>Over 2 separate visits, 1,120 students were immunized.</strong> The nursing students also did patient teaching regarding what to expect after being vaccinated. The </span><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/consumer/vaccinations.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">CDC</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> recommends that everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated each year for influenza.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We at Nurses Who Vaccinate are tremendously proud to share the accomplishments of these nursing students and their mentors. <br /><br />Are you a nursing student yourself looking for more information on influenza and vaccines? Check out what the </span><a href="https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-safety/immunize/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">American Nursing Association</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> has to offer for education. <em>"There are many elements of immunization that nurses need to know. From the correct anatomical sites for giving injections, to the increasingly complex immunization schedule, to knowing where to file a Vaccine Adverse Event Report, to the way that vaccines work in activating the immune system, there's a lot to learn and remember! Through continuing education courses, fact sheets, videos, and webcasts, </em></span><a href="https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-safety/immunize/nurse-education/" target="_blank"><em><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">this ANA page</span></em></a><em><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> offers nurses a variety of educational opportunities to increase their immunization knowledge and competency."</span></em><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Still looking to get your flu vaccine? You can visit </span><a href="http://vaccine.healthmap.org/"><span style="color: #0e6aaf; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">http://vaccine.healthmap.org/</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> to find out where flu shots are available in your area. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have any questions regarding which flu vaccine is best for you and your family.<br /><br /> And when you get your vaccine... send us your selfie! Like past flu seasons, we'll be collecting and sharing your #FluShotSelfie (with your permission) on our social media pages.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Send it to us on our </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/NursesWhoVaccinate/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0e6aaf; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Facebook page</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">, email it to us (</span><a href="mailto:NursesWhoVaccinate@gmail.com"><span style="color: #0e6aaf; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">NursesWhoVaccinate@gmail.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">), </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">or tag us on </span><a href="http://instagram.com/nurseswhovax" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0e6aaf; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and </span><a href="https://twitter.com/NursesWhoVax" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0e6aaf; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> at </span><a href="https://twitter.com/NursesWhoVax" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">@NursesWhoVax.</span></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We look forward to sharing everyone's efforts to protect themselves and others from influenza. Be safe this season!</span></div>
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">FLU SEASON HASH TAGS</span></u></strong></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23FluShotSelfie&src=typd">#FluShotSelfie</a> <br /><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fightflu?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Ehashtag">#fightflu</a> <br /><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23VaccinesWork&src=typd">#VaccinesWork</a> <br /><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NursesWhoVax&src=typd">#NursesWhoVax</a> <br /><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23vaxselfie&src=typd">#VaxSelfie</a> </div>
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MelodyRNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17839261453986068642noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-30719171349877454962018-08-16T17:36:00.002-04:002018-08-17T10:18:04.171-04:00Nurses Who Vaccinate Announces Partnership with Shot@Life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">In honor of </span><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">National Immunization Awareness Month</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.nurseswhovaccinate.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nurses Who Vaccinate</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, a non-profit organization, announced their official partnership with the</span><a href="http://www.unfoundation.org/Home" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> United Nations Foundation’s</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><a href="http://shotatlife.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Shot@Life</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Campaign. </span><a href="http://shotatlife.org/about/partners/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This partnership</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> will provide network of nurses and members who are enthusiastic and engaged, and connect them with Shot@life's mission to stand up for children around the world.</span> It will expand the efforts to champion global childhood immunizations through grassroots advocacy and awareness raising activities.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JLElkvzubtM/W3XrbSF3uUI/AAAAAAABLM0/I512kGlZySY8jFinx9OPsDTyPauDNS3_wCLcBGAs/s1600/nwv%2Bshot%2540life%2Bstanding%2Bup%2Bfor%2Bchildren%2Blogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="1600" height="321" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JLElkvzubtM/W3XrbSF3uUI/AAAAAAABLM0/I512kGlZySY8jFinx9OPsDTyPauDNS3_wCLcBGAs/s400/nwv%2Bshot%2540life%2Bstanding%2Bup%2Bfor%2Bchildren%2Blogo.png" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“As a </span><a href="http://shotatlife.org/2013/12/11/nurses-night-out/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">long time supporter of Shot@Life</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">, Nurses Who Vaccinate has worked side by side S@L to raise awareness of the need for children everywhere to receive life-saving vaccinations,” said Melody Butler, BSN, RN, CIC, Executive Director of Nurses Who Vaccinate. “As public health advocates, Nurses Who Vaccinate members encourage patients, colleagues, and communities to learn about, advocate for, and provide access to immunizations. Becoming an official partner with Shot@Life to build global awareness of the need for childhood immunizations, fits naturally within our mission.”</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NWV members meet fellow S@L Champion Jo Frost</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Despite great advances, worldwide each year, 1.5 million children still die from vaccine preventable diseases. Shot@Life and Nurses Who Vaccinate will work together to stand up for childhood and give <span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">children everywhere a shot a healthy life. The two organizations believe that no matter where they live, every child deserves a shot at life.</span> </span></div>
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<a href="http://shotatlife.org/about/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>Shot@Life</em></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>, a campaign of the United Nations Foundation, educates, connects and empowers individuals to champion global vaccines as one of the most effective ways to save the lives of children in developing countries. The campaign rallies the public to advocate and fundraise for global childhood vaccines. Shot@Life believes that by </em></span><a href="http://shotatlife.org/become-a-champion/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>encouraging people</em></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em> to learn about, advocate for, and donate to vaccines, we can decrease the 1.5 million annual vaccine-preventable childhood deaths and give every child a shot at a healthy life. Go to </em></span><a href="http://www.shotatlife.org/"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>www.ShotAtLife.org</em></span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em> to learn more.</em></span><em><span style="font-family: "georgia";"><br /></span></em></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NWV Members attend Shot@Life's Annual Summit</td></tr>
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MelodyRNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17839261453986068642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-79448971022207766102018-08-09T10:17:00.000-04:002018-08-09T10:17:00.352-04:00Your Pregnancy: Protecting Your Baby Starts Now
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">National Immunization
Awareness Month is a reminder everyone needs vaccines throughout their lives.</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">From the moment you found out you were pregnant, you started protecting
your baby. You might have changed the way you eat, started taking a prenatal
vitamin or researched the kind of car seat to buy. But did you know that one of
the best ways to start protecting your baby against serious diseases is by getting
flu and Tdap vaccines while you are pregnant?</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The vaccines you get during your pregnancy will provide your baby with
some disease protection (immunity) that can last during the first months of
life after birth. By getting vaccinated during pregnancy, you can pass
antibodies to your baby that may help protect against diseases. This early
protection is critical for diseases like flu and whooping cough because babies
are at their greatest risk of severe illness from these diseases in their first
months of life, but they are also too young to get the vaccines against these
illnesses. Passing maternal antibodies during pregnancy is the only way to help
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">directly</i> protect them from flu and
whooping cough (pertussis).</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">In cases when doctors can determine who spread whooping cough to an
infant, the mother was sometimes the source. Once you have protection from the
Tdap shot, you are less likely to spread whooping cough to your newborn baby. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">When it comes to flu, even if you are generally healthy, changes in
immune, heart and lung functions during pregnancy make you more likely to have
a severe case of the flu if you catch it. If you catch the flu when you are
pregnant, you also have a higher chance of being hospitalized. Getting a flu
shot will help protect you and your baby.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You can rest assured these vaccines are very safe for you and your baby.
Millions of pregnant women have safely received flu shots for many years and
CDC continues to monitor safety data on flu vaccine in pregnant women. </span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The whooping cough
vaccine (Tdap) is also safe for you and your baby. Doctors and midwives who
specialize in caring for pregnant women agree that the whooping cough vaccine
is important to get during the third trimester of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">each</i> pregnancy. Getting the vaccine during pregnancy will not put
you at increased risk for pregnancy complications.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">You should get your whooping cough vaccine between your 27th and 36th
week of pregnancy, preferably during the earlier part of that period. You can
get a </span></span><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/pregnant.htm"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">flu shot</span></span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">
during <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">any</i> trimester. You may receive
whooping cough and flu vaccines at the same time or at different prenatal care visits.
If you are pregnant during flu season, you should get a flu vaccine as soon as
the vaccine is available, by October if possible.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">If you want to learn more about pregnancy and vaccines, talk to your
ob-gyn or midwife, and visit </span></span><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pregnancy/pregnant-women/index.html"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pregnancy/pregnant-women/index.html</span></span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>CDC, 2018 National Public Health Information Coalition </em></span>
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Nurses Who Vaccinatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366311888929155867noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-89696598393480689162017-11-08T11:03:00.003-05:002017-11-08T13:06:36.159-05:00Member of Nursing Community Speaks up Against Violence towards Pro-Vaccine Healthcare Workers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span class="_3oh- _58nk">I became an advocate of ending healthcare worker violence ever since I heard about <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/11/01/561337106/utah-nurse-arrested-for-doing-her-job-reaches-500-000-settlement" target="_blank">Nurse Alex</a>. (Alex Wubbels, is the nurse who was arrested for refusing to let a police officer draw blood from an unconscious patient.)<br /><br />So, when I came across this statement from Dr. Jim Meehan, an ophthalmologist, and an anti-vaccine advocate, and I was immediately horrified. </span></div>
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<span class="_3oh- _58nk">From <a href="https://donotlink.it/3G1o">https://donotlink.it/3G1o</a> *</span></div>
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<span class="_3oh- _58nk"><br />I had to speak up. I wrote Dr. Meehan a letter in an attempt to reach out peacefully and ask to discourage violence towards healthcare workers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Dear Dr. Meehan<br /><br />Your statement you recently wrote deeply concerned me. I feel the need to speak up.<br /><br />Please don’t encourage violence towards healthcare workers. Please don’t threaten them. I understand that people get angry when a loved one becomes sick or disabled, but that is no reason to resort to violence or threats. <br /><br />In light of what happened to Nurse Alex, all the nurses were outraged by her wrongful arrest and assault. They dedicated to defending her and making sure justice was served. <br /><br />So please don’t incite violence towards healthcare workers. As someone who works in healthcare, please reconsider what you said. They don’t deserve it. I’m sure you wouldn’t like being threatened or assaulted either. <br /><br />Thank you for listening. Peace be with you.</span></blockquote>
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<span class="_3oh- _58nk">I have not received a response. <br /><br />I saw that the blog link was shared on his Twitter page. I asked him kindly about discouraging violence towards healthcare workers. My response was met with a hostile remark:<br /><em></em></span></div>
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<span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Kate Doyle:</strong> “Please discourage pharmaceutical and medical assault on healthcare workers. Peace be with you.”<br /><strong>Jim Meehan, MD</strong>: “Please discourage pharmaceutical and medical assault children. Peace be with you.”</span><br /><br />I am disgusted and disappointed that someone who is a healthcare worker seems so disregarding towards this topic. However, I do feel proud that I spoke up about this. I want to encourage all healthcare workers to speak up when someone talks like this, and threatened our fellow colleagues. </span></div>
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<span class="_3oh- _58nk">By sharing my story, I hope to bring awareness to the fact that there are social media users calling for violence against pro-science and pro-vaccine advocates. </span></div>
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<span class="_3oh- _58nk"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">We cannot tolerate this violent threatening behavior, especially when it comes from within our own community.</span></strong> </span><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23silentnomore&src=typd" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">#silentnomore</span></a><br />
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<span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><em>Kate Doyle is a member of Nurses Who Vaccinate. She is currently a CNA, studying to be a RN, Army wife, and has two children.</em></span></span></div>
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<span class="_3oh- _58nk"><span class="_3oh- _58nk"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>*What does donotlink.it do?</strong></span><br />Whenever you link a website, its position in search engines is strengthened. Sometimes you want to post a link to a website without improving its rank. This is where donotlink.it comes in. <br /> Using donotlink.it instead of linking to questionable websites directly will prevent your links from improving these websites' position in search engines. Additionally donotlink.it will remove the referer, so the linked website will not know where its visitors are coming from.</span> </div>
MelodyRNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17839261453986068642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-88279721223389916032017-08-25T10:57:00.001-04:002017-08-25T11:01:55.706-04:00DO YOU HAVE A PRETEEN OR TEEN? PROTECT THEIR FUTURE WITH VACCINES.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">National Immunization Awareness Month is a reminder that we all need
vaccines throughout our lives.</span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Taking them to their sports physical, making sure they eat healthy
and get plenty of sleep…you know these are crucial to your child’s health. But
did you also you know your preteens and teens need vaccines to stay healthy and
protected against serious diseases?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To celebrate the importance of immunizations for people of
all ages – and make sure preteens and teens are protected with all the vaccines
they need – Nurses Who Vaccinate joined with partners
nationwide in recognizing August as </span><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niam.html"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: inherit;">National Immunization
Awareness Month</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As they get older, preteens and teens are at increased risk
for some infections. Plus the protection provided by some of the childhood
vaccines begins to wear off, so preteens need an additional dose (booster) to “boost”
immunity. You may have heard about whooping cough (pertussis) outbreaks
recently. Vaccine-preventable diseases are still around and very real. The
vaccines for preteens and teens can help protect your kids, as well as their
friends, community, and other family members.</span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dIoBEi41Zco/WaA6VJG7g_I/AAAAAAAA9qs/X6I0OjLnct8Q8HqCfxWrpw9tHB9PkmB1QCLcBGAs/s1600/twitter_preteens_teens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="220" data-original-width="440" height="160" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dIoBEi41Zco/WaA6VJG7g_I/AAAAAAAA9qs/X6I0OjLnct8Q8HqCfxWrpw9tHB9PkmB1QCLcBGAs/s320/twitter_preteens_teens.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are four
vaccines recommended for all preteens at ages 11 to 12:</span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">• </span><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mening/index.html"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: inherit;">Meningococcal
conjugate vaccine</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">, which protects against four types of the bacteria that
cause meningococcal disease. Meningococcal disease is an uncommon but serious
disease that can cause infections of the lining of the brain and spinal cord
(meningitis) and blood (septicemia). Since protection decreases over time, a
booster dose is recommended at age 16 so teens continue to have protection
during the ages when they are at highest risk for getting meningococcal
disease. Teens and young adults (16 through 23 year olds) may also receive a </span><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/mening-serogroup.html"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: inherit;">serogroup B meningococcal vaccine</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, preferably at 16 through 18 years old.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">• </span><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/diseases/teen/hpv.html"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: inherit;">HPV vaccine</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">,
which protects against the types of HPV that most commonly cause cancer. HPV
can cause future cancers of the cervix, vulva and vagina in women and cancers
of the penis in men. In both women and men, HPV also causes cancers in the back
of the throat (including base of the tongue and tonsils), anal cancer and
genital warts.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">• </span><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/diseases/teen/tdap.html"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: inherit;">Tdap
vaccine</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough.
Tetanus and diphtheria are uncommon now because of vaccines, but they can be
very serious. Whooping cough is common and on the rise in the United States. It
can keep kids out of school and activities for weeks, but it is most dangerous
— and sometimes even deadly — for babies who can catch it from family members,
including older siblings.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">• </span><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/diseases/teen/flu.html"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: inherit;">Influenza
(flu) vaccine</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">, because even healthy kids can get the flu, and it can be
serious. All kids, including your preteens and teens, should get the flu
vaccine every year. Parents should also get vaccinated to protect themselves
and to help protect their children from the flu.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can use any health care visit, including sports or camp
physicals, checkups or some sick visits, to get the shots your kids need. Talk
with your child’s health care professional to find out which vaccines your
preteens and teens need. Vaccines are a crucial step in keeping your kids
healthy.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Want to learn more about the vaccines for preteens and teens? Check out </span><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/teens"><span style="font-family: inherit;">www.cdc.gov/vaccines/teens</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> or call 1-800-CDC-INFO</span> <br />
<br /><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>The </em><a href="https://www.nphic.org/" target="_blank"><em>National Public Health Information Coalition</em></a><em> (NPHIC) is an independent organization of professionals sought after to improve America's health through public health communications.</em></span></div>
MelodyRNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17839261453986068642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-28875804216200768862017-05-27T13:25:00.000-04:002017-05-27T13:25:47.684-04:00Why Nurses Need to Advocate for Patients to Recieve Chickenpox Vaccine<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nurses, do you have unpleasant memories of getting the chickenpox when you were young? Some of us may remember having an uncomfortable rash, staying home from school for a week, and trying not to scratch the scabs. Some may even remember the oatmeal baths that did not work as promised. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Many nurses were told that "It is a rite of passage" because all of their friends got it—It was just "part of growing up." With chickenpox being as contagious as it it, it was no wonder so many caught it. One child can spread it to another from 1 to 2 days before they get the rash until all their chickenpox blisters have formed scabs (usually 5-7 days). <br /><br />But, now, our patients don’t have to suffer the way we did, because there’s <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/varicella.html" target="_blank">a vaccine to protect them against chickenpox</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Before the chickenpox vaccine became available in 1995, nearly 11,000 people were hospitalized every year and about 50 children died. The disease can cause serious complications, even in healthy children. These complications include skin infections, lung infections (pneumonia), swelling of the brain, bleeding problems, blood stream infections (sepsis), and dehydration. In Pakistan, 2017 has brought at least <a href="http://nation.com.pk/national/01-May-2017/dreadful-chicken-pox-another-girl-dies-death-toll-reaches-to-17-in-2017" target="_blank">17 deaths from chickenpox</a>, and the year is only half way. Earlier this year, a <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-38840226" target="_blank">6 year old girl died enroute to a London hospital</a> from complications associated with varicella. </span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gk2uluME0u4/WSmyxlxU7cI/AAAAAAAAAh0/jCI21gr2y8kp4NJY9H2q5m-CgMwEL-cQwCLcB/s1600/4456673377_514c95d0a3_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="408" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gk2uluME0u4/WSmyxlxU7cI/AAAAAAAAAh0/jCI21gr2y8kp4NJY9H2q5m-CgMwEL-cQwCLcB/s320/4456673377_514c95d0a3_z.jpg" width="204" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">“The most important thing to remember is that we cannot predict which child will get a serious case or have complications from the chickenpox,” explained Dr. Stephanie Bialek at the CDC. “The chickenpox vaccine is very safe, and about 90% of kids who get both recommended doses of the chickenpox vaccine are protected against the disease. Therefore, we recommend that children get vaccinated.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">CDC recommends pediatric patients receive the first dose of the chickenpox vaccine at age 12 through 15 months old and the second at age 4 through 6 years. Some children do get the disease even after they are vaccinated, but it’s usually milder. Children who get chickenpox after vaccination typically have fewer red spots or blisters and mild or no fever. The chickenpox vaccine prevents almost all cases of severe disease. If a patient has only received one dose in the past, check to see if they can qualify for a second dose.<br /><br />Have an adult patient questioning whether they should get the varicella vaccine? All adults who never received the chickenpox vaccine and never had the chickenpox should receive the vaccine. If they are unsure about their vaccine statues, it's <a href="http://www.adultvaccination.org/vpd/chickenpox" target="_blank">recommended by experts that they receive the vaccine.</a> Adults who are at higher risk of exposure should especially consider vaccination. They include healthcare workers, college students, teachers, and daycare workers. </span><br />
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tc5-tWefGNI/WSm2JLm4bYI/AAAAAAAAAiA/xsQT7FLh2QIkZ13eppdptOHw2H9pBsPZgCLcB/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-05-27%2Bat%2B1.23.26%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="508" height="108" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tc5-tWefGNI/WSm2JLm4bYI/AAAAAAAAAiA/xsQT7FLh2QIkZ13eppdptOHw2H9pBsPZgCLcB/s320/Screen%2BShot%2B2017-05-27%2Bat%2B1.23.26%2BPM.png" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Nurses need to be strong advocates in encouraging patients and families to vaccinate for chickenpox. A strong recommendation can go a long way in preventing unnecessary suffering and even death.<br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you have questions about the childhood immunization schedule, you can find more information about <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents">vaccines here</a>. Looking for more information about <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/chickenpox/">chickenpox? Click here</a>.</span>Nurses Who Vaccinatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366311888929155867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-89899498679568609992016-12-17T12:41:00.000-05:002016-12-17T14:39:50.336-05:00An Important Change this Flu Season: The Injectable Vaccine is Better than the Nasal Spray<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Each year, the Centers for Disease control recommends that all healthy people ages 6 months and older get their annual influenza vaccines as early into the season as possible.</div>
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For this 2016-2017 influenza season, there is one important change: <a href="http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/868665" target="_blank">everyone should get the injectable form</a> instead of the live nasal mist vaccine which may not be as effective. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hEpnoBISeoI/WFV1yoPfR2I/AAAAAAAAAgw/ZsJCt6q4zog01xU9PHcZF1GfQCPesOgygCLcB/s1600/flu%2Bshot%2Bcry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hEpnoBISeoI/WFV1yoPfR2I/AAAAAAAAAgw/ZsJCt6q4zog01xU9PHcZF1GfQCPesOgygCLcB/s320/flu%2Bshot%2Bcry.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">Source:<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"> </span><a href="http://philcoiinetnetau.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html" rel="nofollow" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://philcoiinetnetau.blogspot.com/2011_03_01_archive.html</a></span></td></tr>
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Influenza can be deadly for everyone but especially for children, older adults and those who are immunocompromised. The CDC estimates that about <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/hospital.htm" target="_blank">114,000 people are hospitalized each year</a> for influenza.</div>
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It’s very challenging to determine the number of deaths which may be attributed to influenza but the CDC estimates CDC estimates that the number of<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/us_flu-related_deaths.htm" target="_blank"> influenza-related deaths </a>can range from as low as 3,000 to as high as 49,000 people each influenza season.</div>
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The <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season.htm" target="_blank">annual influenza season</a> typically begins around October but varies based on the first reported cases of influenza. During most influenza seasons, flu activity generally peaks between December and March. During some seasons, positive cases of influenza have continued as late as May.</div>
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To build immunity before flu season peaks in the winter, the CDC recommends that <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm" target="_blank">flu vaccines be offered as early as possible</a> and flu vaccines are generally available in late August or early September.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VP-9u3CpixE/WFV1yu0xj_I/AAAAAAAAAg0/HJGm1FGJbyUvRmtV4iJpc6gyXNKyu6xUwCLcB/s1600/flu%2Bshot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VP-9u3CpixE/WFV1yu0xj_I/AAAAAAAAAg0/HJGm1FGJbyUvRmtV4iJpc6gyXNKyu6xUwCLcB/s200/flu%2Bshot.jpg" width="200" /></a>Some people worry that if they get the flu vaccine too early into the season that <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/misconceptions.htm" target="_blank">it won’t be effective for the duration of the season</a>. For most healthy adults under age 65, getting the vaccine as early as possible helps to ensure your immune system has time to build an adequate response and that your protection lasts throughout the flu season.</div>
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For older adults above the age of 65, their immunity to the flu vaccine may start to decrease throughout the season so <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/adjuvant.htm" target="_blank">FLUAD, a higher dose vaccine</a> with an added adjuvant to enhance the immune response, is recommended for this age group.</div>
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It’s especially important that healthcare workers and anyone who works closely with young children or young adults get their annual flu vaccines to ensure that we don’t inadvertently contract influenza and spread it to these vulnerable populations.</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PSwOx4gJ3eY/WFV1ymhOFoI/AAAAAAAAAgs/bSR2Qvh2Mc0UK19B8ybZ5MteY7xkMS7WwCEw/s1600/angela%2Bflu%2B2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PSwOx4gJ3eY/WFV1ymhOFoI/AAAAAAAAAgs/bSR2Qvh2Mc0UK19B8ybZ5MteY7xkMS7WwCEw/s320/angela%2Bflu%2B2016.jpg" width="154" /></a>As a Registered Nurse, I provide care for many adults whose immune systems are compromised due to current infections or diseases such as COPD, diabetes and cardiac dysfunction. I got my flu vaccine at work early September, and of course, I took my third annual <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/flushotselfie?source=feed_text" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span class="_5afx" style="direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: isolate;"><span class="_58cm">FluShotSelfie</span></span></a> since I’ve become a nurse. I always encourage my coworkers to get their flu vaccines as early as possible and encourage them to post their vaccine selfies as well.</div>
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I offer the flu vaccine to each and every one of my eligible patients and offer education to them when they are feeling hesitant or unsure about whether they actually need the vaccine. “Are you alive?” I jokingly ask my patients. When they reply, “yes,” I always smile and tell them that the flu vaccine is definitely for them, then!</div>
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Whether you’re working with patients or not, getting a flu vaccine each year is a fantastic way to protect yourselves, your families and your communities!</div>
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If you do choose to get your flu shot, be sure to share it with us or post a picture to your social media accounts and use the following hashtags:</div>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 6px;">
#<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23FluShotSelfie&src=typd" target="_blank">FluShotSelfie</a></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23vaxselfie&src=typd" target="_blank">#VaxSelfie</a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23VaxWithMe&src=typd" target="_blank">#VaxWithMe</a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23VaccinesWork&src=typd" target="_blank">#VaccinesWork</a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23TeamVax&src=typd" target="_blank">#TeamVax</a><br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NursesWhoVax&src=typd" target="_blank">#NursesWhoVax</a></div>
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Nurses Who Vaccinatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366311888929155867noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-57693115416618869742016-12-09T16:09:00.000-05:002016-12-09T16:25:12.793-05:00Silly Rabbit, Flu Shots Aren't Just For Kids!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Growing up, I used to hide the Trix cereal from my parents. In my defense, I was only following the directions from the advertisements I saw on television. You know the ones. The Trix commercials featured a rabbit, whose name is 'coincidentally' Tricks, and in every commercial he continually attempted to trick children into giving him a bowl of cereal. He was discovered every time; and the kids who would reclaim the cereal would say, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voqXWu432q4&index=50&list=PLsbQqeyCCTwAxWFxqDHKG1ibZZOuwB-eQ" target="_blank">"Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids!" </a><br />
So of course, I'd hide the cereal and when my parents would find it, behind the couch, in the closet, under the table... I'd tell them, "Silly dad, Trix are for kids, not dads!" <br />
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Flash forward several years later, I'm chatting with a friend who is the parent of young children. She mentions that her children had just received their flu shots and were most upset that the doctor's office was out of stickers than the actual administration of the vaccine itself. I asked her when she was planning on getting hers, and she looked me, like I was being silly and said, "Flu shots are just for kids, I don't need one, right?" <br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-opi3cxWtE5o/WEsbq3aAxEI/AAAAAAAA3hM/WzbaHTOEMH8Sqyg8gte9tJ6rz3r0TLQkgCLcB/s1600/cdc-fight-flu.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-opi3cxWtE5o/WEsbq3aAxEI/AAAAAAAA3hM/WzbaHTOEMH8Sqyg8gte9tJ6rz3r0TLQkgCLcB/s320/cdc-fight-flu.png" width="320" /></a>With that, I went into nurse-mode and responded, "You don't need one if you don't mind chancing a risk of contracting the flu virus, getting sick and possibly transmitting to your family, and yes even those who have been vaccinated, are still at risk. People of every age, including people in good health, are at risk of flu." She was shocked, because like others, she thought the influenza vaccine was just recommended for children and immunocompromised patients. I gave her a bit more information about influenza. Like how the CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every year by the end of October, if possible. I told her, getting vaccinated later is OK. It's not too late to vaccinate throughout the flu season, even in January or later. I also shared that although a majority of hospitalizations and deaths occur in people 65 years and older, even healthy young children and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cdc-warns-of-severe-flu-cases-in-young-adults_us_56b0dca2e4b0655877f73600" target="_blank">younger adults can have severe disease</a> or <a href="http://nurseswhovaccinate.blogspot.com/2016/11/ashley-mccormicks-flu-story.html" target="_blank">even die from influenza</a>.</div>
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Which brings us to this year's <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw/index.htm" target="_blank">National Influenza Vaccination Week's</a> 2016 key message- It's not too late to get a flu shot and everyone should get one.<br />
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With the holiday season among us, we're spending time with loved ones, participating in community events and ultimately taking part in activities that allow for an easy transmission of the flu virus. Flu activity is usually highest between December and February, though activity can last as late as May. As long as flu activity is ongoing, it’s not too late to get vaccinated, even in January or later. <br />
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As a nurse, I frequently tell my patients and my friends that not only does a flu vaccine protect you, it also protects your loved ones from the flu. Getting vaccinated protests those around you, including <br />
those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness, like babies and young children, older people, and<br />
people with certain chronic health conditions.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2w3Gw1ixvUg/WEscBF6rWsI/AAAAAAAA3hQ/Rg7T1dHeWokBYQiDTIQB_CxsejZ5niEowCLcB/s1600/sneeze-300x206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2w3Gw1ixvUg/WEscBF6rWsI/AAAAAAAA3hQ/Rg7T1dHeWokBYQiDTIQB_CxsejZ5niEowCLcB/s200/sneeze-300x206.jpg" width="200" /></a>The flu virus is spread mostly by <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/spread.htm" target="_blank">direct contact and droplets</a>. When a sick person coughs or sneezes, virus droplets can travel six feet or more. If you're in close quarters, like most families, one sick family member will very easily transmit the virus to other family members. </div>
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According to the <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/acip/clinical.htm" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a> (CDC), “most healthy adults are able to infect other people beginning day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.”<br />
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As per the CDC, community immunity is “When a critical portion of a community is immunized against a contagious disease, most members of the community are protected against that disease because there is little opportunity for an outbreak. Even those who are not eligible for certain vaccines — such as very young infants or immunocompromised individuals — get some protection because the spread of contagious disease is contained.”<br />
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When the overwhelming majority of people are vaccinated, our communities are kept safe. Do your part, protect your family by getting your yearly influenza vaccine. Take it from <a href="http://www.nurseswhovaccinate.org/" target="_blank">Nurses Who Vaccinate</a> members, who know that unlike breakfast cereal, Flu Shots aren't just for kids!<br />
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><em>"As a nurse, I take my role as a patient advocate seriously. Advocating for my patients also means protecting them, which is why I always get my annual flu shot. Getting vaccinated against the flu keeps me safe and helps prevent the spread of infection to the vulnerable people that I'm caring for during my shifts. The flu can be deadly for anyone of any age, and getting vaccinated is a great way to keep the entire community safe!"</em> -Angela Daly, RN, Cardiac Float Nurse<br />
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<em>"<!-- react-text: 283 --><!-- /react-text --></em><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><em>I'm a single mother of one. My fully vaccinated daughter learned the value of vaccines when she had the flu at age 6 in 1992. When she was well enough, I explained how she could prevent becoming so ill. Not only does she stay up-to-date on vaccines including an annual flu shot as an adult, she chose to participate in HPV trials while away at college."</em> -Joan E, DrPH, RN, School Nurse<br />
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<em>"</em><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><em>As a rural nurse in Mexico I saw firsthand pain and sorrow of mothers who lost a child to a vaccine preventable disease. Later, as an educator and mother of three, I was the first one to get vaccinate annually against the flu and I made sure the my children understood the importance of being fully vaccinate to protect them from deadly diseases when they were younger. They learn that having their annual flu shots will protect them from flu and for spreading infections to others. Educating the mothers about the importance of vaccines is a must and a responsibility to keep our families healthy and our communities free of diseases."</em> -Felisa Hilbert, RN, Global Health advocate.<br />
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<em>"</em><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody _1n4g"><em>As a former Oncology nurse, turned NICU nurse, I have cared for many patients who are immunocompromised, and cannot receive vaccines. I vaccinate my family because vaccination not only protect them against diseases, it helps build herd immunity to protect those who truly are unable to be vaccinated, because they are either too young or too immunocompromised."</em> -Ashley Balestriere, BSN, RN, Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody"><em>"My family of four, plus one furry friend, is fully protected against vaccine-preventable disease. Whooping cough is currently circulating in our community, and I'm relieved to know that we have done everything we can to insure that our family will be healthy, and that we've done our bit to stop its spread."</em> - Leah Russin, mom, lawyer, community member. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw/index.htm?s_cid=seasonalflu-btn-083" title="It's not too late to get a flu shot!"><img alt="It's not too late to get a flu shot!" src="https://www.cdc.gov/images/campaigns/nivw/2016/nivw-button_not-too-late_300x250.png" style="border-image: none; border: 0px currentColor; height: 250px; width: 300px;" /></a></div>
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CDC kicked off their NIVW Blog-a-thon on <strong>Monday, December 5</strong>. Checkout <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw/activities.htm" target="_blank">other participating blogs here</a>. Share your own post on social media using the hashtag <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NIVW2016" target="_blank">#NIVW2016</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23fightflu&src=typd" target="_blank">#fightflu</a>, and download your own CDC Flu Blog-a-thon badge, <a class="tp-link-policy" href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw/webtools.htm">here <span class="print-only">(http://www.cdc.gov/flu/nivw/webtools.htm)</span></a>. !<br />
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MelodyRNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17839261453986068642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-11181519839245894532016-11-26T13:06:00.002-05:002016-11-26T13:08:26.554-05:00Ashley McCormick’s Flu Story<br />
On December 27, 2013, I lost my only daughter, Ashley, to the flu.<br />
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She was only 23 years old. <br />
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A few days before <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pastseasons/1314season.htm" target="_blank">Christmas 2013</a>, Ashley came home from work not feeling well, she had a sore throat, a fever and just felt achy. She was taken to an urgent care, but her diagnosis of Type A flu came too late for antivirals to be given. When I heard, she was diagnosed with the Flu, I was relieved, I thought, everyone gets the flu, it’s no big deal, you feel horrible for a few days, you get over it, and that’s it. <br />
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Boy was I wrong. <br />
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I had never gotten a flu shot before, and neither had either of my kids. I wasn’t against it, <b><i>I just thought it was for people who were sick, and for older people, <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/p0220-flu-report.html" target="_blank">but it wasn't</a>.</i></b> I had never heard of anyone dying or having any complication from the flu before.
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Gm3fApFCcs/WDnIe7bDpZI/AAAAAAAAAgI/00oOdukoZpcIyQv5QV6Oi9sVPN7J2PMxACLcB/s1600/Ashley%2Bflu%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9Gm3fApFCcs/WDnIe7bDpZI/AAAAAAAAAgI/00oOdukoZpcIyQv5QV6Oi9sVPN7J2PMxACLcB/s200/Ashley%2Bflu%2B2.jpg" width="137" /></a>Late Christmas Night, Ashley was taken to the Emergency Room, her fever was 103.8F and she was having trouble breathing. She was taken to the I.C.U., and hooked up to machines and a special breathing mask within minutes of walking into the triage unit. They said her pulse ox was 88, and she was <a href="http://www.webmd.com/asthma/guide/hypoxia-hypoxemia" target="_blank">hypoxic</a>, I didn’t exactly know what that meant, but I knew it was something very serious. <br />
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I wasn’t prepared for what was about to happen over the course of the next 24 hours, but throughout the next day, as test results started to come back, doctors began to give us a picture of what was going on, It was not a pretty picture, <b>it was a nightmare</b>. They said she had the H1N1 Flu, and it had attacked her lungs. <br />
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We started having Drs wanting to try different things, which we agreed to try anything. It came to a point where she had to be put on a respirator, but her lungs were so severely damaged they would not accept the air being given. Finally, all these ideas that the drs were having weren’t working. We were told her only option was to be put on an <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007234.htm" target="_blank">ECMO machine, a heart lung bypass machine</a>, to give her lungs a chance to heal. They said she would be airlifted to a larger hospital about an hour away, the hospital she was in didn’t have a machine. <br />
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We signed paper work, expected this to happen fairly quickly, but it didn’t. The flu was very bad all over the state, and there were people just as sick as Ashley, so the bigger hospital didn’t have an ECMO machine available for her. We sat there for eight hours, while the hospital frantically searched for a machine for her. We sat by and watched as Ashley coded twice, and there was a line of drs, nurses, and techs, taking turns with an airbag, squeezing it every few seconds to keep her organs from failing. I couldn’t believe how hard she was fighting and everyone in that room was fighting to keep her alive, it was truly amazing. <br />
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Finally, they found a machine for her, but Ashley was so much sicker now, so getting her to the hospital with the available machine, was an almost impossible task. We were told she had a 95% chance she wouldn’t make the trip. She did make it, she was taken directly into surgery, and we were met with a nurse to have us sign a bunch of papers, once again we said do anything, and signed all the paperwork. We were again given the odds, a 95% percent chance she would die being hooked up to the ECMO machine during surgery, and if she made it through that a 90% chance she would have a serious complication while being on the machine. <br />
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We didn’t care, a 5% chance is better than a 0% chance.
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About an hour, after being given updates every 15 minutes or so, we were taken into a room, expecting to be told what the next step was. <br />
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But instead, the dr. came in and said, “I’m sorry, we did everything we could but she died.”<br />
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My husband fell to his knees and cried, my son, who was only 17 at the time looked at me like he didn’t understand what was happening, I will never forget the look on his face, it was like this isn’t real, this can’t be real. I honestly, don’t remember what I did. I know I just stood there in shock, I guess. I do remember thinking, she just had the flu, <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/high_risk.htm" target="_blank">how could she die from just the flu?</a> It just didn’t make sense.
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I learned a hard lesson, you can’t take any illness for granted. I don’t know why this happened to Ashley, she was a healthy 23-year-old. I live everyday with guilt, now knowing that if she had gotten a flu shot, she more than likely would still be alive today. <br />
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There is nothing I can do to bring her back, but I can tell her story and raise awareness. <br />
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A few weeks after Ashley died, we were contacted by many reporters and had news crews showing up at our door wanting to do an interview. Ashley was the 3rd young 20 something-year-old who died from the flu in our county. I really wish the media would have done a story on number 1 or Number 2, I would have seen it, and knew flu shots were so important.
I then started to think that if I didn’t know this could happen, I bet the majority of people didn’t know either. <br />
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So, on February 2nd, The Ashley McCormick Flu Foundation was born. We go all over to tell Ashley’s story, talk of the importance of getting a flu shot every year, and when we have funds or can get grants provide flu shots. I was right, the majority of people do not realize the flu and be deadly. <br />
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We work closely with the <a href="http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mdch/MDCH_Flu_College_University_Toolkit_Final_438084_7.pdf" target="_blank">State and county health departments</a>, and focus on t<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/30/college-flu-shots_n_6054946.html" target="_blank">he college age kids</a>. They are the <b>lowest demographic of people who get flu shots, over all</b>. <br />
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The State has created a poster, with Ashley’s picture, and story and is posted in all health departments, colleges, some school districts, doctors’ offices, and just recently in Our County Walgreens stores.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HM_6d4T1j1Y/WDnIe3jHpbI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/LcjZre1T7gMOLiAMCUsem-cSViFj8XYfgCEw/s1600/Ashley%2Bflu%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HM_6d4T1j1Y/WDnIe3jHpbI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/LcjZre1T7gMOLiAMCUsem-cSViFj8XYfgCEw/s400/Ashley%2Bflu%2B1.jpg" width="307" /></a></div>
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The health dept. tells me that Ashley’s poster really is making a difference in rising the Flu shot rates in every age group.<br />
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It's flu season. Get your flu shot.<br />
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<i>My name is Patti McCormick. I work full time as the director of T<a href="http://www.theashleymccormickflufoundation.com/" target="_blank">he Ashley McCormick Flu Foundation</a>. I devote my life to raising awareness about all vaccine preventable diseases, but especially the Flu.
I also run another foundation that honors Ashley's kindness, and her passions, it is called Ashley's Bridge. For more information, please see: <a href="http://www.theashleymccormickflufoundation.com/" target="_blank">http://www.theashleymccormickflufoundation.com/ </a></i>Nurses Who Vaccinatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366311888929155867noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-86179517765124875422016-11-07T11:37:00.003-05:002016-11-07T11:37:58.498-05:00Mapping the Course for Your Child's Vaccination Schedule<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #345a8a; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Mapping the Course for Your Child's Vaccination Schedule</span></h1>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Childhood vaccines are extremely important in
protecting children from 16 dangerous and deadly diseases. These infections,
ranging from influenza and whooping cough to rubella and mumps, can have severe
health consequences for a young child. However, vaccines help to dramatically
reduce the risk of and even prevent these once devastating childhood illnesses.
Thanks to a comprehensive vaccination schedule, the impact of diseases like
chicken pox has been limited, and some, such as polio, have become virtual
unheard of in the United States. Moreover, the risk of vaccinating your child
is </span><a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/vaccine-decision/index.html"><span style="color: #0782c1; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">extremely low.</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> While parents sometimes worry about side
effects -- particularly when their child receives multiple shots at a single
doctor's visit -- most children experience nothing more than minor symptoms like
low-grade fever.<br /><br /><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In order to properly safeguard children, the
CDC recommends a complex schedule of 13 vaccinations spaced out over the
first 18 years of life, with many vaccines administered through multiple doses
months or even years apart. This timetable is designed to prevent children from
contracting serious illnesses at the times that they are most vulnerable to
infection. </span><a href="http://carrington.edu/blog/medical/vaccines/childhood-vaccine-checklist-infographic/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue;">Carrington.edu</span></span></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <span style="color: #333333;">has created a guide to help
parents visualize and plan their children's vaccination schedule.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /><a href="http://carrington.edu/blog/medical/vaccines/childhood-vaccine-checklist-infographic/">http://carrington.edu/blog/medical/vaccines/childhood-vaccine-checklist-infographic/</a></span></span></div>
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MelodyRNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17839261453986068642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-52682903477862504302016-10-12T16:20:00.005-04:002016-10-13T08:51:46.179-04:00The Longest 7 Weeks <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The coughing was mild at first. Not a nagging cough, not a juicy or wet cough, just a mild cough. I stared at my 16 year old son across the table from dinner and asked him if he was feeling well, he shrugged and said yes, he was fine. That night the cough continued, I contributed it to end of summer weather, allergies perhaps, maybe mold? I gave my son cough syrup for nighttime. I took his temperature which was normal (<i>hint #1</i>) and both of us went to sleep. I did hear him cough occasionally through the night and this marked the beginning of the longest months of our lives.<br />
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My son is a healthy 16-year-old, middle linebacker for his varsity football team, he jet skis, is a avid boater, plays Lacrosse off season. My son is into working out, eating healthy and exercising. He had a milk protein allergy as an infant, a bout with apnea as an infant, and other than childhood colds, only one ear ache his entire sixteen years, a fractured clavicle and nasal bone, he was never sick.<br />
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The mild cough continued for a week, no sputum, it was dry and still occasional. He stayed afebrile, ate normally, was taking fluids, and had no complaints. I myself developed a cough, I do have a history of asthma and thought I was coming down with my yearly bronchitis. I was thinking maybe my son was also developing a case. I went to urgent care, and got myself a Medrol dose pack and a antibiotic, when I came home, I decided that I wasn't going to take the antibiotic that was prescribed, (doxycycline) and I opted to take a Z-Pak that I had filled 8 months before but didn't take. I didn't realize it then, but it was a good call on my part. In this time my sons cough remained mild, but in the days that followed I noticed it was worsening. He was coughing all through the night, and it was making him very short of breath. I dropped him off at school and a couple of hours later he called me and asked me to pick him up. I took him right over to urgent care, where they diagnosed him with bronchitis, gave him amoxicillin, put him on prednisone 20 mg daily x 5 days and gave him an inhaler, as I gave him a few puffs off of my inhaler the night before to which his breathing improved.<br />
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That night was the real beginning of this nightmare, he coughed so violently became short of breath, and was gasping and choking. He began vomiting (<i>hint #2)</i> phlegm and whatever he ate that remained undigested. And this type of coughing, gagging, shortness of breath and vomiting continued for the next day and night. He was exhausted. I was exhausted. I felt helpless. I am a nurse and part of me was telling him not to be so dramatic, as vomiting with him was always a big production, ( I liken my son to the Seinfeld episode where Jerry proudly states he hasn't vomited in 13 years, only to toss his cookies later) and the other part of me was getting very very nervous.<br />
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I took him to the local Emergency Department. I was happy to see the pediatric Physican that was on call was a doctor that I loved and respected. They gave him a albuterol neb and a chest X-ray. She came back to tell me that his chest x-ray was crystal clear (<i>hint #3</i>) and that they would discharge him, but I was not happy with that. The vomiting had me very concerned, she stated it was probably a gag reflex. But she did decide to keep him for a while after seeing my face. The gave him a bolus of normal saline for dehydration , and did bloodwork and urine. All of his blood work came back fine except for his neutrophils, and his monocytes. They were only slightly elevated (<i>hint #4</i>). The mycoplasm, wasn't resulted but she didn't think it would show anything. She then decided she was going to treat him as an atypical pneumonia. Thank God for that. She discontinued the amoxicillin. And put him on Zithromax 500 mg daily x five days. She said to continue the prednisone until finished. We left.<br />
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During the next 10 days, as he completed the medications, my son continued to have these bouts of uncontrollable violent coughing, always resulting in vomiting, choking on phlegm and gasping. Still he remained with no temperature, he would eat, but vomit whatever food if the coughing started right after he finished. He was losing weight. He was in and out of school, going in late if he was up all night coughing. One evening he vomited in the basin where I noticed black stringy flecks, of course the nurse in me immediately thought blood, he is assured me he had eaten fried Oreos. OK I thought to myself that makes sense. But the next morning first thing in the morning, he vomited again, this time it was phlegm with blackened red strings (<i>hint #5</i>). I put the vomit in a baggie and I threw him in the car and took him again right back to the emergency room. This time it was the Doctor who I did not know. And I did not care for her as she was dismissive, and told me it wasn't blood, and did not want to hear his story. Well guess what?, it was positive for blood. They gave him three back to back nebulizer treatments, they upped his prednisone to 60 mg a day, repeated the chest x-ray which of course came back clear, told us to do the inhaler every four hours and released him. They did not draw labs. Dismissed.<br />
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With the increased prednisone, the cough did slow down a bit, he still was vomiting phlegm and gasping but no more blood. Still not happy, I made a follow up appointment with his physician. I saw the nurse practitioner in the office. She listened to what I had to say. She did a very thorough exam, and <b>it was the nurse practitioner who believed it was pertussis.</b> Pertussis? Really?? Nah. He was vaccinated. <b>I was pro-vaccine, he was up to date. No way was it whooping cough.</b> But my son was so sick and had lost 10 pounds. She was so concerned that she sent right us over to the lab to have blood work drawn. The weekend came and went, he was feeling somewhat better, less coughing, but still coughing nonetheless. On Monday, I followed up with his pediatrician, the labs were still pending, but she cleared him to return to school and football. She assured me he was not contagious as he completed the medication often prescribed for pertussis. Later in the afternoon the Dr. called, his results were in and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK7813/" target="_blank">Bordeltella Pertussis</a> and Mycoplasma were elevated, positive.<br />
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Pertussis! Bingo. Wait, what??<br />
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How did my healthy, so healthy never sick kid get whooping cough?? How did three different doctors miss this???? He has a pro-vaccine mom who diligently took him for his appointments. I am a community visiting nurse, I might have seen this in my poorer neighborhoods. I ruled myself out as I've been home on a shoulder injury and a surgery for 5 months. Meanwhile, I waited for the dreaded Department of Health call.<br />
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The call came, and the nurse assigned to my sons case was lovely. We went over my sons symptoms and created a timeline. She was convinced it was mid to end of August when he was exposed. Most likely from another child during practice or from the gym. I was safe as I took the z-pak when I had bronchial symptoms. My immediate family also showed no symptoms and remain well. They were not exposed to my son until <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/clinical/treatment.html" target="_blank">after he did his course of antibiotics</a>. She explained that they were treating it as a probable, not confirmed case. To get a confirmation you need to do a nasal swab. No swab was taken, just blood. S<b>he explained that the pertussis vaccine last approximately 3 to 6 years, as it weakens. My son had a Tdap 5 years prior, so his booster lasted just 5 years. </b><br />
D<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/dtap.html" target="_blank">tap is given as a vaccine</a>, <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/diseases/teen/tdap.html" target="_blank">Ttap is given as a booster</a> and is offered as the tetanus booster. She also explains how the bacteria goes into what are called "pockets." Pockets are areas where the disease can lays dormant. <b>Anti-vaccine parents create these pockets when they miss vaccinations as they leave their communities vulnerable to <a href="http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2503179#References" target="_blank">outbreaks of vaccine preventable disease</a>.</b> A<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-35975011" target="_blank">nti-vaccine parents</a> rely on community immunity, and this is the very reason why you should not rely on community immunity. A unvaccinated child, or an adult who was carrying exposed my son, who fits in the profile of who is at risk. Children that are at risk are my sons age as this is the year where their vaccination would be weakening and wearing off. I never knew this vaccine could wear off just like that.<br />
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Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory disease. It is spread by contact with respiratory droplets, like cough, sneezing, saliva, handshakes and hugs. It is called "Whooping Cough" because of the <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/materials/everyone.html#pertussis-sounds" target="_blank">sound that is made when they gasp for air after fits of coughing</a>. The cough is mild in the beginning, mimics a cold and there is no fever. If you have a cough and are running a 101° temperature, chances are, you do not have pertussis.<br />
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<b> Pertussis can be life-threatening especially to babies, and can cause serious illness in children, teens and adults. 90% of deaths from pertussis are in infants less than 1 year old.</b><br />
<b><u>What I learned:</u></b><br />
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<li>Vaccinated children and adults can become infected with the disease, but it's less serious in vaccinated people.</li>
<li>Vaccination and booster shots are the most effective way to prevent pertussis. Dtap for infants, Tdap for children and adults. </li>
<li>Pregnant mothers should get the Pertussis booster vaccine with every pregnancy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends that pregnant women receive the whooping cough, vaccine for adolescents and adults (called Tdap vaccine) during the third trimester of each pregnancy ideally in the 27th through 36th week.</li>
<li>You are not considered communicable if you complete the course of antibiotic therapy.</li>
<li>It is recommended that you complete the course of antibiotic, and still remain contained for at least five days after completion.</li>
<li>It is also called the cough of 100 days, as you can have coughing symptoms for up to three months.</li>
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Healthcare providers need to be educated that whooping cough or being exposed to whooping cough is prevalent in our communities and our patients are at risk. They need to do nasal swabbing if suspected as this is the true test to confirm. My child had every sign and symptom, he was textbook. Yet all three doctors missed it.. His course could have been shortened if only they knew the signs.<br />
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It is been a difficult few weeks, a letter went out to the parents of the school, (of course omitting his name). I had to talk with my teen about who he could have infected with close contact (including kissing), and that they needed to be told. I promised that I would talk to the parents. So far no one else has shown signs, although believe me, I listen to every cough now and know the symptoms. <br />
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It's been a long 7 weeks, but we're finally seeing improvement. My son is still coughing a lot, but he's no longer vomiting, he's eating, has returned to school and is returning to football this weekend.<br /><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Carolyn M. is a Home Health Community Nurse, member of Nurses Who Vaccinate and mom. </i></b></span></div>
Nurses Who Vaccinatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03366311888929155867noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-83129449163745698332016-10-06T10:54:00.008-04:002016-10-06T11:45:20.294-04:00In this modern world, being immunized is, at its heart, a social issue.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<strong>I never know what to say.</strong><br />
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I’ve been a nurse for over two decades, I’ve given hundreds of vaccines and never seen a serious side effect or evidence of the development of a chronic disease related to vaccines. I’ve spent years studying the vaccine debate, written a website on the subject, spoken at national conferences, and yet, I am still stumped by the simplest statement made by parents: “<em><strong>I’m not anti-vaccine</strong></em>.” <br />
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<strong>You’ve just refused a vaccine for your child and then made that statement.</strong><br />
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For the life of me, I don’t know how to respond. You see, I don’t want to have an argument with you, I just want your child to be healthy and safe. I really do. I truly believe you want the very best for your child. I do too. <br />
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I don’t make a penny more or a penny less if you choose to immunize or not. </div>
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I understand your fears. </div>
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I have children of my own. </div>
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I don’t think your decision to not vaccinate your child implies you would intentionally disregard the welfare of those in our community who can’t be vaccinated, or who need protection against preventable diseases.</div>
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<strong>But actually, it does.</strong> </div>
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I do think you are an intelligent person who just might have been swayed by misinformation or by well-intentioned peers. I don’t think you are the first; I have been too. But in the end, you are against the receiving of vaccines for your child who is both precious and vulnerable. You’ve refused an amazing medical gift. And, it’s hard for me to understand that. </div>
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Would you refuse chemo if your child had cancer? </div>
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An antibiotic for a life-threatening infection? </div>
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The same science and quest for better health is behind vaccines. So what am I to think? </div>
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You might not be “anti-vaccine” but from my perspective you’re not exactly pro-community. </div>
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You might not know those in your community who are physically fragile. </div>
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Because of my job, I do, and that changes the way I view your decision. </div>
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Through immunization it’s possible that you might see the complete eradication of polio in your lifetime. Maybe even measles. Surely, in your child’s. But it takes a universal and monumental effort to keep children from being crippled and disabled. </div>
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It’s ok to be fearful. </div>
Just fear the right thing. <br />
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You want to make a difference in your community? Vaccinate. </div>
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Smallpox didn’t go away by itself and neither will hepatitis B, polio, and Hib. </div>
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You want to have some small impact on the life of a child in a developing country? Vaccinate. </div>
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It’s a lifetime of giving. In this modern world, being immunized is, at its heart, a social issue.<br />
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<a href="http://www.eulabiss.net/" target="_blank">Eula Biss</a> writes in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Immunity-Inoculation-Eula-Biss-ebook/dp/B00KUY4D7W/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1/151-4319625-8272627" target="_blank">On Immunity</a>, “Immunity is a shared space… a garden we tend together.” <br />
I like to think we do the same for our community. </div>
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<strong>Rebekah Sherman RN, BSN, MPH </strong><br />
<strong>Author of </strong><a href="http://ashlandchild.org/"><strong>Ashlandchild.org</strong></a> <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong><br /></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Rebekah Sherman BSN, MPH is the primary author of </strong></span><a href="http://ashlandchild.org/"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Ashlandchild.org</strong></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>; a website for vaccine hesitant parents. Her real job is working as a clinical RN/RN Educator at La Clinica de Valle where she provides immunization counseling for vaccine hesitant/refusing parents. She lives in Ashland, OR with her family.</strong></span> <br />
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MelodyRNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17839261453986068642noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-23512624574546232072016-09-02T13:02:00.002-04:002016-10-06T11:52:47.157-04:00Welcome to Flu Season 2016-17<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Flu Season is upon us as such I felt it important to discuss the flu vaccine when talking about adult vaccination.<br />
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Influenza is an acute febrile respiratory disease. In an average year influenza can account for <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2010/08/26/129456941/annual-flu-death-average-fluctuates-depending-on-how-you-slice-it" target="_blank">3,300 – 48,000 deaths per year in the US alone</a> (yes, deaths), 100,000-800,000 hospital admissions, 25 million physician visits, and 50-50 million infections and illnesses. The majority of the deaths occur in <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm" target="_blank">people aged 65 and over</a>. Individuals most vulnerable to complications of influenza are children age 2 and under, adults age 65 and over, people with suppressed immune systems (patient’s on chemo, on immunosuppressive drugs, HIV), and people with other underlying conditions (asthma, COPD, chronic renal failure, diabetes, etc). Last year's flu season resulted in <a href="http://gis.cdc.gov/GRASP/Fluview/PedFluDeath.html" target="_blank">85 pediatric deaths</a>, a vast majority of them unvaccinated or too young to vaccinate. </div>
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An inactivated influenza vaccine has been in use since the 1960’s to help prevent influenza infection. The current recommendation in the US is that every individual age 6 months and older get the flu vaccine yet many people do not get it. Why?<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Common Reasons Nurses Hear from Patients Who Are Hesitant to Get Their Influenza Vaccines<br />
</span></strong><strong><em>"I never get the flu” or “I had it and it wasn’t that bad”</em></strong> – That’s great that you haven’t gotten the flu – yet. If you thought you had the flu but felt it wasn’t that bad – it wasn’t the flu, it was probably a bad cold or other influenza like illness. Flu hits hard and fast. Your whole body aches, and your head wants to explode. A large percentage of people who get it, report not being able to get out of bed, and it is serious (see above numbers from the <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/index.html" target="_blank">CDC’s Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report</a>). Even after the flu has run its course, most people report fatigue that lasts for several weeks afterward. Becoming infected with the flu may be as simple as being in the same room with someone who coughs. The incubation period for influenza is 1-4 days. An infected person can shed virus to others from 1 day before, to 5 days after becoming symptomatic. So it is possible to not even know if you are around people who are sick (can you say plane ride?) No amount of “immune boosting” concoctions will prevent the influenza virus from protecting you if you are exposed. (that is all I will say about that. It is a topic for another post). I have seen healthy, athletic, well-nourished young people come down with it and have to be hospitalized. <br />
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<strong><em>“The flu shot makes me sick”</em></strong> – This one may be my favorite. The current injected flu vaccine is an inactivated vaccine. It is a dead virus. (insert Monty Python Dead Parrot Sketch here).<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/misconceptions.htm" target="_blank"> IT CANNOT GIVE YOU THE FLU!</a> Keep in mind though, it takes the body up to two full weeks to develop an immune response to the vaccine that will protect you from getting sick from the flu. If you did get sick after the flu shot, it was for one of two reasons. Either you were exposed to it before you got the shot or before your body developed immunity via the vaccine OR you got one of the other 99 or so recognized rhinoviruses in existence, and you would have gotten sick whether you were vaccinated or not. As an aside, there is a live virus vaccine called Flumist, but I will discuss that in another point. The shot does not make people sick. Period.<br />
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<strong><em>“The flu shot is not very effective, the virus mutates so they never know if it will work or not.”</em></strong> There is some truth to this though not enough to avoid getting the shot. The formula for the flu shot varies from year to year based on surveillance systems from various agencies (Centers for Disease Control-CDC, World Health Organization-WHO, National respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System -NREVSS and about 5 more that I won’t mention unless someone asks as I have been told I am verbose enough). The vaccine takes about a year to develop. Researchers and scientists all over the world use data from previous years and mountains of epidemiological data to predict<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/vaccineeffect.htm" target="_blank"> which 3 or 4 strains will be most prevalent and formulate the vaccine accordingly</a>. It was all over the news during the 2014-2015 flu season how low the effectiveness of the vaccine was that year (about 23%). Last year’s vaccine was better at about 59%. Does this mean the shot is no good? I don’t know about you but I’ll take a 23-59% reduction in the chance of getting flu over 0% reduction. Also in the news was the lack of effectiveness of the quadrivalent nasal Flumist, and the CDC’s recommendation against using it this year. Is this a failing on the part of vaccine research and development? Actually no, it is good medicine at work. It is proof that those who make it their life’s work to develop these vaccines want to make sure they are effective. Interesting enough a Canadian study of the intranasal flu vaccine is reporting different results with effectiveness on par with the shot. This again is demonstrates how no one study can be used to make health care recommendations. All evidence must be compiled and a consensus is then reached. Will this change the CDC’s recommendation? Not likely for this year, but it may have an impact on the recommended use of the intranasal vaccine in the future.<br />
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"<strong><em>I don’t get the flu shot because it’s full of toxins and heavy metals”.</em></strong> Ok, so I lied. This one is my favorite. First let me start out by saying that the people who screech about that, typically have <a href="https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/toxic-myths-about-vaccines/" target="_blank">no understanding of basic chemistry and the fact that everything is a chemical</a>. The air we breathe, the water we drink, every molecule in our body is a chemical. Also, the poison is in the dose. Anything can be toxic at the right dose – water, oxygen, anything. The properties of any element on the periodic table are dependent upon the other elements to which they are bound. Sodium is a metal that is volatile if it comes in contact with water, but when bound to the element chloride it becomes table salt. Not only safe, but fairly essential for life. I’ll start with the big gun in vaccines. Mercury. Not all mercury is created equal. There is elemental mercury, the stuff in thermometers. That stuff is really bad for you, can do a lot of damage if ingested, inhaled, whatever. There is methyl mercury - a dangerous compound often found in polluted water. Then there is <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/thimerosal.htm" target="_blank">thimerosal a vaccine preservative, used only in multidose flu vaccine vials, that breaks down into ethyl mercury</a>. Ethyl mercury does not bio-accumulate. The body excretes it, unlike methyl mercury which can build up in the body and cause harm. Think of ethyl alcohol (wine) vs. methyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). Drinking 8 oz of ethyl may give you a buzz. Drinking 8 oz of methyl alcohol can kill you. Aluminum is another popular culprit. But the catch here is that the aluminum in a vaccine is not ground up bits of aluminum foil. It is a compound in the form of aluminum salt. The aluminum salt acts as an adjuvant enhancing the immune response of the active ingredient in the vaccine. Aluminum salts are found in many things, particularly oral antacids like Mylanta and Maalox. There is more aluminum in a feeding of breastmilk for a baby than there is in a vaccine. Formaldehyde is another scary sounding chemical in a vaccine. The formaldehyde is used to kill or inactivate the virus used in a vaccine. The human body manufactures its own formaldehyde, and there is more naturally occurring formaldehyde in an organic pear than in a vaccine. There is not enough formaldehyde in a vaccine to even register a change in serum levels in the blood. So, scary chemicals, not so scary after all. By the way have you ever looked at the chemical composition of a strawberry? That shit’ll kill you. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="irc_su" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><strong>Ingredients of an All-Natural Strawberry</strong> </span></td></tr>
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In closing, <em>everyone 6 months and older</em> is recommended for annual flu vaccination with rare exception. For the 2016-2017 season, CDC recommends use of injectable flu vaccines--inactivated influenza vaccine (or IIV) or the recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV). The nasal spray flu vaccine (live attenuated influena vaccine or LAIV) should not be used during 2016-2017. <br />
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You can use this widget Flu Vaccine Finder, to locate flu vaccine clinics near you. Simply enter your zip code or city and state to find mapped locations of flu vaccine clinics. <br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="160" scrolling="no" src="//www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/flu-finder-widget.html" style="overflow: hidden;" title="CDC Flu Vaccine Finder" width="280">&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;!-- Flu Finder Widget !--&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt; </iframe><br /></div>
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You can also visit <a href="http://vaccine.healthmap.org/">http://vaccine.healthmap.org/</a> to find out what other vaccines are available in your area. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have any questions regarding which flu vaccine is best for you and your family.<br />
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And when you get your vaccine... send us your selfie! Like past flu seasons, we'll be collecting and sharing your #Vaxselfie. Send it to us on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NursesWhoVaccinate/" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>, email it to us (<a href="mailto:NursesWhoVaccinate@gmail.com">NursesWhoVaccinate@gmail.com</a>), or tag us on <a href="http://instagram.com/nurseswhovax" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/NursesWhoVax" target="_blank">Twitter</a> at @NursesWhoVax. We look forward to sharing everyone's efforts to protect themselves and others from influenza. Be safe this season!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yDi38pyhSUE/V8mrHa5GRxI/AAAAAAAA0-s/e43F6oCgu4AqRjQwQD4xDx_B6KfC7BBVQCLcB/s1600/lori%2Bboyle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yDi38pyhSUE/V8mrHa5GRxI/AAAAAAAA0-s/e43F6oCgu4AqRjQwQD4xDx_B6KfC7BBVQCLcB/s1600/lori%2Bboyle.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><strong>Lori B. has been in nursing for 20 years. She began advocating for vaccine awareness and working toward dispelling myths and misinformation about vaccines in 2013 as she was finishing her advance practice degree. Since then she has become a member of <a href="http://www.nurseswhovaccinate.org/" target="_blank">Nurses Who Vaccinate</a>, <a href="http://www.voicesforvaccines.org/" target="_blank">Voices For Vaccines</a> and the <a href="http://www.immunizenj.org/" target="_blank">New Jersey Immunization Network.</a> </strong></em></span></div>
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MelodyRNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17839261453986068642noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2391469041192835535.post-59453409787899813512016-08-02T10:29:00.003-04:002016-08-02T10:54:13.218-04:00Your Vaccine Recommendation is a Critical Factor in Protecting Patient Health<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Patients trust you to give them the best counsel on how to protect their health. You know that immunization is an important preventive measure – but it’s unlikely that getting vaccinated is on the radar for your adult patients. Your strong recommendation is critical in ensuring that they get the vaccines they need to help them stay healthy. </div>
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<strong><em>Adults are not getting the vaccines they need.</em></strong> The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that vaccination rates for adults are extremely low (<em>National Health Interview Survey, 2014</em>). For example, rates for Tdap and zoster vaccination are 28 percent or less for adults who are recommended to get them. Even high risk groups are not getting the vaccines they need – only 20 percent of adults 64 years or younger who are at increased risk for complications from pneumococcal disease are vaccinated. This means that each year tens of thousands of adults needlessly suffer, are hospitalized, and even die as a result of diseases that could be prevented by vaccines. </div>
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<strong><em>Your patients are likely to get the vaccines you recommend to them.</em></strong> Clinicians are a valued and trusted source of health information for adults. Your patients rely on you to let them know which vaccines are necessary and right for them. <br />
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“Since many adults are not up to date on their vaccines, we need ALL health care professionals to use every patient encounter as an opportunity to assess whether any vaccines are needed,” Dr. Carolyn Bridges, Associate Director for Adult Immunization at CDC.</blockquote>
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If the patient is due for a vaccine, make a strong recommendation that you advise getting the vaccine because it can help protect them against a disease that could be serious. For some patients, this may be sufficient information to accept the vaccine. Others may want to learn more about the vaccine and why it is right for them. For these patients, sharing the following can help them make an informed decision. <br />
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<li><strong><span style="font-size: large;">S</span></strong>hare the tailored reasons why the recommended vaccine is right for the patient, given his or her age, health status, lifestyle, job, or other risk factors. </li>
<li><strong><span style="font-size: large;">H</span></strong>ighlight positive experiences with vaccines (personal or in your practice) to reinforce the benefits and strengthen confidence in vaccination. NIAM Toolkit: Adults 23 </li>
<li><strong><span style="font-size: large;">A</span></strong>ddress patient questions and any concerns about the vaccine, including side effects safety, and vaccine effectiveness in plain and understandable language. </li>
<li><strong><span style="font-size: large;">R</span></strong>emind patients that vaccines protect them and their loved ones from many common and serious diseases. </li>
<li><strong><span style="font-size: large;">E</span></strong>xplain the potential costs of getting vaccine-preventable diseases, including serious health effects, time lost (missing work or family obligations), and financial costs. </li>
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Some patients may need additional time to consider information about vaccines or want more details than can be provided during a single office visit. There are a number of things you can do to help these patients stay on track with recommended vaccinations. <br />
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<li>Provide educational materials or trusted websites for them to review. </li>
<li>Send reminders about needed vaccines. </li>
<li>Document the conversation and continue the discussion at the next visit. </li>
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To download free patient education materials or find resources on addressing patient questions and concerns about adult vaccines, visit: <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/adults">www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/adults</a>. <br />
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<em>August is National Immunization Awareness Month – a reminder of the importance of immunization in keeping our communities healthy. Your strong recommendation can make a difference.</em></div>
MelodyRNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17839261453986068642noreply@blogger.com0