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Healthcare Provider Information |
Address:
Garrett Co. Health Dept.
1025 Memorial Drive
Oakland, MD 21550
Main Phone:
301-334-7777
or 301-895-3111
FAX: 301-334-7701
See department pages for individual phone numbers
E-Mail Webmaster
Alerts: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Previous Alerts
Notes: July-August 2007- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Previous Notes
Pre-teen Vaccination Campaign Urges Vaccination with Meningococcal, Tdap, HPV Vaccines--and Others
Though the campaign stresses vaccinating all 11- and 12-year-olds against meningococcal disease (MCV4) and tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis (Tdap), and 11- 12-year-old girls against human papilloma virus (HPV), it also encourages pre-teens and adolescents to get caught up on missed childhood vaccines, such as those that protect against hepatitis B virus, measles-mumps-rubella, polio, and varicella.
To access campaign materials, including posters intended for Caucasian, African-American, and Hispanic populations; flyers for parents in English and Spanish; and web banners and buttons in English and Spanish, go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/spec-grps/preteens-adol/07gallery/default.htm or a new website, http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/spec-grps/preteens-adol.htm , provides easy-to-understand, downloadable educational materials in English and Spanish for parents and healthcare providers about the vaccines and the diseases they prevent.
The Garrett County Health Department expects to again have a special program to encourage elementary school children to receive influenza protection this fall. Last year only the live attenuated influenza vaccine (FluMist) (LAIV) was offered, and the clinics were held during school hours. 43% of our target group of children was reached. The level of infection in our community was very low last year, as it was in the rest of the state and nation.
This year we hope to conduct the clinics at each elementary school after school hours and offer both the LAIV, and the injectable trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV). Vaccine will be offered free-of-charge to "under-insured" children*, age 6 months through 12 years of age, presenting at these clinics; a parent or responsible party must be present to give consent and identify the child. Information about the clinics will be distributed through the schools, and the clinic details have not yet been set. Followup clinics will also be set for those children under age 8 who haven't previously received two doses in a previous year.
*Children with insurance covering these vaccines will need to receive them from their physicians, or pay full-fee ($25) at the clinics.
The last case of human infection reported was July 20 in Egypt, again after exposure to sick and dead chickens.
Malaria is not something commonly included in differential diagnoses in Garrett County, but for those going on health missions to other countries, this test could be a great help. BinaxNOW(r) Malaria (Inverness Medical Professional Diagnostics, Scarborough,
Maine) is the first malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) authorized for use in the United States. Malaria RDTs, which detect circulating malaria-specific antigens, already are available in other countries and often are used in settings where malaria microscopy is not available. In the United States, use of the RDT can decrease the amount of time required to determine whether a patient is infected with malaria.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5627a4.htm
And for Treatment of Severe Malaria
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received permission from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide intravenous artesunate for emergency use in the United States for persons with severe malaria. Artesunate, a derivative from the "quing hao" or sweet wormwood plant, has been used worldwide for more than 20 years for the treatment of malaria. HHS/FDA has not approved artesunate for marketing in this country. CDC's investigational new drug application limits the use of artesunate to the emergency treatment of severe malaria, and the drug can be provided only through CDC.
http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/2007/r070802a.htm
Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever (MHF) is being reported again in humans in Uganda.
Regular Reports: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -Previous Reports
Infection Reports:
WMHS - updated July 2007, GCMH updated Aug 2007
WMHS July 2007 Clinical Newsletter: Relieving Physician Pressure- Targeting Antibiotics
References:
Advanced Directives/Living Wills
Quick Guideto Protecting Yourself and Your Family
Four Simple Things You Can Do to Protect You and Your family
Immunization Schedules and State Regulations
Maryland Lead Follow-Up Recommendations
