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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: September 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.
The national figures for completed immunization of 13-17 year-olds in 2006 were:
Hepatitis B (3)
>80%
Varicella (1)
>60%
MMR (2)
>80%
MCV4 (1)
12%
Td or Tdap
>60%
HPV (3)
not yet available
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 will 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 will have a clinic at each elementary school after school hours and offer both the LAIV, and the injectable trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) . All children K-5 will receive vaccine at no charge. 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 guardian must be present to give consent and identify each child. Information about the clinics will be distributed through the schools; 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 August 14 in Indonesia, again after exposure to sick and dead chickens. Indonesia has now reported 30 cases in 2007, the highest number for one country. Egypt has reported 20 cases in 2007.
A pre-pandemic vaccine for humans for an avian influenza strain (H3N1) is now being stockpiled with a goal of supplies to immunize 20 million in the critical workforce.
Medications for pandemic influenza are also being stockpiled for initial use in containment, but then the priority would be for treatment of persons with symptoms of disease. Prophylaxis for healthcare workers is not the highest priority. Garrett County would expect to receive courses of treatment for 25% of its permanent population, or 7,600 courses.
Certified Nurse Examiners are required for the completion of these examinations. GCMH will soon have their own examiner again, and additionally, two nurses from the heatlh department are completing training and will share in a GCMH call schedule. WMHS did 25 exams last year for Garrett County residents; the county sheriff's office reported about 45 complaints of sexual abuse. These nurses are certifying for exam of persons age 13 and older; Special training is required for examination of children 12 or younger, which may constitute 20% of complaints.
Teen Pregnancy in Garrett County, 2000-2006
Vital statistic reports are not completed until 18-24 months after a year is over, because of the time required to gather information from other counties and states where Garrett County residents may give birth. The numbers for a single year are small so there is variation from year to year and a three to five-year average may give the best picture. The group we prefer to focus on is those 15-17 years of age, as pregnancy at age 18 and 19 has a different meaning in our society.
During this seven year period there were no births to Garrett County females 14 years or younger. There were 11 in Allegany County, and 692 in the State of Maryland.
The numbers for the 15-17 year-olds giving birth for Garrett County females were:
2000 2002 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 For the 15-17 year-old age group, the rates (births to age group per 1000 in age group) for this 7-year period were:
- Garrett County: 16.3
- Allegany County: 16.2
- State of Maryland: 17.7
To show trends over this period, in spite of the small numbers, I calculated overlapping totals and determined rates for 3-year periods. This shows definite downward trends for most areas.
2000-02 2001-03 2002-04 2003-05 2004-06 Garrett County Allegany County State of Maryland In analysis of these rates, factors to be considered include cultural practices, the frequency of sexual intercourse in this age group, availability and utilization of birth control, and the availability and utilization of abortion.
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, and an undiagnosised cluster of fatal disease (fever, headache, diarrhea and vomiting) is occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Regular Reports: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -Previous Reports
Infection Reports:
WMHS - updated Sept 2007, GCMH updated Sept 2007
WMHS August 2007 Clinical Newsletter: Prion Disease
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
