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Make Sure Your Child's Immunizations Are Up To Date!
Preparing for school means gathering supplies and back packs. It’s also the perfect time to make sure children are up to date on their vaccines. Getting all of the recommended vaccines is one of the most important things parents can do to protect their children’s health.
When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk for disease and can spread disease to others in their classroom and community – including babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated, and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer and other health conditions. Schools are highly susceptible to outbreaks of infectious diseases because students can easily transmit illnesses to one another as a result of poor hand washing, uncovered coughs and dense populations.
Children age 4 to 6 are due for boosters of four vaccines: DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis), chickenpox, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and polio.
Older children – like preteens and teens – need Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis), MCV (meningococcal conjugate vaccine) and HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccines. A yearly flu vaccine is recommended for all children 6 months and older.
(www.nphic.org)
When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk for disease and can spread disease to others in their classroom and community – including babies who are too young to be fully vaccinated, and people with weakened immune systems due to cancer and other health conditions. Schools are highly susceptible to outbreaks of infectious diseases because students can easily transmit illnesses to one another as a result of poor hand washing, uncovered coughs and dense populations.
Children age 4 to 6 are due for boosters of four vaccines: DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis), chickenpox, MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and polio.
Older children – like preteens and teens – need Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis), MCV (meningococcal conjugate vaccine) and HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccines. A yearly flu vaccine is recommended for all children 6 months and older.
(www.nphic.org)
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Tips For Preventing Colds & The Flu
You can help prevent winter illness in your family with these cold & flu fighting tips from the CDC and other health experts. Use these tips as a checklist for a season of fewer sick days for you and your kids.
1. Stay Home If You're Sick! This is important to prevent the spread of cold & flu germs.
2. Keep Your Hands Clean. You never know what germs you may pick up throughout the day. Wash your hands often, especially before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing or using the bathroom. Use hand sanitizer when soap & water is not available.
3. Cover Your Nose & Mouth for Coughs & Sneezes. If tissue is not available for you to cough or sneeze into, do it into your upper sleeve or into the bend of your elbow. Do not sneeze or cough into your hands!
4. Don't Touch Your Eyes, Nose or Mouth. Germs can easily infiltrate your system when you touch your face.
5. Get Plenty of Rest. Lack of sleep & high stress levels leave you susceptible to getting sick. Adults need at least 7 hours and children EVEN MORE.
6. Avoid Unnecessary Close Contact. A person can spread flu germs a full day before exhibiting symptoms, and then up to 5 days after that. If you're sick, avoid close contact with others.
7. Eat Plenty of Fruits & Veggies. Vitamins & minerals found in fruits & veggies help build your immune system against germs.
8. Get Fresh Air & Exercise. It's a myth that low temperatures cause cold & flu. The culprit is increased contact with greater numbers of people. Go outside for a walk & get away from the germ-bearers.
1. Stay Home If You're Sick! This is important to prevent the spread of cold & flu germs.
2. Keep Your Hands Clean. You never know what germs you may pick up throughout the day. Wash your hands often, especially before eating, after blowing your nose, coughing, sneezing or using the bathroom. Use hand sanitizer when soap & water is not available.
3. Cover Your Nose & Mouth for Coughs & Sneezes. If tissue is not available for you to cough or sneeze into, do it into your upper sleeve or into the bend of your elbow. Do not sneeze or cough into your hands!
4. Don't Touch Your Eyes, Nose or Mouth. Germs can easily infiltrate your system when you touch your face.
5. Get Plenty of Rest. Lack of sleep & high stress levels leave you susceptible to getting sick. Adults need at least 7 hours and children EVEN MORE.
6. Avoid Unnecessary Close Contact. A person can spread flu germs a full day before exhibiting symptoms, and then up to 5 days after that. If you're sick, avoid close contact with others.
7. Eat Plenty of Fruits & Veggies. Vitamins & minerals found in fruits & veggies help build your immune system against germs.
8. Get Fresh Air & Exercise. It's a myth that low temperatures cause cold & flu. The culprit is increased contact with greater numbers of people. Go outside for a walk & get away from the germ-bearers.
Cold Versus Flu
What is the difference between a cold and the flu?The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. Because these two types of illnesses have similar flu-like symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.
How can you tell the difference between a cold and the flu?Because colds and flu share many symptoms, it can be difficult (or even impossible) to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Special tests that usually must be done within the first few days of illness can be carried out, when needed to tell if a person has the flu.
What are the symptoms of the flu versus the symptoms of a cold?In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.
*Sited from CDC website
How can you tell the difference between a cold and the flu?Because colds and flu share many symptoms, it can be difficult (or even impossible) to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Special tests that usually must be done within the first few days of illness can be carried out, when needed to tell if a person has the flu.
What are the symptoms of the flu versus the symptoms of a cold?In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.
*Sited from CDC website
