Why vaccinate? MHA @ GW Recognizes National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) 2015 -

Why vaccinate? MHA @ GW Recognizes National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) 2015

August 3, 2015 by MHA @ GW Staff

Between January and June 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that there had been nearly 0 cases of measles in 24 states, of which 117 were traced back to an aggressive multi-state outbreak at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. If you remember a time when measles seemed a distant threat, you are not alone; not so long ago. The CDC said the disease eliminated in the United States in 00, the result of a long and hard-won decline in measles cases following the development of a vaccine in 1963. It was a major achievement for public health.

Then why is he back in the headlines?

"health authorities believe that" patient zero "was surrounded by people who are not vaccinated helped the virus spread around California and beyond," wrote Julia Belluz of Vox. "on February 13, the CDC released a report showing that among the 110 patients in California, 45 percent were vaccinated and 43 percent had unknown vaccination status or undocumented. The others were either vaccinated or could not be vaccinated, including 12 too young to be vaccinated infants. "

" We are not islands. If your child gets measles because he or she has not been vaccinated, the infection of a child with cancer or a child can occur, with results that can be devastating. "- CDC Director Tom Frieden

The epidemic has served as a chilling reminder of what can happen when people are not protected against communicable - diseases like measles - but preventable. Leaders from all sectors have urged Americans to be vaccinated to protect the health of their communities, their families and relatives. On February 1, 2015 Time article, CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, MPH, has identified an urgent need to increase vaccination rates nationwide, especially in areas where parents choose not to vaccinate their children, "We are not islands. If your child gets measles because he or she has not been vaccinated, the infection of a child with cancer or a child can occur, with results that can be devastating. "

President Barack Obama echoed his sentiments in an interview with NBC News later this month." I just want people to know the facts and science and information, "said Obama . "And the fact is that a great success of our civilization is our ability to prevent disease in the past have devastated the people."

"The fact is that a great success of our civilization is our ability to prevent disease in the past devastated people. "- President Barack Obama

in the interests of promoting a more robust speech about the importance of regular vaccinations for serious and highly contagious diseases like measles, MHA @GW organizing a series of client in honor of the national consciousness immunization Month (NIAM). Throughout the month of August, we are featuring opinion leaders and defenders of parts in the field who have been invited to write about the importance of vaccination in 2015. Read on to learn more about our contributors.

employees

1. Lynn Bozof, National Meningitis Association
2. Natasha Burgert, KC children Doc
3. Gary Finnegan, vaccines Today
4. Tara Haelle journalist
5. Sharon Hicks, children of parents with infectious diseases (PKIDS)
6. Ashley Huntsberry-Lett, AgingCare.com
7. Jackie Kaufman, Vaccine Ambassadors
8. Jennifer Raff, metaphors Violent

Lynn Bozof, national meningitis Association

Lynn Bozof is a founding member and President of national meningitis Association (NMA). In 1998, she lost her college-age son, Evan, to meningococcal disease. He was an honor student and a baseball player. She did not know that the vaccine could have saved his life. In 02, she and other parents whose families have been tragically affected by this disease founded the NMA, an organization dedicated to educating parents, families, health professionals and others about the dangers of meningococcal disease and its prevention. Six years later, recognizing its commitment to raising awareness and preventing meningitis was continuing to grow, Lynn gave up a successful career as a software engineer to devote himself to the NMA on a full time basis.

Today, the NMA has over 115 lawyers across the country, including survivors or the families who have lost loved ones to the disease. Lynn worked tirelessly alongside defenders to prevent others from going through what they went through. His ultimate goal is to have anyone die or suffer a potentially vaccine-preventable disease. As a regular of the CDC's Advisory Committee participant on Immunization Practices (ACIP), Lynn shared her personal story several times and invited countless NMA members to share their stories with the committee.

The CDC and leading infectious disease experts have said that these stories have made a huge difference for Meningitis Awareness. Since the NMA was founded, much progress has been made. Vaccination rates have increased steadily in recent years, while the incidence of the disease has decreased. Today, the CDC recommends regular vaccination against four of the five major serogroups (A, C, W and Y) at the age of 11 to 12 with a booster at 16 ACIP recently passed a permissive recommendation for fifth major serogroup (B) for ages 16 to 23, with a preferred age of 16 to 18 years Lynn is pleased with this progress, but acknowledges there is much more work to do

Message: . The push to End meningitis outbreaks

Natasha Burgert, KC children Doc

Natasha Burgert, MD, FAAP is a pediatrician in Kansas City, Missouri. Besides full-time patient care, it is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics lawyer communications and media, and on the advisory board of healthychildren.org doctor. In addition, she serves as the pediatric expert ParentToolKit.com, and is a valuable mentor for many businesses start by TechStars health solutions. If it is not clinically, you will find its share of regular child health information on evidence-based combined with personal experience on KCKidsDoc.com, and Twitter @doctornatasha. It is fed by her husband and two children.

Gary Finnegan, Vaccines Today

Gary Finnegan vaccine is editor today. He has a degree in physiology, a Masters in science communication and has worked as a journalist for Health and editor for 15 years. He was a national winner at the European Health Award for journalists in 09, 2010 and 2011, as well as Online Journalist of the Year and opinion columnist of the year in Irish Medical Media Award in 07 and 2013 respectively.

Message: Vaccinating an aging Europe

Tara Haelle journalist

Tara Haelle is a freelance science journalist and media who specializes in writing about vaccines , infectious diseases, pediatrics, prenatal health and other fields of medicine and marine biology and environmental science. It is a Forbes contributor whose work also appears on NPR, Scientific American, Slate, Politico, HealthDay and elsewhere. She co-wrote "The Parent Informed: A scientific guide in the first four years," due in April 2016, with science journalist Emily Willingham. She also blogs about parenting based on evidence at the Red Wine & Applesauce and creates resources for journalists to report on medical research from the Association of Health Care Journalists. Follow her on Facebook andTwitter.

Sharon Hicks, PKIDS

Vaccine lawyer Sharon Hicks shared the personal story of his family as part of your choice PKIDs program. It is the hope we all choose vaccination on the risk of infection, for ourselves and those we love

Message :. Get a vaccine against influenza in healthy adults are at risk, too

Ashley Huntsberry- Lett, AgingCare.com

Ashley Huntsberry-Lett is the editor for AgingCare .com, a site dedicated to providing quality information and support for caregivers who are looking after aging relatives. She graduated from the University of Florida with a BA in English, and is currently working on his Master of Arts in Mass Communication with an emphasis in journalism at UF College of Journalism and Communications

Message: . Adult Vaccination: Protect yourself, protect others

Jackie Kaufman, Vaccine Ambassadors

Jackie Kaufman, executive director of Ambassadors vaccine, has been involved in healthcare for over 25 years. She earned her Bachelor of Nursing and a Masters in Nursing from the University of Washington. His clinical and research experience includes intensive care, organ transplantation and donation, HIV and infectious diseases worldwide

Post :. A new conversation: Vaccines Change the world

Jennifer Raff, Metaphors Violent

Jennifer Raff is an assistant professor at the University of Kansas with a joint PhD in genetics and anthropology . She has published numerous scientific papers on population genetics, DNA and ancient Amerindian prehistory. It conducts ongoing research in anthropological genetics, especially the peopling of the Americas and the Midwest and the Arctic prehistory. Raff has a keen interest in improving public scientific literacy and writes about pseudoscience and other controversial topics on his blog violentmetaphors.com, where she hosts lively scientific discussion of the environment. It is a martial artist and former Golden Gloves boxer passionate in currently focusing on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA. Jennifer tweets on science, absurdity and combat sports in @jenniferraff. Post: Combating anti-vaccine rhetoric with Science