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Vaccinated people had 8 of the 10 most common long-COVID symptoms 50% to 80% less often than their unvaccinated counterparts http://ow.ly/fsWc50KHmrm #COVID19 #LongCovid

By Stephanie Wasserman, MSPH Executive Director, Immunize Colorado Read More: https://teamvaccine.com/2020/04/27/maintaining-routine-immunizations-during-the-pandemic/

By:Idara Akpan, MPH Student, UNT Health Science Center School of Public Health HPV means Human Papillomavirus. It is a common virus that affects most people. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year 33,700 cases of cancer in men and women are related to the HPV infection. HPV is mostly transmitted skin to skin, through having vaginal, anal or oral sex with anyone that has the virus. Keep in mind that HPV infections affect both males and females. These infections can cause penile cancer in men, and vaginal, cervical and vulva cancers in women. Anal cancers can occur in both males and females. Sadly, HPV cancers do not present symptoms at an early stage until they are in the late stage. The best way to prevent HPV is by getting the HPV vaccines for you and your kids. Yes, kids. Health professionals recommend the HPV vaccines for kids from the age of 9 years. The vaccine can be given in two doses to kids from ages 9 -14 years over a 6- to 12-month period. The HPV vaccine provides protection from cancers caused by HPV. The HPV vaccine is safe and effective! Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control (2018) What you need to know about Cervical Cancer. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/cervical/index.htm

By: Candace Brumfield. University of North Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Master of Public Health Student Historically, vaccines have dramatically decreased and nearly eliminated the cases of measles worldwide, but there is a recent trend in the choice not to vaccinate and an increase in measles cases in the United States. The continued occurrence of Measles outbreaks in the United States in recent years is a major public health concern, one that is being closely tracked by epidemiologists and is a focus for vaccination promotion efforts. The main concern with measles is the high transmission rate and the fact that it is transmitted easily through the air via spores that are breathed in. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the vaccination rate needs to be 90 percent for community immunity against the disease. Vaccination is the only way to prevent Measles and receiving both doses is 97% effective. Vaccination is important because Measles is a virus, so it cannot be treated through antibiotics. All children should receive their first dose around 1 years old and the second dose around school-age.

By Jason Terk, MD, Keller, Chair, TMA Council on Legislation Vaccine hesitancy has been listed alongside HIV and air pollution on the World Health Organization’s list of Top 10 threats to global public health this year. Texas Medical Association’s (TMA’s) Be Wise – ImmunizeSM works to counter that in Texas. The Be Wise program promotes the importance, safety, and effectiveness of vaccines – and ultimately to improve vaccination rates in Texas. TMA launched Be Wise – Immunize in 2004. Be Wise offers current and science-backed information for patients and the public about childhood, adolescent, and adult vaccinations. Be Wise also provides funding to support local vaccination clinics hosted by TMA physicians and medical students, and members of the TMA Alliance (a group of physician spouses). Be Wise event sponsors have administered more than 360,000 shots since the program began. In my work as a pediatrician, vaccinations have always been a key part of keeping my young patients healthy. I’ve been involved with the Be Wise program as a physician adviser for more than 10 years because I believe physicians are the most trusted voice about vaccinations. Now, as chair of TMA’s Council on Legislation, I work in a broader arena to help impact vaccinations statewide that will help protect all Texans. TMA’s key objective since 1853 is to improve the health of all Texans. Be Wise supports our nearly 53,000 physician and medical student members in helping Texans avoid needless suffering from diseases, including cancer, that can be prevented with a vaccine.

By: Robyn Correll Carlyle, MPH, Public Health Consultant Measles appears to be making something of a comeback. There have been at least eight cases of the virus so far this year in Texas — nearly matching the nine cases total confirmed in all of last year, and a far cry from the one reported case in 2017. And Texas isn’t alone. Measles outbreaks have cropped up in at least three states in 2019, for a total of 127 cases as of February 14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With more cases potentially in store, it’s a good opportunity to talk about measles and why it’s so important to get vaccinated against it. Is Measles That Big of a Deal? Your grandparents had measles, and they were fine. Could it really be that bad? Yes, unfortunately. It absolutely can. Here’s why: It’s deadly. The virus kills over 100,000 people a year, mostly young children. About 1-2 out of every 1,000 people with measles will die from it. It’s debilitating. Those who survive measles can experience serious complications like brain swelling, which can leave people deaf or with intellectual disabilities. It’s highly contagious. There’s a reason almost everyone born prior to the measles vaccine caught it: It can spread like wildfire. In an unvaccinated community, you could expect each person with measles to infect 13-15 others. In comparison, a person with influenza A(H1N1) would likely only infect 1-1.5 others. Is Vaccination Our Best Defense Against Measles? There’s no cure for measles. The best way to protect against the potentially serious consequences of the virus is to prevent it completely through vaccination. The MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella) is recommended for everyone born after 1957 with very few exceptions — such as those with weakened immune systems like cancer patients receiving chemotherapy treatments. Kids typically receive the vaccine at 12-15 months and then again at 4-6 years. But adults who haven’t been vaccinated with two doses and who were born in or after 1957 can still get the MMR, so long as their doctor gives them the go-ahead. The vaccine is highly effective, but it’s not perfect. There will be some people who get the vaccine and still get measles. But because their immune systems have a head start in fighting the virus, those individuals likely won’t get nearly as sick as those who were never vaccinated in the first place. Is the MMR Safe? The MMR vaccine is very safe. But no medical intervention (not even multivitamins) are 100 percent risk-free. Thankfully, the risks for the MMR are almost always mild, and serious effects are extremely rare. The most common side effects are a short-lived fever, soreness, and a rash. In about 1 out of every 1 million doses, a person might have a serious allergic reaction to the vaccine within a few hours of receiving it. To put that one-in-a-million chance into perspective, your odds of dying from a lightning strike are roughly 1 in 218,000, and your chances of fatally choking on your food are about 1 in 2,700. Researchers have studied the vaccine for decades and haven’t found any evidence at all that the vaccine is linked to serious, life-long consequences like autism or auto-immune issues. Social media posts or websites claiming otherwise are not backed up by science. Because the vaccine is the only effective way to prevent measles, not getting vaccinated means you’re rolling the dice on getting the virus — and all that comes with it. Why Are We Getting These Measles Outbreaks When There’s a Vaccine? Most families vaccinate their kids against measles. Around 97 percent of Texas children were up-to-date on their MMR vaccination by the time they entered kindergarten in the 2017-2018 school year. That’s great, but it’s actually less than in 2016-2017. And even less than the year before that. The MMR vaccination rate among kindergartners has actually been falling a little bit nearly every year since 2009. The lower it falls, the more vulnerable our state is to outbreaks. Data source: Texas Department of State Health Services, Annual Report of Immunization Status Likewise, while Texas’ MMR vaccination rates are high overall (at least for now), rates in some individual communities are significantly lower than the state average. For example, only about 85 percent of kindergartners at High Point Academy and just 65 percent at Covenant Classical School — both in Fort Worth — had two doses of the MMR vaccine on file. They aren’t outliers; 28 of the 83 independent school districts in Tarrant County (or 1 in 3) have vaccination rates below 95 percent, the threshold scientists say is necessary to prevent outbreaks. Many of these lower rates appear to be driven by parents actively opting out of the vaccine for their kids. Often, the hesitation stems from a misunderstanding of the true risks of measles or the benefits of the vaccine. If you’re looking for more information about the MMR vaccine (or any vaccine), ask your doctor. They can help you better understand how vaccination might help (or in rare cases harm) your child specifically. And if you’re still left with questions, check out a science-based resource like these: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention World Health Organization Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Photo by: Activ-Michoko from Free Photos

By: Ann Treleven, Secretary and Volunteer Coordinator, Immunization Collaboration of Tarrant County, US Army Nurse, Retired Many years ago, before there was such a thing as the HPV vaccine, I knew two young women who died of HPV-related cancers. One was a Naval officer who was talented in such varied skills as cooking, needlework and pistol shooting, even winning awards in shooting competitions. I will never forget a young adult gathering where she brought a dish I thought I would never eat, and then ended up asking for her recipe! Her loss to her family, along with my life and the lives of others at my church was huge. She was not much over 30 years old. The other was a talented musician who had won an audition far away from where we lived at the time. She visited often, mainly to keep vibrant her relationship and subsequent marriage to another friend, also a musician. Shortly before I moved out of the area, she moved back and was looking forward to teaching children about music and perhaps having some children of her own. In the months before she died, she was confined to bed and in endless pain. On the day she died, she encouraged her husband to fulfill his evening commitment to play in an orchestra gig that evening, knowing that he would need music to help him heal. Had the HPV vaccine been available back then, these friends might not have died. My work with the Immunization Collaboration of Tarrant County is a tribute to their memories and I pray that the Collaboration's efforts will help to prevent needless deaths such as theirs in the years to come. ICTC is hard at work vaccinating Tarrant County against HPV related cancers. Thanks to a generous $10,000 donation from the Ellermeyer Family Charitable Fund of The North Texas Giving Day, ICTC has been able to pay for the administrative cost of 1,250 doses of HPV vaccine. ICTC is currently working with 16 Tarrant County ISD's and school nurses to ensure 6th graders in Tarrant County are up to date and fully vaccinated for the start of 7th grade. Looking for more information about the HPV vaccine and HPV related cancers? The following are reputable, scientific based sources. https://www.aap.org/en-us/aap-voices/Pages/Increasing-HPV-Vaccine-Rates-One-Family-at-a-Time.aspx https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Human-Papillomavirus-HPV-Vaccination https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/infographics/vacc-six-reasons.html https://shotofprevention.com/2016/01/21/questioning-whether-to-get-your-child-the-hpv-vaccine-read-this/ Photo by Alexis Brown on Unsplash

By: Alyssa Clader, Development/Business Manager, ICTC What if there was something you as a parent could do to prevent your child from getting cancer? Would you do it? It sounds like a no brainer, yet Texas ranks 47th out 50 states and the District of Columbia for HPV vaccine completion, the ONLY cancer vaccine available. Human papilloma virus is associated with 99% of cervical cancers, 95% of anal cancers, 70% of throat and neck cancers, 65% of vaginal cancers, 50% of vulvar cancers, and 35% of penile cancers. But there is good news! The HPV vaccine provides almost 100% protection from nine HPV types, if all doses are received at the correct intervals, and if it is given before having an infection with these types. With so much controversy surrounding the vaccine, we thought we would answer some questions for any hesitant mommas. My child is only 11 for goodness sakes. They aren’t having sex, so why do they need the vaccine right now? The HPV vaccine offers protection from the virus only if given before coming into contact with it. It is the same concept as getting the flu vaccine before flu season. Studies have shown that children produce a higher immune response to the vaccine when receiving it before the age of 15. This also allows them to be fully immunized after 2 doses rather than the 3 doses it would take if they start the series after 15 years old. So yes, we know your child isn’t having sex at 11 years old. We want them to be fully protected from HPV related cancers while also saving them an extra poke. If my child gets the vaccine now, will they think it’s ok to be promiscuous? The human papilloma virus is a sexually transmitted infection, yes. However, the vaccine prevents certain types of cancer. It’s as simple as that. When receiving the HPV vaccine along with the two additional 11-12 year old vaccines, TDaP and MCV, there may be less questioning as to why they need it. If your child does ask why, you can tell them the truth: this vaccine prevents cancer. Isn’t the HPV vaccine dangerous? We hear this one a lot. The United States has the most effective, safest vaccine supply in the world. The vaccine has been on the market since 2006, with over 270 million doses given worldwide, including 100 million here in America. Clinical studies continue to show the vaccine is very safe. As with all vaccines, side effects can include pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site, slight fever, headache, and temporary muscle pain. This is a normal immune response to the vaccine. The truth is the human papilloma virus is dangerous, not the vaccine. HPV can lead to fertility issues from cervical cancer, not to mention surgery, radiation or chemotherapy from HPV related cancers. Don’t vaccines contain aluminum? I don’t want that heavy metal in my child. Aluminum is the most common metal found on earth. It is present in the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. In fact, during the first 6 months of life, a breastfed baby will consume about 10 milligrams of aluminum from breastmilk, 40 times the amount found in a single dose of HPV. There is more aluminum in a piece of fresh fruit than there is in a dose of HPV vaccine. Aluminum is used in an extremely low dose to help the body form an immune response using a smaller amount of vaccine. So yes, HPV vaccine does contain aluminum, along with fruit, veggies, meat, and even breastmilk. Hopefully, this clears up some misconceptions on the HPV vaccine. If you still have questions, your child’s medical professional can help guide you. For additional credible vaccine information, visit the following resources: www.cancer.org www.cdc.gov Photo by: Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexel

By: Courtney Barnard, ICTC Member-at-Large, Program Manager, Community Health, The Center for Children's Health led by Cook Children's The Center for Children’s Health led by Cook Children’s is a proud long-time supporter and founding member of the ICTC. Our goal at the Center is to create aligned collaborations that help make North Texas one of the healthiest place to raise a child. Recognizing that no one organization can make this happen alone, Cook Children's and The Center for Children's Health are working with other like-minded organizations, like ICTC, to help keep kids healthy and safe. Staff at the Center enjoy participating in ICTC in many ways, including: • Promoting and volunteering at back-to-school immunization events • Surveying families at these events to assess satisfaction and understand what families need • Sharing children’s health data (see our CCHAPS data here) to help ICTC plan future efforts • Learning about new resources and education about immunizations to share with the families we serve at the Center We look forward to continuing our partnership with ICTC as we work together to improve the health of every child in our region! picture: Courtney Barnard, Member-at-Large, volunteering at an August Back-to-School Immunization Event

By: Dr. Diane Arnaout, MD, Cook Children's Physician Network Instagram: @drdianearnaout I got the flu vaccine. I got it because it doesn't really matter how early or how late in the season you get it - you just get it. I got the flu vaccine. And it might not stop me from getting the flu. It didn't last year. And that’s okay. I got the flu vaccine because while I may still catch it, it will reduce my chance for severe disease. I got the flu vaccine because it will reduce my chances of needing to be hospitalized with the flu (and has the same affect in children). I got the flu vaccine because study after study shows it reduces deaths, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, ICU length of stay, and overall duration of hospitalization among hospitalized flu patients. I got the flu vaccine because i've seen what the flu can do. I've worked in the ICUs and ERs. I'm not here to fear monger - just trust me on this one. Influenza is a cruel virus and anyone can be a victim. I got the flu vaccine because I know I can’t catch the flu from it. I may ache for a day or two and even have a fever - but that just means my body is doing its job, and building my army. I got the flu vaccine to protect my staff. I got the flu vaccine to protect my kids. I got the flu vaccine to protect YOUR KIDS. I've gotten my flu vaccine every year for the past 19 years and I have gotten the flu one time in those 19 years (despite it literally being coughed in my face daily). Great protection or great luck - I'm going to keep getting it because I like those odds. I got the flu vaccine because in a world where humans are striving for things to be more "natural" - there is NOTHING MORE NATURAL than the wrath and devastating effects of a virus, especially this virus. I got the flu vaccine because it's all we've got.

By: Elena Greer, ICTC Advocacy Chair I first became aware of the unfortunate fact that some people were avoiding vaccines when I was pregnant with my twins. There was a good chance they would be premature, and my doctor warned me how vulnerable they would be if they were exposed to whooping cough, which was just on the rise at the time. It’s often a deadly disease to babies, so we had to make sure that everyone who would come in contact with them was up-to-date. A couple of years later, when the boys were in preschool, a child there did come down with whooping cough. I couldn’t help but think about what could have happened if this had occurred when the twins were infants and my daughter was in preschool. What if she had carried the disease into our household, right to her baby brothers? That’s the important thing about vaccines. We’re not just protecting ourselves and our children. We’re caring for each other by protecting the most vulnerable people in our community. It’s what I told my daughter when it was time for her HPV shots; she doesn’t like shots any more than the next person, but she bravely agreed that it was the right thing to do. But now as vaccines have become commonplace and we no longer really witness the ravages of preventable diseases, we have people who are trumpeting “choice” and who are so very misinformed about what the miracle of science has actually achieved. Parents who trusted their doctors are now hesitant. “Hot spots” of unimmunized populations are beginning to pop up across the United States and one of them is right here in North Texas. That’s why I joined Immunization Collaboration of Tarrant County as the Advocacy Committee Chair. I don’t want to see families devastated by preventable diseases. As the chair, I would like to lead the committee in a two-pronged approach. I want to reach out to vaccine hesitant parents and counter the dangerously misleading information they may have heard, and I want to work hand in hand with Immunize Texas, the advocacy arm of the Texas Immunization Partnership during 2019’s Texas Legislative session. Let’s protect ourselves and each other from diseases that no one should have to get. If you are interested in joining the committee, please email me at el_greer@yahoo.com -Elena Greer

By Brent W. Bost, MD, MBA, CPH, FACOG, OB Hospitalists of Texas During cold and flu season, the influenza and Tdap vaccines pull double duty to protect mothers and babies from preventable diseases that are common around this time of year. In my 30 years as an Ob/Gyn I have seen too many moms suffer unnecessarily with the flu during and around pregnancy – and sadly, both baby and mom are more likely to die from the flu than other people. Changes in the immune system, heart, and lungs during pregnancy make pregnant women (and women up to two weeks after delivery) more prone to severe illness from the flu. Flu also may be harmful for a pregnant woman’s developing baby. A common flu symptom is fever, which may be associated with neural tube defects (like spina bifida) and other adverse outcomes for a developing baby. Getting vaccinated can also help protect a baby from the flu for several weeks after birth. (Mom passes antibodies onto the developing baby during her pregnancy.) Vaccination has been shown to reduce the risk of flu-associated acute respiratory infection in pregnant women by up to one-half. And, there’s a lot of research that shows flu vaccine is absolutely safe in pregnancy. (There used to be a flu vaccine with LIVE virus in it. This is a non-no for pregnant women! Good news – that vaccine is no longer available, so the only flu vaccine you can get now days is safe!) I want to warn you. There’s a lot of foolish talk out there that vaccines are harmful. This is simply not so. Believe me (and my pediatrician colleagues) – if vaccines were dangerous, nobody could hide that fact from us! And, we certainly wouldn’t hide that fact from you. I’m certain that the “anti-vaccinators” are motivated by the highest intentions. However, they are simply uninformed. My advice – feel sorry for them and pray that they don’t get too sick being foolish, THEN GO GET YOUR FLU SHOT! You can read more about the flu shot and pregnancy at this link: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/pregnant.htm#recentstudies Good luck and cover that cough!! Photo by John Looy on Unsplash