So as an adult we have passed our adolescence and we no longer need vaccinations; Right? Wrong!  You may have heard about the flu vaccination or shot but what about the others vaccinations that if you ignore just may kill you.

                Many of us forget about the tetanus vaccination, which is suggested that we received a booster every ten years.  This can be life threatening especially if you work with wires and metal that are sharp! So get vaccinated today, one shot can make all the difference in a life and death situation!

                With many immigrants entering the United States of America it is suggested that we all get a booster for the Pertussis, the new vaccine Tdap, offers us a better protection than if we don’t receive the booster.

                As we get older the chances of developing pneumonia rises and therefore it is a good idea to get this vaccination to prevent not only pneumonia, but other life threatening conditions.  If you’re over 65, suffer from COPD, asthma or have a compromised immunity system, you need to speak with your doctor. For many without this vaccination they may develop not only pneumonia, but meningitis, bloodstream infections as well as continuous sinus and ear infections. Constant infections usually lead to antibiotic immunity which will make treating many illnesses and infections nearly impossible.

                Many are aware of the flu shot, some receive it as needed while others say, “oh I don’t need the flu shot, I never get sick”. Well then wait, and when you do get the flu, you’ll wonder why you waited so long. The flu usually kills 10’s and 1000’s of people a year, especially the old, the very young and again those with a compromised immunity system.

                Recently a vaccination for shingles was developed, shingles is a painful disease, and if you had the chicken pox at any time in your life; you’re at risk of getting shingles at some point in your life. Once you get shingles you will never forget the debilitating nerve pain which can linger for many months. Why if you’re a candidate for the vaccine would you not get it confuses me, some turn it down when their doctor suggests it, others just don’t know it exist.

                Other vaccinations to consider are those for Hepatitis A and B, HPV, meningococcal; all of which is something you need to talk to your doctor about.

                The next time you go to your primary doctor, inquire about what vaccinations are available and if you’re a candidate to be immunized, it is your health and you’re right to know!

For the principal age, shape officials are proposing to all baby boomers dig up tested in support of hepatitis C.

Anyone born from 1945 to 1965 ought to dig up a one-time blood test to envisage if they possess the liver-destroying virus, the Centers in support of Disease Control and Prevention believed in drawn from the tap recommendations issued Friday.

Baby boomers savings account in support of 2 million of the 3.2 million Americans infected with the blood-borne virus. The virus can take decades to cause liver injure, and many natives don’t know they’re infected.

CDC officials believe the new-fangled quantify may perhaps direct 800,000 more baby boomers to dig up management and may perhaps save more than 120,000 lives.

“The CDC views hepatitis C as an unrecognized shape predicament in support of the realm, and we believe the age is at once in support of a bold response,” believed Dr. John W. Ward, the CDC’s hepatitis chief.

Several developments drove the CDC’s press in support of wider difficult, he believed.

Recent data has publicized to from 1999 and 2007, present was a 50 percent grow in the numeral of Americans dying from hepatitis C-related diseases. Also, two drugs stroke the souk go on day to guarantee to medication many more natives than was previously achievable.

The hepatitis C virus is mainly commonly distribute now through sharing needles to inject drugs. Before rife screening of blood donations began in 1992, it was additionally distribute through blood transfusions.

Health officials believe hundreds of thousands of new-fangled hepatitis C infections were occurring all day in the 1970s and 1980s, mainly of them in the younger adults of the era – the baby boomers. The hepatitis C virus was principal identified in 1989.

Today, around 17,000 infections occur annually, according to CDC estimates. The virus can regularly scar the liver and direct to cirrhosis or liver cancer. It is the leading cause of liver transplants.

About 3 percent of baby boomers test constructive in support of the virus, the CDC estimates.

The agency’s current guidelines commend difficult natives proven to be on from head to foot lay bare, counting current and ancient history injection drug users.

The new-fangled difficult recommendation is anticipated to turn into final anon this day.

                                                                 During Birth

BCG (Tuberculosis vaccine)
Oral polio Vaccine  (1st dose)
Hepatitis B (1st dose)

                                                           SIX WEEKS OF LIFE

DTP (1st dose)
HIB (1st dose)
Oral polio Vaccine (2nd dose)
Hepatitis B (2nd dose)

Note: DTP (also referred to as DPT) protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough).
HIB = Hemophilus influenzae type b

Optional vaccines:
IPV (Injectable polio vaccine) (1st dose)
The IPVis advised at 2 months of age, in two doses, with an interval of 2 months. A booster is advised at 18 months. (It gives nasal and throat immunity against the virus besides gut immunity. It is given in addition to the oral polio vaccine (OPV) andis not a substitute i.e. both can be given on the same day).
Pneumococcal vaccine (1st dose)
This is to prevent pneumonia and meningitis (brain fever).
It is quite a costly vaccine and is given as an injection in three doses with a gap of 6 to 8 weeks starting from the second month of life.
Rotavirus (1st dose)
This vaccine helps protect against rotavirus – the leading cause of diarrhoea. The WHO recommends this vaccine because the rotavirus is a major cause of dehydration in babies.

                                                               TENTH WEEK OF LIFE

DTP (2nd dose)
Oral polio Vaccine (3rd dose)
HIB (2nd dose)

Optional vaccine:

Rotavirus (2nd dose)
This vaccine helps protect against rotavirus – the leading cause of diarrhoea. The WHO recommends this vaccine because the rotavirus is a major cause of dehydration in babies.

                                                               FOURTEENTH WEEK OF LIFE:

DTP (3rd dose)
OPV (4th dose)
HIB (3rd dose)
Hepatitis B (3rd dose)

Optional vaccine:
Pneumococcal vaccine (2nd dose)
This is to prevent pneumonia and meningitis (brain fever).
It is quite a costly vaccine and is given as an injection in three doses with a gap of 6 to 8 weeks starting from the second month of life.

Rotavirus (3rd dose)
This vaccine helps protect against rotavirus – the leading cause of diarrhoea. The WHO recommends this vaccine because the rotavirus is a major cause of dehydration in babies.
4) 16 weeks
Optional vaccine:

IPV (Injectable polio vaccine) (2nd dose)
                                                    TWENTY TO TWENTY SECOND WEEK OF LIFE

Optional vaccine:
Pneumococcal vaccine (3rd dose)
This is to prevent pneumonia and meningitis (brain fever).
It is quite a costly vaccine and is given as an injection in three doses with a gap of 6 to 8 weeks starting from the second month of life.

                                                                       SIX MONTHS OF LIFE
Optional vaccine:
Influenza vaccine (1st dose)
This prevents common flu to a large extent. It is administered as an injection anytime after 6 months age. First timers are given 2 shots with a gap of 4 to 6 weeks. After the priming doses, one shot is given every year between October and December. This vaccine is unique, as it is specially manufactured for that particular year only, depending on the flu virus prevalent.

                                 SEVEN TO EIGHT MONTHS OF LIFE
Optional vaccine:
Influenza vaccine (2nd dose)
This prevents common flu to a large extent. It is administered as an injection anytime after 6 months age. First timers are given 2 shots with a gap of 4 to 6 weeks. After the priming doses, one shot is given every year between October and December. This vaccine is unique as it is specially manufactured for that particular year only, depending on the flu virus prevalent

                                      NINE TO TWELVE MONTHS OF LIFE
Your baby is due for:
Measles
OPV (5th dose)
8)12-18 months
Optional vaccine:
Chickenpox
The chickenpox vaccine protects from the chickenpox virus. It is a lifelong protection

                              FIFTEEN TO EIGHTEEN MONTHS OF LIFE
Your baby is due for:

MMR to protect against measles, mumps and rubella (German measles)
HIB (booster)
DTP (1st booster)
                       EIGHTEEN TO TWENTY FOUR MONTHS OF LIFE
Your baby is due for:

OPV (6th dose) – 1st booster

Optional vaccine:
IPV (Injectable polio vaccine) booster dose
It gives nasal and throat immunity against the virus besides gut immunity. (It is given in addition to oral polio and is not a substitute i.e. both are given on the same day).

                                             TWO YEARS
Optional vaccines:

Hepatitis A (1st dose)
Hepatitis A vaccine is given in 2 doses (preferably at 2 years age, with a gap of minimum 6 months). The second dose is known as Hepatitis A-booster. These two doses confer long term immunity.

Meningococcal meningitis
This again prevents meningitis (brain fever). It is given from 2 years age as an injection and is valid for 2 years. It is available in two varieties, one protecting against all 4 strains and the other against 2 strains.

Typhoid
The typhoid vaccine will protect your baby against typhoid. Typhoid is a bacterial disease which spreads through contaminated food and water. Your baby will need a dose of this vaccine every three years

                                  TWO AND HALF YEARS OF LIFE
Optional vaccine:

Hepatitis A (2nd dose)
The second dose is known as Hepatitis A-booster. These two doses confer long term immunity.

                                  FOUR TO FIVE YEARS OF LIFE  
Your baby is due for:

DTP (2nd booster)
OPV (7th dose) – booster dose
Hepatitis A (recommended if not given earlier)
Typhoid (2nd dose)
MMR (2nd dose)
Chickenpox (booster dose)

Remember -As a parent your duty is to impart all sort of securities to your child be it moral,emotional,social,financial and undoubtedly we provide all of these subconsciously or consciously so why neglect vaccination which is most critical.so get focused today for your baby’s tomorrow.

 NOTE: Painless injections are available so do check for these options with your paediatrician.

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When leaving the comforts of your native land to see the exotic sights of distant locales, you may be exposed to more than interesting views. Especially when traveling to less developed areas, the risk of exposure to some germs that bring along nasty diseases increases. You may find the need to seek out vaccinations against some of the more ugly and sometimes deadly diseases that are out there. Knowing which vaccinations to take can be tricky both in selecting the right ones and locating places that offer them.

Start the effort to find out what type of vaccinations you need by consulting with your doctor.

Since vaccines are not always a one-size-fits-all proposition, your doctor is probably the only one who is qualified to assess the your risks between taking and not taking the vaccine. Depending on where you are traveling, your risk of foreign infections may not be as great as any risks associated with the vaccine. As a general rule, young healthy people with strong immune systems are safe when taking any of these vaccines. Seniors and others with weak immune systems may be better off not being vaccinated.

As your travel becomes more remote, your risk of infection increases.

Casual travelers, especially seniors, do not often end up in areas where they will be exposed to food, water, and insects that carry disease. Younger adventurers who like to hike deep into forests or spend large amounts of time in the undeveloped countries may find themselves in real danger if they are unvaccinated. Each foreign locale has its own variety of biological hazard. Most of the local health departments in larger communities can advise you on which vaccines are best for your travel plans. These agencies can also direct you to the location where the vaccines can be administered.

It pays to know what are the more prevalent diseases, how they are spread, and how the vaccine works.

Hepatitis A and typhoid are both spread through food and water. Areas with low sanitation and bad water supplies carry a high possibility of spreading these diseases. Taking two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine can give you protection for 20 or so years. The vaccine for typhoid is effective less than three quarters of the time. The disease itself is very treatable with antibiotics. You may be better off to carry the cure rather than take the vaccine if typhoid is the disease of the day.

Some of these diseases are all but a definite death sentence without the vaccines if you contract them.

Hepatitis B is spread through contact with the body fluids of an infected person. Rabies, while not a problem in most developed countries, can be a serious threat in some undeveloped and remote areas. Both of these diseases will bring a tragic end to those who contract them. Hepatitis B requires a vaccine administered in three doses that are spread apart at set intervals. The rabies vaccine can be administered after contact with a diseased animal, but if you are going to an area where medical services are not available, get the vaccine first.

Mosquitoes are responsible for infecting travelers with certain diseases.

In the tropics, yellow fever is the big disease on the block that is spread by mosquitoes. In Asia, the mosquito brings Japanese encephalitis along when it bites you. The problem with the yellow fever vaccine is that it contains a live virus that can make you sick. Only healthy people should line up for this vaccine. The Japanese encephalitis vaccine requires two doses to become effective. No one is sure how long it keeps you protected.

A final disease is spread from person to person by close contact.

Meningitis is a dreadful disease infecting the lining of the brain and spinal cord. If you are traveling for pleasure, you probably will not be at risk for this disease. Certain pilgrimages require this vaccine to be administered before the trip can be taken. However, no one is sure that the vaccine gives full protection for everyone against the disease.

Reference:

Conde Naste Traveler, 2011. “How to deal with the pricks;” page 70, June 2011.

The statistics are mind boggling with over one quarter of the population having been infected with an STD by the time they’re fifty. It isn’t however very surprising given the poor sexual education and increasingly scary promiscuity among teens and young adults.

Their are quite a few different STD’s being passed around, but right now we’ll go over the more “popular” diseases and infections that can be caught with unsafe sexual behavior and some statistics that may help frighten you into slowing down when that bird meets that bee.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea are two very similar sexually transmitted diseases that can have little to no symptoms. In 2007 there were over 1.4 million cases according to a new federal report by the Center of Disease Control which makes these two diseases one of the biggest threats to sexually active people. It is recommended, because symptoms can be so mild that women get tested yearly for both diseases. If left untreated it can result in pelvic inflammatory disease which leaves 50,000 women left infertile each year.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is another STD that has been spreading extremely fast because of lack of symptoms. with over a hundred different strains this cancer causing disease has hit around 22% of the population and even though a new vaccine was introduced in 2006 numbers remain high. Most strains cause no visible symptoms while a half of a dozen may cause warts on the genitals.

Herpes Simplex virus 2 is another quite common disease that infects around 18% of the population similar to cold sores many people experience on the lips and mouth. Prevention methods are few and no vaccine has been approved as of yet.

There are many more diseases that can be transmitted sexually and more information can be found at your local clinic family doctor, or state offices. Protection, education, and limiting partners are the only way we will see a decrease in these world wide diseases.

For more information and credits please visit

• The Center For Disease Control STD section.
• The online STD Information Organization With a free clinic finder and support group.
• Avert.org An HIV and Aids organization.