Notes from Parish Nurse Rhoda Schularick, RN                    

National Infant Immunization Week April 19-26

·         Vaccines are among the most successful and cost-effective public health tools available for preventing disease and death. They not only help protect vaccinated individuals, but also help protect communities by preventing and reducing the spread of infectious diseases.

·         Infants are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases; that is why it is critical to protect them through immunization. Each day, nearly 12,000 babies are born in the United States who will need to be immunized against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases before age two.

·         Recommended immunizations scheduled for the first 18 months of life include:

HepB (hepatitis B); DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis); PCV (pneumococcal disease); Hib (Haemophilus influenzae Type b); IPV (polio); Rota (Rotavirus); MMR (measles, mumps, rubella); Varicella (chickenpox); HepA (hepatitis A); Influenza (seasonal flu).

·         Immunizations are extremely safe. Vaccines are thoroughly tested before being approved for public use and monitored carefully by doctors, researchers, and public health officials.

·         Consult with your healthcare provider for the 2008 recommended immunization schedule.

Visit these websites for more information: Centers for Disease Control www.cdc.gov/vaccines; American Academy of Pediatrics www.aap.org; American Academy of Family Physicians www.aafp.org.

 April is National Donate Life Month

Did you know?           

As of March 3, 2008, 98,046 people are waiting for organ transplants

         Transplants performed in 2007     28,352

         Donors registered in 2007           14,393

·         Most people can donate organs and/or tissues.  No one is too old or too young.  The condition of your organs is more important than age.  If you are under 18, you will need the permission of a parent or guardian to donate.

·         Organs that can be transplanted include kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, and intestines.  These must be used within hours of removal from the donor’s body.  Most donated organs are from people who have died, but part of all except the heart can be taken from living donors.

·         Tissues that can be stored in tissue banks and used later to help others include corneas, the middle ear, skin, heart valves, bone, veins, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.

·         Healthy adults between the ages of 18-60 can donate blood stem cells, from the bone marrow, peripheral blood, or umbilical cord blood.

·         Blood can also be collected from healthy individuals and transfused into those who need it as whole blood, blood cells, plasma, or platelets.

Visit http://organdonor.gov for more information.