The Past Is Present

The past is still present.  This comment could not be more relevant to the topic of vaccinations.  After attending a Lunch & Learn about the importance of protecting ourselves and our families against Pertussis (or “whooping cough”), I walked away with a new found interest in the history of vaccine-preventable diseases.  I know I always find myself looking at current news and stories about vaccines, but taking a moment to look back at what once was, and what still is, has opened my eyes even further to the importance immunizations play in our lives.

At any given time, we are all guilty of living in the “out-of-sight, out-of-mind” mantra, but that is a risky game to play when making decisions about our health or the health of our loved ones.  For the longest time, I never heard about, or paid attention to news concerning outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.  As recently as five-years ago I honestly thought that these were diseases of the past.  They were merely afflictions of the dark ages that we were fortunate enough to live without.  So why did I stay up to date on my vaccinations?  I did it because it was recommended.  No thought went into my actions.  As I prepared to welcome my first child to this world, I suddenly became aware that I had to make responsible decisions about his health and mine.  My reasons for vaccinating changed as I stepped back and acknowledged that these vaccinations are still necessary.  Not because of some outdated protocol, or old-school way of thinking, but because these diseases still exist and pose a threat to our lives.

I could not imagine being the cause of a child’s illness, or even death, because I chose not to vaccinate.

With a disease like Pertussis, young infants typically contract the illness from their mother, father, or close relative.  It is just not a risk worth taking.

As recently as 1963 (the year of the first measles vaccine) virtually every person in the United States contracted measles by age twenty. This serious and highly contagious disease resulted in an estimated three to four million cases each year in the United States alone, resulting in four to five-hundred deaths.  Thanks to the measles vaccine, there has been a greater than ninety-nine percent reduction in reported cases.  But do not allow such a positive message about vaccines to mislead you into a false sense of security.  This year alone, measles outbreaks and exposure have been reported in Indiana, Delaware, California, and Kansas.  These outbreaks are certainly not contained to the United States as unvaccinated Americans acquire this disease, and many others, when traveling to countries where outbreaks are widespread due to low vaccination rates.

As people continue to opt out of vaccinating against vaccine-preventable diseases, a resurgence of these deadly illnesses continues to rise.  Don’t let the diseases of the past become the problems of today.  Always remember, the past is still present.

Welcome To MOMmunizations!

Having just celebrated our mothers this past weekend, it seems like the perfect time to introduce our new mommy blogger, Alana Bethea.  Alana graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Community Health.  After working for five years in clinical research at MD Anderson Cancer Center, she became a stay-at-home mom to take care of her now three-year-old son and ten-month-old daughter.  Alana’s roles as a concerned wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend have pushed her to educate herself on the importance of vaccinations and she is passionate about sharing her experiences with the community.  Her new blog, cleverly entitled “MOMmunizations” will be a personal look at the importance and relevance of vaccines in the lives of our families, our community, and the world.   Please join me in welcoming Alana to our team!

Anna C. Dragsbaek, JD
President & CEO

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We all answer to a number of names, but the one I am proudest to bare is that of “Mom.”  Spending this past weekend celebrating that title with my own mother was such a wonderful opportunity to reflect on all she has done for me over the years.  My mom has always been there to love and protect me; a responsibility that I strive to carry on with the same grace and dignity.  While she may seem quiet and reserved, the truth is she is a Mama Bear, just as most moms are.  She has always looked out for the well-being of not only her children, but all those she knows and loves.  I too have this persistent desire to protect.

“It is because of that quality, whether innate or taught, that I have such a passion to spread the message that vaccines save lives.”

The science is there.  It is frightening to think of what once was, and what could be in an unvaccinated community.  Thanks to vaccination programs in the United States, the incidences of vaccine-preventable diseases have been significantly reduced if not eliminated, but without high levels of vaccine coverage, these diseases can once again become common and deadly.  Immunizations are the most effective and safest way to protect ourselves and our loved ones.  My hope is that by sharing my experiences, I will encourage readers to take responsibility and vaccinate.  I do not claim to have all the answers, but I hope to document my journey to further educate myself and others on a topic that has such substantial meaning for us all.

-Alana

Vaccinations: Don’t Leave Home Without Them!

It’s almost that time!  Can you believe that in a few short weeks school will be out and the lazy days of summer will begin?   That pesky algebra homework will soon be a distant memory and afternoons of pool time fun will be the new norm.  Sunscreen and bug spray always seem to make it to the top of the summer checklist, but you don’t want to forget your most important must-have summer items—vaccines!  Between summer camps, traveling and sleepovers, children and adults alike are exposed to a wide spectrum of vaccine preventable diseases.   In addition to vaccines that keep your family healthy throughout the year, you should also talk to your doctor about any additional vaccinations you and your family may need before jetting off on that well-deserved vacation.
It is also important to remember that domestic travel poses the same risks as international travel.  According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC):

“Travel—both within the United States and to other countries—can expose you to infectious viruses and bacteria.  If you and your loved ones are not protected by up-to-date vaccinations, you are at risk of catching serious diseases.”

Planning a vacation can be stressful, so eliminate concerns about the health of you and your family by making sure that you are protected before you even pack your bags.  After a fun filled family vacation, the last thing you want is to come home and find out that a few germs decided to stowaway and make a one way trip with you.  Vaccine preventable diseases don’t take a vacation so make sure they don’t ruin yours!

Alana’s Story: How One Mom Overcame Her Vaccination Fears

Through research, Alana discovered that vaccinations were the best way to protect her family from disease.

Good morning all!  My name is Alana and I am so excited to be guest blogging for The Immunization Partnership!  As a mother to two young children, the topic of vaccinations is of utmost importance to me, and I look forward to sharing my thoughts, experiences, and findings on the topic.

With this being my first post, it only seems fitting to go back to the beginning and relive the always dreaded 2-month shots.  As a first-time mom, so many thoughts race through your head.  “Is it safe?” “Do vaccines cause autism?”  And of course the idea of someone inflicting pain on your perfect-little-one is traumatizing in and of itself! So I started doing my research.  I spoke to physicians, called my girlfriends and began to search for the facts.    Thanks to reliable and informative articles provided by organizations like the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and well respected physicians, there are an endless number of resources to make an educated decision.

In the end the simple truth was there; vaccinations were the best way to protect my son from a host of preventable diseases.”

Now, to say that I walked into that appointment with my head held high, full of confidence would be an outright lie.  I had read all the criticisms of vaccines and even though I believed we were making the right decision, those frightening images were still in the back of my mind.  Apparently the nurse could see the fear in my face as she entered the room because she put her arm around me, gave me a little squeeze, and said it would be alright. There were some tears (admittedly most of them were mine), but within a minute, my happy little man was smiling and cooing again in my arms.  There were no fevers, no swelling, no nothing.   Life was back to normal as soon as we walked out of those doors.

Ask yourself this question: Why do you buckle your child in a car seat?  The answer is to protect them in case they are exposed to danger.  The same can be said of vaccinating your child.  By making sure that your children are up to date on their immunizations, you are protecting them in the event they are exposed to a multitude of serious and possibly life-threatening illnesses.

For more information on childhood vaccinations please visit the CDC website.

Calling all Champions!

The instinct to protect tiny, vulnerable infants is one of the most powerful drives a person can experience.  New parents have been known to go to extraordinary lengths to protect their children from all kinds of harm.  That protection can take many forms—for example, car seats and safer cribs—but one of the most basic ways that parents can protect their infants is through immunization.

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities throughout the United States. This year, NIIW is scheduled to be held April 21-28.

Young children rely on the champions in their lives to keep them safe and healthy.  Those champions may be parents who keep a record of their child’s vaccinations and ask at each doctor appointment whether their child is up-to-date on immunizations. And, those champions may also be doctors, nurses, physician assistants, and other healthcare professionals who share scientifically-accurate, up-to-date information about vaccines with parents. This year, during NIIW, communities across the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia celebrate the CDC Childhood Immunization Champions. These recipients of a new annual award are being recognized for the important contributions they have made to public health through their work in childhood immunization.

TIP President and CEO, Anna C. Dragsbaek, was recently named a Childhood Immunization Champion for Texas.  Her passion for protecting

children from vaccine-preventable diseases evolved from her work in West Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer, where she witnessed countless children suffering from diseases that were all but eliminated in developed countries, yet were prevalent in her village.

Polio, measles and rotavirus claimed the lives of countless infants under the age of five,” said Anna.  “No parent should have to bury a child for something that is completely preventable.  That experience inspires the work I do every day.”

Vaccine-preventable diseases still circulate in the United States and around the world, so continued vaccination is necessary to protect everyone from potential outbreaks. Even when diseases are rare in the U.S., they can be brought into the country, putting unvaccinated children at risk. One example of the seriousness of vaccine-preventable diseases was the California whooping cough epidemic of 2010, resulting in the death of 10 infants. Nationally, more than 21,000 cases of the whooping cough were reported in 2010.   Only a concentrated community effort can stop vaccine-preventable diseases like pertussis.  Protect an infant—become a champion for childhood immunization.  Share with your family and friends why you think immunization are vital to our children’s well-being.

Do you want to call out an immunization champion in your life?  Leave a message here and tell us about the amazing things your champion does to support immunization.

World Meningitis Day: From Tragedy Springs a Legacy of Hope

The word ‘meningitis’ can strike fear in the hearts of parents, and for good reason.  This week, TIP is observing World Meningitis Day, to draw attention to this devastating disease.

Bacterial Meningitis is the swelling of the membranes, called meninges, which surround the brain and spinal cord. It’s symptoms of headaches, stiff neck and fever can appear quickly or over several days after exposure, with serious and sometimes fatal results. Other symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, increased sensitivity to light and altered mental state. Spread through the respiratory tract, those living in close quarters are most susceptible to meningitis. The disease can quickly spread through college dorms, army bases and boarding schools.

The good news is that most forms of bacterial meningitis are vaccine-preventable, but many families are unaware of the need to protect against this disease through immunization.  Unfortunately, several Texas families have learned the hard way that the disease can cause devastation in the blink of an eye.

On February 11, 2011, Greg William’s life changed forever. That’s the day his 20-year-old son Nicolis, a junior at Texas A&M, died of complications from bacterial meningitis 72 hours after being diagnosed with flu-like symptoms at a campus clinic.

Losing our son was without a doubt the worst experience of our lives,” said Greg. “And, to discover later that his death could have been prevented intensifies the pain and guilt we hold in our hearts.”

Due, in part, to Greg’s efforts, Texas colleges now take an active role against the disease. The Jamie Schanbaum Act, named for a University of Texas student who lost her legs and fingers to the disease, was amended in 2011 and became the Jamie Schanbaum and Nicolis Williams Act. The law, which went into effect in 2012, requires that all students under the age of 30 who enroll in any Texas college show evidence that they have received the meningitis vaccine within the 5 years prior to enrollment. The law was a labor of love for both families and TIP was honored to assist.

“With TIP’s considerable help, we’re very proud to have been able to modify the law,” said Greg. “This is a huge and significant accomplishment for future generations of college students in Texas.”

Greg takes comfort in the fact that through the law, other families may be spared the pain of losing a loved one to meningitis.

Because the law is named in association with Nicolis Williams, our son has a legacy and the grief in our hearts is lightened,” said Greg.  “We thank God for blessing us with Nicolis and we thank TIP for keeping his memory alive. Because of your efforts, no other college student in Texas will die or be disfigured from meningitis.”

To learn more about the Jamie Schanbaum and Nicolis Williams Act please visit our website.

Join us on April 24 as we observe World Meningitis Day. We invite you to visit our Facebook page and post comments from your experience with meningitis and why you chose to get your family vaccinated.

Thank You for a Successful Community Immunity Spring Luncheon!

Thank you for making our third annual Community Immunity Spring Luncheon a huge success! TIP supporters packed the ballroom at the Junior League of Houston last Thursday making this the largest luncheon yet and raising more than $150,000.

We couldn’t have done it without the help of our supporters and volunteers who went the extra mile to ensure the success of our event. Special thanks go to Kim and Scott David for chairing this year’s luncheon and for helping us exceed our fundraising goal.

Judge Ed and Gwen Emmett present the John R. Boettiger Day of Community Partnership proclamation to Michelle Boettiger.

This year came with a few changes as the Community Partnership Award was formally renamed the John R. Boettiger, Jr. Award for Community Partnership. In a proclamation from Harris County, read by Judge Ed Emmett, April 12^th was also officially named the John R. Boettiger Day of Community Partnership. Both were in honor of the late John R. Boettiger, Jr., who served as a TIP board member and an outstanding volunteer.

Another invaluable TIP supporter, Houston Community College’s Coleman College for Health Sciences, received the first ever John R. Boettiger, Jr. Award for Community Partnership for their dedication in supplying bright and energetic students for our Immunization Champions program.

Celene Meyer of SLEHC presents TIP President and CEO Anna Dragsbaek with a grant to go towards TIP's Immunization Champions program.

Our Immunization Champions program received further support through a generous $50,000 grant from St.Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities, presented at Thursday’s luncheon.  We would like to thank SLEHC for their long-time support of the Immunization Champions program and we look forward to many more years of outstanding partnership.

The Ralph D. Feigin, M.D. Award for Excellence, presented by Susan Feigin Harris, went to Dr. Peter J. Hotez, President of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, an organization that works in partnership with Texas Children’s Hospital for Vaccine Development and the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.

Dr. Peter J. Hotez presents on the "neglected" tropical vaccine-preventable diseases found in underprivileged parts of the world.

Dr. Hotez’s presentation gave us valuable insight into vaccine-preventable diseases that ravage the world’s poorest populations and the work that is being done to stop them.

We are truly grateful for the outpouring of support we received at the luncheon. To date, ninety people have answered the call from our board President, Dr. Lindy McGee and have become members of our Big Shot society. You can still make a gift and support TIP by visiting our website.

We had a wonderful time and hope to see everyone in September for our Fall Fête, an exclusive event with Seth Mnookin, author of The Panic Virus: A True Story of Medicine, Science and Fear.

There are a number of ways to get involved with TIP. Please visit our website for more information and we’ll see you at next year’s luncheon!

A Closer Look at Immunization Champions

Houston’s immunization rates are the highest level in years, thanks to the combined efforts of doctors, nurses and projects like Immunization Champions, a flagship program of The Immunization Partnership.

TIP's Maureen Moore gives an Immunization Champions orientation at Hope Clinic.

Since 2008, this program has helped many clinics raise their childhood, adolescent and adult immunization rates through an innovative, evidence-based recall system, providing outreach to individuals who are overdue for important vaccines.  The project often has a dramatic effect on a clinic’s immunization rates, raising them by 50 percentage points or more.  Thousands of people are now better protected against dangerous diseases, making our community a healthier place to work and live.

Student interns are a special part of the Immunization Champions program. Houston Community College’s Coleman College for Health Sciences provides their best and brightest students, who are then placed in clinics and mentored by The Immunization Partnership staff, which includes advanced immunization training.  The students learn how to implement the recall system and a permanent clinic staff member is cross-trained to ensure that the project continues after the conclusion of the internship.   Along the way, clinics and students learn more about immunization best practices through an ongoing relationship with The Immunization Partnership.

The program is called Immunization Champions because of the passion and dedication that is fostered in both the student interns and the clinic staff.    In addition to improving immunization rates in the short-term, the project encourages long-term systemic change which ensures that future generations of children will be protected against vaccine-preventable-diseases for many years to come.

Patricia Branham, an HCC graduate in Health Information Technology, was an enthusiastic participant in the Immunization Champions project and reflected on why she felt it was so important.

“I felt that it was my responsibility to be as educated as I could about immunizations and to do my best to get all of the children at my clinic up to date on their vaccinations,” said Patricia. “I developed special relationships with the children and taught the parents how important it was that they were all vaccinated.”

Supported generously by St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities and other local foundations, the project is now in its fourth year and has a bright future.   With the changing landscape of health care reform and an increasing focus on prevention, the Immunization Champions program is poised to make an enormous impact by helping clinics improve their immunization rates for children, adolescents and adults.

TIP salutes Coleman College, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health Charities, the Immunization Champions clinics and all the student interns who have joined forces to protect our community from vaccine-preventable diseases.   Join us on April 12^th as we honor Coleman College for its contributions to this important project at our Community Immunity Luncheon.

Do you know of a clinic that would be a good candidate for the Immunization Champions Project?  Please visit our website to learn more and to apply!

Should Doctors “Fire” Vaccine Refusers? A Physician’s Point of View

A recent Wall Street Journal article suggested that more physicians are becoming comfortable with the idea of “firing” their patients who refuse vaccines.  Most do so because they are concerned about the spread of contagious diseases in their offices to infants and children too young or too ill to be protected with vaccines.

We thought the issue of how doctors work with families who have concerns about vaccines to be an important one affecting both pediatricians and patients,” said Shirley Wang, author of the  Wall Street Journal article. “The issue also raises broader questions about what doctors’ responsibilities are to patients.”

Dr. Melanie Mouzoon

Dr. Melanie Mouzoon is the Managing Physician of Immunization Practices and Travel Medicine at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in Houston.  In this entry she explains what she believes, regarding vaccinations, to be her responsibilities to her patients and the community as well.

A Physician’s Point of View

When word gets around that a pediatrician is comfortable with families who refuse vaccines, are selective about which ones they will administer, or want to follow an untested schedule, that practice attracts many similar families.  Just as there are schools with high percentages of unimmunized children, there are pediatricians’ offices with the same problem.  In this situation, not only do pediatricians wind up spending more time discussing vaccine safety in an attempt to convince families to protect their children, they also have to worry about outbreaks of measles, pertussis and meningitis in their offices.

Other doctors feel that the trust, which is necessary in the physician-patient relationship, has deteriorated over time as discussions with families about the need for and safety of vaccines has become protracted and the refusers more entrenched and resentful.

Every pediatrician I know spends lots of time answering questions and concerns that parents have about their children.  Vaccines are not an exception to this rule.  As physicians, we see parent education as a part of our job.

When parents refuse vaccines, we do our best to determine what their fears are, what their experiences have been and where they are getting their information.  We respond with science-based information and honest answers and we do it visit after visit after visit, if they remain unconvinced.

We work with parents to accept at least some of the recommended vaccines, if not all.  We space out vaccines even though we know that this needlessly delays their protection. We discuss known risks of infection versus perceived and actual risks of vaccination. Despite this, some families won’t protect their children with vaccines.

Everyone knows that you need to change your car’s oil every so often.  You might follow your car’s scheduled maintenance guide or you might choose to stretch out service a little longer than recommended. However, eventually, you need to change the oil or your engine won’t perform as well.

If you went to your mechanic for other maintenance, but steadfastly refused to have the oil changed, he would do everything he could to convince you – up to a point. Eventually he has to choose either to keep you as a client (perhaps he can make more money fixing your engine rather than changing your oil) or tell you to find a mechanic whose advice you trust.  At least this scenario doesn’t involve risk to anyone else’s car!

I continue to advocate for vaccinations with families, because I care about their kids.  If they choose to leave my practice because I am adamant about ensuring their child gets vaccinated, so be it. I fully understand why some physicians would ask some families to seek care elsewhere.  If you don’t trust my advice regarding vaccines, why should you trust me with your medical care?

Dr. Melanie Mouzoon is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and her expertise has been called on by local newspapers, radio and television stations.

 

 

The Community Immunity Spring Luncheon Awards: A Closer Look

The Community Immunity Spring Luncheon is TIP’s largest fundraising event and occurs every year in April.  This year it will be held on April 12^th at 11:30 a.m. at the Junior League of Houston. While this event is a time for stakeholders and friends to support The Immunization Partnership, it is also a time for us to honor the people and organizations that have made significant strides in immunization advocacy and education.

Each year TIP presents two awards at the luncheon.  The Ralph D. Feigin M.D. Award for Excellence and the John R. Boettiger Jr. Award for Community Partnership. Both are named for individuals whose legacy mirrors the purpose of the award.

The Ralph D. Feigin M.D. Award for Excellence is presented to an individual who has committed his or her time and efforts towards immunization advocacy and education. It is named for the late Dr. Ralph Feigin of Texas Children’s Hospital. Dr. Feigin worked as the hospital’s Physician-in-Chief and as the President of Baylor College of Medicine.  Dr. Feigin’s specialty was infectious diseases and he worked tirelessly to promote and advocate for the vaccines that he knew could save lives.

Ralph D. Feigin M.D. Award for Excellence Recipient Dr. Peter J. Hotez

This year’s honoree is also a leader in the immunization world. Dr. Peter J. Hotez serves as President of the Sabin Vaccine Institute, an organization that works in partnership with Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine. The Sabin Vaccine Institute’s mission to “reduce needless human suffering from vaccine preventable and neglected tropical diseases through innovative vaccine research and development” is closely related to the work of the late Dr. Feigin. It is for that reason that The Immunization Partnership believes that Dr. Hotez truly exemplifies Dr. Feigin’s spirit and dedication to promoting vaccinations.

New this year, the Community Partnership Award has been officially renamed the John R. Boettiger Jr.  Award for Community Partnership. It is given to an organization that works directly with the community to increase immunization rates. The award has been renamed in memory of John Boettiger Jr. ASA, CFA, CMC a former member of TIP’s Board of Directors who, through his work with TIP and other organizations including the Boy Scouts of America, embodied the spirit of community partnership.

TIP President and CEO, Anna Dragsbaek, worked closely with John as he served in several leadership positions within the organization.

“John was an outstanding board member, holding many different positions on both TIP’s board and advisory council,” said Dragsbaek.  “He had a special talent for connecting people and resources to community organizations and played a pivotal role in creating the strong board of directors that supports the work of TIP today.”

John’s dedication to his community represents the type of service that TIP is looking to acknowledge with the award.

“Our organization would not be the same today if he had not shared his time and talents with TIP,” said Dragsbaek.  “He truly embodies the spirit of community that TIP wants to honor in the Community Partnership Award.”

The Boettiger Award for Community Partnership recipient.

This year’s recipient is Houston Community College’s Coleman College. They have been an instrumental partner in TIP’s Immunization Champions project by supplying eager students willing to venture into doctor’s offices for the chance raise their immunization rates, instill vaccination best practices and to make a difference in the healthcare community.

The Community Immunity Luncheon will be a momentous occasion as we honor those who have worked side by side with us in our efforts to increase vaccination rates and ultimately to create a safer and healthier community.

Register now for our Community Immunity Spring Luncheon.

Should you wish to support the luncheon, sponsorship opportunities are still available.