Lauren Cornelius

Professional Practices in Health Care

June 27, 2012

Vaccines are a hot topic. I personally have done

research to decide what vaccines I should give to

my children, which I should hold off on and which

could be avoided entirely. In the past I have

been frustrated as I try to find unbiased

information on the subject. I selected this topic

because the CDC supplies information about

vaccines.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Government Program that functions under

the Department of Health and Human

Services

Vision: “Health Protection…Health Equity”

Imagefromhttp://www.cdc.gov/about/organization/mission.htm

COLLABORATING TO CREATE:

METHODS:

expertise

Information

tools that people and

communities need to

protect their health

and safety

health promotion

prevention of disease

injury

disability

preparedness for new

health threats.

The CDC seeks to accomplish its mission by working with partners throughout the nation and the world to:

monitor health

detect and investigate health problems

conduct research to enhance prevention

develop and advocate sound public health policies

implement prevention strategies

promote healthy behaviors

foster safe and healthful environments provide leadership and training

CDC pledges to the American people:

To be a diligent steward of the funds entrusted to it

To provide an environment for intellectual and personal growth and integrity

To base all public health decisions on the highest quality scientific data, openly and objectively derived

To place the benefits to society above the benefits to the institution

To treat all persons with dignity, honesty, and respect

In order to be successful in its mission and

goals, the CDC works through a number of

Centers, Agencies and Offices (CIO’s)

The CDC’s Centers, Agencies and Offices

include but are not limited to:

Center for Global Health

National Institute for Occupational Safety and

Health

Office of Infectious Diseases

National Center for Immunization and

Respiratory Diseases

National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic

Infectious Diseases

National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD

and TB Prevention

Office of Noncommunicable Diseases, Injury

and Environmental Health

National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental

Disabilities

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and

Health Promotion

National Center for Environmental Health/Agency

for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control

Office of Public Health Preparedness and

Response

First:

- Find out what’s making people sick and

killing them

Second:

-Do the things that work to protect them and

make them healthier.

The CDC has a particular focus in the

following areas:

Increasing support to local and state health

departments - We are only as strong as our

partnerships. We are passionate about

offering the best technical, financial, and

direct assistance possible for the good of

the whole in public health.

Improving global health - Provide

unwavering leadership in health policy

development. We strengthen the ability of

governments and organizations across the

globe to achieve their health goals and

deepen the effectiveness and efficiency of

their health systems.

Decreasing leading causes of death - We

are fiercely devoted to improving the

social determinants of health — disparities

in the conditions in which people are

born, grow, live, work, and age. These

imbalances are largely responsible for

health inequities in everything from obesity

to heart disease.

Strengthening surveillance and

epidemiology - Rigorous surveillance and

epidemiology are our most powerful tools.

They form our ethos and the foundation of

our authority.

Reforming Health Policies - Prevention is on

the map as never before; it is key to the

future of health in this country and is a part

of the legislation currently under debate.

We are closely monitoring the legislation

and potential impacts on public health

entities and are working closely.

HIV is a disease that affects 1.1 million Americans but as many as 20% don’t know they carry the disease

True or False? Those at high risk of contracting HIV should be tested at least once for AIDS

False

Since 2006, the CDC has recommended that all Americans ages 13 to 64 get tested at least once, not just those considered at highest risk: gay men and intravenous drug users. But fewer than half of adults younger than 65 have been tested, according to the

agency's most recent statistics.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

the CDC announced

that they would begin a

program doing free HIV

tests in drugstores and in

store clinics

This increases availability

and decreases stigma.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. Whooping cough is most contagious before the coughing starts.

Whooping cough can cause serious illness―especially in infants too young to be fully vaccinated.

In December 2011 there were 91 cases of Whooping Cough in Vermont. In 2010 there were 18 cases of whooping cough in the entire year.

Vaccines contain germs that have been

killed or weakened. When given to a

healthy person, the vaccine triggers the

immune system to respond and thus build

immunity.

Before vaccines, people became immune

only by actually getting a disease and

surviving it. Immunizations are an easier

and less risky way to become immune.

CHILDREN ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS

-

DTaP(Diptheria, Tetan

us, and Pertussis)

Children should get 5

doses of DTaP, one

dose at the age of

2

4

6

15-18 months

4-6 years

A single dose of

Tdap(Tetanus,

diphtheria and pertussis)

should be given to:

adolescents 11-18 years

of age (preferably at

age 11-12 years

adults 19 through 64

years of age

adults 65 and older

who have close

contact with an infant

and have not previously

received Tdap

These two scenarios give a brief overview

of how the CDC can help increase public

health. There are many other ways and

means the CDC uses to do so.

However this one group cannot control or

fix public health on its own.

In an effort to reach as much of the

population as possible, the CDC works with

community partners:

drugstores

in store clinics

other government agencies

health care centers

HEALTH CARE WORKERS WILL

ADMINISTER TESTS AND VACCINES

HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WILL EDUCATE PATIENTS ON PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

pharmacists

medical assistants

Nurses

doctors

nurse practitioners

specialists

Fewer than 70 percent of children in

Vermont between the ages of 18 months

and 3 years received all of the

recommended vaccines, according to a

2010 National Immunization Survey by the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

-- a rate lower than the 73 percent national

average. Vermont has one of the highest

philosophical exemption rates among

those 20 states

Nicole Matten spoke about the sudden

death of her 7-year-old daughter.

She was perfectly healthy. Kaylynne was

healthy, until she was given a routine flu

shot at her pediatrician's office last

December. She fell ill almost instantly and

was dead within days.

Kayla Thomas, 19, of

Rutland, Vt., emotionally described losing

her 2-year-old brother to meningitis more

than a decade ago. Now there is a

vaccine available to prevent that illness.

If the shot was around then he would still

be here, Thomas said.

Testimonials from both sides of the

spectrum influence decisions about

vaccination. However testimonials are

subject to personal bias.

When making decisions about situations that

could affect the health and safety of individuals

and the public it is important that people have

access to accurate information, facts, and

research to make informed decisions. The CDC

can be a good resource for this type of

information.

http://www.cdc.gov/

http://money.msn.com/health-and-life-insurance/news.aspx?feed=AP&date=20120626&id=15266233

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Pertussis/

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/pertussis/default.htm#vacc

http://www.wcax.com/story/16592603/whooping-cough-cases-on-the-rise-in-vt

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/immunization.html

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/pertussis/default.htm#vacc