Exclusive Care s Health Awareness Newsletter

Transcription

1 Healthy Exclusive Care s Health Awareness Newsletter August is National Immunization Awareness Month Inside this Issue: What is Immunization?...p. 2 Keep Immunizing... p. 3 Vaccines p. 4-5 Meet our Newest Team Member...p. 6 Recipe Baked Tofu Stir-Fry Cabbage & Shiitakes...p7

2 Healthy What is Immunization? Immunization is a process whereby a person is made immune or resistant to an infectious disease, typically by the administration of a vaccine. Vaccines stimulate the body's own immune system to protect the person against subsequent infection or disease. Most immunizations are given as an injection and help protect you or your child from disease. They also help reduce the spread of disease to others and prevent epidemics. Why Immunize our children? Sometimes we are confused by the messages in the media. First we are assured that, thanks to vaccines, some diseases are almost gone from the U.S. But we are also warned to immunize our children, ourselves as adults, and the elderly. Diseases are becoming rare due to vaccinations. It's true, some diseases (like polio and diphtheria) are becoming very rare in the U.S. Of course, they are becoming rare largely because we have been vaccinating against them. But it is still reasonable to ask whether it's really worthwhile to keep vaccinating. It's much like bailing out a boat with a slow leak. When we started bailing, the boat was filled with water. But we have been bailing fast and hard, and now it is almost dry. We could say, "Good. The boat is dry now, so we can throw away the bucket and relax." But the leak hasn't stopped. Before long we'd notice a little water seeping in, and soon it might be back up to the same level as when we started. 2

3 Keep immunizing until disease is eliminated. Unless we can "stop the leak" (eliminate the disease), it is important to keep immunizing. Even if there are only a few cases of disease today, if we take away the protection given by vaccination, more and more people will become infected and will spread disease to others. Soon we will undo the progress we have made over the years. Japan reduced pertussis vaccinations, and an epidemic occurred. In 1974, Japan had a successful pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination program, with nearly 80% of Japanese children vaccinated. That year only 393 cases of pertussis were reported in the entire country, and there were no deaths from pertussis. But then rumors began to spread that pertussis vaccination was no longer needed and that the vaccine was not safe, and by 1976 only 10% of infants were getting vaccinated. In 1979 Japan suffered a major pertussis epidemic, with more than 13,000 cases of whooping cough and 41 deaths. In 1981 the government began vaccinating with acellular pertussis vaccine, and the number of pertussis cases dropped again. What if we stopped vaccinating? So what would happen if we stopped vaccinating ( here? Diseases that are almost unknown would stage a comeback. Before long we would see epidemics of diseases that are nearly under control today. More children would get sick and more would die. We vaccinate to protect our future. We don't vaccinate just to protect our children. We also vaccinate to protect our grandchildren and their grandchildren. With one disease, smallpox, we "stopped the leak" in the boat by eradicating the disease. Our children don't have to get smallpox shots any more because the disease no longer exists. If we keep vaccinating now, parents in the future may be able to trust that diseases like polio and meningitis won't infect, cripple, or kill children. Vaccinations are one of the best ways to put an end to the serious effects of certain diseases. 3

4 Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and Childhood Vaccines Most medicines are given to cure an illness or to relieve its symptoms. Vaccines are different. They are given to prevent illness. Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Fourteen diseases can be prevented by routine childhood vaccines: Diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, haemophilus influenza type b (Hib), influenza (flu), measles, mumps, pertussis (whopping cough), pneumococcal disease, polio, rotavirus, rubella (German measles), tetanus (lockjaw), varicella (chickenpox), Childhood Vaccines Ten vaccines, which children receive between birth and 6 years of age can prevent these 14 diseases. 1. Hepatitis A (HepA) vaccine 2. Hepatitis B (HepB) vaccine 3. Hib (Haemophilus influenza type b) vaccine 4. Influenza (flu) vaccine 5. PCV13 (p0neumococcal disease) vaccine 6. Polio vaccine 7. Rotavirus (RV) vaccine 8. Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine 9. DTaP (Diphtheria Tetanus, and Pertussis) vaccine 10. MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine These vaccines are given by injection (shot), expect for rotavirus, which is liquid that is swallowed, and one type of flu vaccine, which is sprayed into the nose. Healthy 4

5 Everyone age 6 months and older needs to get a flu vaccine every year. Other immunizations work best when they are given at certain ages. If you have a child age 6 or younger, find out which immunizations your child needs: ( Find out which immunizations adults and teenagers need. Use this chart for adults to see if you are up to date on your immunizations. If you are pregnant, check out this recommended immunization schedule. chart/pdf Talk to your doctor or nurse to make sure that everyone in your family gets the immunizations they need. Healthy 5

6 Meet our Newest Team Member! Please Welcome Alicia Michelson, MPH, RDN Alicia created her Bachelor s degree in Agroecology and Sustainability at the University of Michigan as a unique reflection of her passion for food system dynamics, social justice, and the environment. She then earned her Master s degree at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in Human Nutrition. She promotes a sustainable, holistic, and evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle approach, as well as the social-ecological model, in which the process of improving quality of life and disease prevention is multifaceted and should be addressed at many levels. She is also an advocate for a primarily whole-foods, plant-based diet to support optimal health and wellness. Healthy 6

7 Baked Tofu Stir-Fry with Cabbage & Shiitakes Per serving: 322 calories; 20 g fat (2 g sat, 12 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 15 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 4 g total sugars; 24 g protein; 6 g fiber; 862 mg sodium; 825 mg potassium. Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (56% daily value), Calcium (44% dv), Vitamin A (40% dv), Folate (37% dv), Magnesium (35% dv), Iron (27% dv), Potassium (24% dv), Zinc (20% dv) to 16-ounce packages extra-firm tofu, patted dry 2 1/2 tablespoons black beangarlic sauce, divided 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil, divided 2 teaspoons sesame seeds 10 cups chopped napa cabbage (1-inch pieces, from 1 medium head) 3 cups halved shiitake mushroom caps (about 4 ounces) 1. Position racks in upper and lower thirds of oven; preheat to 425 F. Coat 2 large rimmed baking sheets with cooking spray. 2. Cut tofu into 1-inch pieces and toss in a large bowl with 2 tablespoons black bean sauce, 1 tablespoon sesame oil and sesame seeds. Spread in a single layer on one of the prepared baking sheets. (Reserve the bowl.) Roast the tofu on the lower rack, stirring twice, until browned, 25 to 30 minutes. 3. Meanwhile, toss cabbage, mushrooms, scallion pieces, the remaining 1/2 tablespoon black bean sauce and the remaining 1 tablespoon sesame oil in the large bowl. Spread the vegetables on the second baking sheet. When the tofu has roasted for 10 minutes, place the vegetables on the upper rack and roast, stirring once or twice, until tender, about 20 minutes. 4. Spoon the tofu over the vegetables, drizzle with rice wine (or sherry) and hot sauce and stir until combined. Serve sprinkled with scallion greens, if desired. 1 bunch scallions, cut into 1- inch pieces, plus chopped greens for garnish 2 tablespoons Shao Hsing rice wine or dry sherry 2 teaspoons hot sauce, such as sriracha, or more to taste Visit us at healthyhighways/ or call us at to learn more about the 7

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