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Thursday, July 29, 2010
The Oklahoma State
Department of Health
reminds you that now is
the best time to check your
child' s immunization record
and schedule a visit with
your health care provider or
local county health depart-
ment to obtain any vacci-
nations needed for school.
This is the best time because
clinics only get busier as the
start of the school year gets
closer. The demand for vac-
cine turns into a rush every
year before school starts
mainly because of the boost-
ers due for children entering
kindergarten.
Children in kindergarten
through the twelfth grade are
required to have the primary
series of the following vac-
cines: DTaP (4 doses), polio
(3 doses), MMR (1 dose),
hepatitis B (3 doses), hepati-
tis A (2 doses) and variceUa
(1 dose) and booster doses
of DTaP and polio vaccines
and a second dose of MMR.
A second dose of varicella
vaccine is also recom-
mended at 4 to 6 years of
age, but is not required in
Oklahoma.
If a child is behind with
his or her vaccinations, they
can catch up. Children can
start school as long as they
are in the process of com-
plying with the require-
ments. Parents of children
who haven't completed the
required series and boosters
should obtain a schedule
from their doctor or clinic
that shows the dates when
they will receive the rest of
the doses. Parents can then
take the schedule to the
school, but the children must
be started on the series.
College students in Okla-
homa are also required to
present vaccination records.
All college students are
required to have MMR and
hepatitis B vaccines and
first-time college enrollees
who will live on campus
are also required to have the
meningococcal vaccine. The
college requirements do not
apply to students enrollil g
only in courses delivered
via the Internet or through
distance learning in which
the student is not required
to attend class on campus.
Vaccines are also
strongly recommended for
adolescents and teenagers,
99
although these vaccines
are not required for school.
Three vaccines are recom-
mended for all adolescents
at 11 to 12 years of age and
all teens 13 through 18 years
who have not yet received
the vaccines:
Meningococcal vac-
cine to protect against
4 types of meningitis as
the risk for this disease
increases between ages 15
and 24 years
Tdap vaccine, a
booster against tetanus,
diphtheria and whoop-
ing cough, as immunity
decreases over time
Humanpapillomavirus
vaccine to protect against
viruses that cause 70 per-
cent of cervical cancer and
90 percent of genital warts
in the U.S.
A second dose of varicella
vaccine for the best protec-
tion
These v ccines are avail-
able at county health depart-
ments, Indian Health Service
and tribal clinics, and many
private physicians through
the Vaccines for Children
Program. Adolescents and
teens are eligible for this
program through their 18th
year if they have no health
insurance, or are eligible
for SoonerCare (Oklaho-
ma's Medicaid program),
or are Native American or
Alaskan Native, or if their
health insurance does not
cover vaccines or does
not cover a particular vac-
cine. However, once teens
reach 19 years of age, they
are no longer eligible for
the Vaccines for Children
program.
"Summer ts a good time
to check the vaccination
records of everyone in
your family. All adults
need tetanus and diphtheria
boosters every ten years,"
said Dr. Lynn Mitchell,
Chief Medical Officer and
Deputy Commissioner for
Prevention and Prepared-
ness Services. "So parents,
check your records too,
and get the vaccines you
need along with those for
your children. Kids may be
less resistant to shots when
they know grown-ups have
to get shots too."
If you have any ques-
tions about back-to-school
vaccinations, check with
your health care provider,
call your county health
department, or the Okla-
homa State Department
of Health's Inununization
Service at (405) 271-4073.
'Every Ounce Counts'Theme for World Breastfeeding W
Every day a mom breast- The Payne County Health "An environment where six months of life. and con-
feeds is one more day of Department hopes these breastfeeding is supported tinue receiving breastmilk
better health for both mom activities will help inform will encourage women to for at least the first year
and baby. The Payne County mothers, breastfeeding meet their breastfeeding and beyond. Many women
Health Department and the advocates, health profes- goals. Mothers know the who would like to breast-
Oklahoma State Department sionals, and the community benefits of breastmilk, and feed make the decision
of Health (OSDti) are pro- on how they can actively by providing every ounce either not to breastfeed or
rooting World Breastfeed- support mothers to con-of breastmilk possible, to wean early, due to their
ing Week, Aug. 1-7, 2010, tinue to breastfeed for at they help keep their babies need to return to work.
with the theme J3reastmilk least the baby's tirst year healthier." According torecentdata, 79
- Every Ounce Counts. This and beyond. Because breastfeeding is percent of Oklahoma moth-
year's theme focuses on the "Workplaces that provide so important for mothers ers breastfeed initially, but
importance of every ounce a supportive environment and babies, major medi- only 30.5 percent continue
of breastmilk - even when can help ease the stress cal organizations such as to breastfeed for six months
moms go back to work. and help mothers feelthe American Academy of or longer. In Oklahoma,
Special World Breastfeed- good about their decision Pediatrics and the Ameri- one-third of women who
ing Week activities planned to combine working and can Association of Family choose not to breastfeed cite
for Payne County include a breastfeeding," said Payne Physicians recommend that returning to work or school
special poster display and County Health Department babies receive nothing but as the reason. A woman's
breastfeeding classes,dietitian Sarah Walker. breastmilk during the first decision to breastfeed often
affects when and if she will
return to work.
With the newly-passed
healthcare reform bill,
employers are now required
Stress. It is the number sion, casino visits, shopping brief visit to a friend's to accommodate breastfeed-
one health threat to Ameri- for shopping's sake; even garden allows me a time- ing employees. This legisla-
cans. The dictionary defines video games can be. meth- out. Picking up a book that tion recognizes that the abil-
stress many ways. "Special ods for dealing with stress, offers no"how-to-improve" ity to express milk at work is
weight, importance or sig- These unhealthy "tools" advice helps slow me down. a necessity for breastfeeding
I do believe though the all- mothers who must balance
i time best way to reduce their own need to work
stress is to breathe!with caring for their babies.
Oxygen clears the mind According to Section 4207
, and energizes the body. ofthe Patient Protection and
By LeeAnn Take a walk, swim a few Affordable Care Act:
laps, or sing for no par- Employers must provide
nificance; to put stress or are as varied as humans ticular reason. Stretch women in the workforce a
emphasis on; force exerted themselves. Yet when and breathe, harness your reasonable break time and
to or beyond the point of you think about it, like the thoughts. Walking or swim- space to express their milk
strain; tension; and, to put dictionary definitions, your ming does not count if you for their babies.
considered in relation to the program's initiation in
the size, financial resources, 2008, the OSDH and The
nature, or structure of the State Chamber of Okla-
business, homa have recognized 29
The rules, regulations, and Oklahoma worksites for
standards of implementation being Recognized Breast-
are still being developed feeding Friendly Work-
by the U.S. Department of sites.
into straits or difficulties; stress-buster may be fueling are exercising, While the This must be provided for Labor. Ensuring that breast- For more information
distress". Itis interesting to the fire by creating its own oxygen exchange still one year after the child's feeding mothers have time about breastfeeding, con-
me how one definition plays tension, worry and distress, provides benefits to your birth, and space to express their tact the Payne County
off of and leads to another, I find my anxiety level rises health, the relaxation of The place employers milk is a major step in pro- Health Department at 405-
eventually distress. "when I place undue impor- mere movement is lost. provide must not be a bath- viding support to women in 372-8200 or 918-225-3377.
Many health conscious tance on a situation over Giving is another way room. It must be shielded the workplace. Breastfeeding support is
adults are aware of the dan- which I have no control, to reduce stress. I love to from view and free from Oklahoma already has a also available 24 hours a
gers of stress; high blood It may be financial, career sui'prise friends with a foot intrusion by coworkers and program in place to recog- day, seven days a week
pressure and heart attacks related, family, out-of-town rub and flowers. Some even the public, nize worksites that have met through the Oklahoma
are two of the biggest, company or a combina- take welcome advantage of Employers are notrequired criteria to become breast- Breastfeeding Hotline at
Countless other "lesser" tion of all the above. Life d opping by for a brief visit to pay their employees for feeding friendly. These 1-877-271-MILK (6455).
health risks can also be becomes out of balance, and taking home abouquet, the time they spend express- worksites allow flexible Additional information
symptoms or deceptive I turn to . If I Giving guest's feet amini- ing their milk. break times and a private regarding becoming a
solutions for dealing with do not choose a healthy massage while chatting Employers with fewer location for nursing moth- Recognized Breastfeed-
stress. I think of eating outlet, the stress continues helps both of our daily than 50 workers are exempt ers to express milk, have ing Friendly Worksite
disorders, smoking, alcohol to build, pressures to evaporate, from these requirements if access to a nearby water or locating a lactation
ind recreational marijuana. There are a number of As summer threatens to they would pose an undue source for washing hands consultant in this area is
Coping mechanisms may things I consider to be swallow you in busyness, hardship by causing the and breast pump equip-available on the OSDH
not be ingested, but just as healthy stressreducers. Foot breathe, move, give...stress employer significant dif- ment, and have a written breasffeeding Web site http:
deceptive. Excessive televi- rubs are high on my list. A less. ficulty or expense when breastfeeding policy. Since //bis.health.ok.gov.
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