Flu clinics for residents 18 years and older will be held at The Human Services Building on 270 Quaker Meetinghouse Road, East Sandwich Ma.
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 6, 2022 10AM-4PM
Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022 1:30PM-4PM
Starting September 26, 2022 appointments can be made by calling the Public Health Nursing Dept. at (508) 833-8020. Please bring your insurance cards (including Medicare) with you. You must wear a mask.
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The 2019-nCoV is a new strain of coronavirus that has not been previously identified in humans. It is a betacoronavirus with some similarities to the SARS virus of 2003. The main symptoms are fever, cough, and shortness of breathe, although there have been cases with diarrhea and nausea, headache, and myalgias. Human to human spread has now been documented. Since this is a virus, antibiotics are not usually helpful and supportive care such as respiratory management and fluids, as well as isolation or quarantine, are being used. Two antiviral medications (Remdesiver and lopinavir-ritonavir) are drugs currently being used as investigational antiviral therapy.
The outbreak began in Wuhan China in November or December and the first reported case was in December. Although the Chinese government acted quickly to identify the virus and make it’s genetic sequencing available to other countries, many Chinese from Wuhan had already left the country for the Lunar New Year celebration with family. Currently, there are 12 cases in the U.S. as well as cases in Asia and Europe.
The CDC has a protocol for monitoring patients with fever and respiratory symptoms who have traveled to Wuhan or been contacts of patients in any country who have been diagnosed with 2019 nCoV.
Currently, the CDC is advising people to: wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before touching your eyes, nose, and mouth; cough into your arm; stay home if you are ill. (The same advice applies to protecting yourself from the flu).
We currently have flu vaccine available for children 8-18years. Please call the office, (508) 833-8020, for an appointment.
Additional high dose shots for seniors will be available mid November.
Image: © manustart/Getty Images
If your grandkids urge you to indulge them in a popular new snack at the mall, just say no. The FDA is warning that consuming products with liquid nitrogen added at the last minute can lead to injury. The products are marketed under names such as “Dragon’s Breath” and “Nitro Puff.” They’re cheese puffs or cereal pieces that are frozen in liquid nitrogen and then dipped in a special sauce. When you put them in your mouth, the products release vapor that looks like smoke. Liquid nitrogen is also added to some cocktails to make them look like they’re emitting fog. But the FDA says all of these products can cause severe damage to skin and internal organs and may cause breathing problems. The agency advises you to avoid the products.
Flu shots are available for all adults 19 years and older and children between the ages of 8 and 18. Please call the office (508) 833-8020 to schedule an appointment.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has elevated the West Nile virus risk level to moderate statewide. This wide-scale increase was driven by expanding and intensifying positive mosquito findings.
For additional information on how to protect yourself from mosquito-borne illness, please visit.
http://www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito
Avoid Mosquito Bites:
Apply Insect Repellent when Outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] or IR3535 according to the instructions on the product label. DEET products should not be used on infants under two months of age and should be used in concentrations of 30% or less on older children. Oil of lemon eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.
Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning.
Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites. Wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin.
Mosquito-Proof Your Home
Drain Standing Water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by either draining or discarding items that hold water. Check rain gutters and drains. Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change water in birdbaths frequently.
Install or Repair Screens. Keep mosquitoes outside by having tightly-fitting screens on all of your windows and doors.
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At a minimum, you should have the basic supplies listed below:
1. Water: one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
2. Food: non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
3. Flashlight [Available on the Red Cross Store]
4. Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible) [Available on the Red Cross Store]
5. Extra batteries
6. First aid kit [Available on the Red Cross Store]
7. Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
8. Multi-purpose tool
9. Sanitation and personal hygiene items
10. Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
11. Cell phone with chargers
12. Family and emergency contact information
13. Extra cash
14. Emergency blanket [Available on the Red Cross Store]
15. Map(s) of the area
Imagine if you could protect your child against cancer. Turns out, you can – with the HPV vaccine. To highlight this, the American Cancer Society recently released a video series of HPV-related cancer survivors sharing their stories. These individuals serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of the HPV vaccine and underscore the need for all parents to talk to their children’s doctors to learn more.
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus spread by close skin-to-skin contact. It is so common that nearly all sexually active adults have had at least one type of HPV at some point in their lifetime. Around 80 million people in the US currently have HPV and 14 million people are newly infected each year. While most cases of HPV clear on their own, some can cause cancer.
A recent report showed that the current number of cancers caused by HPV is rising with an estimated 30,700 each year. Cervical cancer is the most common cancer caused by HPV in women, while in men; it most commonly leads to a type of head and neck cancer. Overall, HPV is thought to cause more than 90% of anal and cervical cancers, about 70% of vaginal and vulvar cancers, and more than 60% of penile cancers.
The HPV vaccine offers the best protection against these cancers when given at the recommended age – which is 2 doses if the patient starts the vaccine series before their 15th birthday and 3 doses if they start on or after their 15th birthday. Younger adolescents have a higher immune response so it’s best to vaccinate early. Young women can get the HPV vaccine through age 26 and young men can receive it through age 21 (age 26 in some cases).