Month: October 2023

Oct. 22 – 28 is National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week. This awareness campaign aims to bring together individuals, organizations, industry, and state, tribal, and local governments to increase lead poisoning prevention awareness in order to reduce childhood exposure to lead.

NLPPW highlights the many ways parents and caretakers can reduce children’s exposure to lead in their environment and prevent its serious health effects. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other partners work to heighten awareness of lead poisoning, provide resources, and encourage preventive actions during NLPPW and beyond.

“The most common source of exposure to lead is from lead-based paint. Lead paint is most commonly found in older homes built before 1978,” said Connecticut Department of Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD. “It is estimated that roughly 70% of Connecticut’s housing stock was built before 1980. Lead paint becomes dangerous when it cracks, peels, or chips off painted surfaces. Young children are at an increased risk of exposure due to their frequent exploration and hand-to-mouth behavior. Children absorb lead more easily than adults because they are still growing and developing.”

Commissioner Juthani added that the rate of lead-poisoned children in Connecticut has declined over the years; however, lead-related health disparities continue to exist. DPH data show that those living in urban communities and low-income families are at an increased risk.

Additionally, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Asian, and Hispanic children in Connecticut are at greater risk for lead poisoning than Non-Hispanic White children. (Note: these groups are 2.6, 2.0, and 2.2 times more likely to be lead poisoned, respectively.)

The Connecticut Department of Public Health is issuing the following prevention reminders for the community:

The only way to know if a child has been exposed to lead is to have them screened by a medical provider.

• Connecticut mandates universal blood lead screening, and all children are required to be tested annually between the ages of 9 months and 35 months.
  
• While Connecticut is doing a good job of having children tested at least once before the age of 3, only approximately 60% of children receive two tests before the age of 3.

Talk to your child’s medical provider about blood lead screening, especially if your young child has not been tested for lead.

Parents and caregivers can reduce their child’s exposure to lead in the home.

• Using wet cleaning methods to clean dust, washing hands and toys frequently, and restricting children’s access to deteriorated paint in older homes can help to prevent lead poisoning. Find out more at www.ct.gov/PreventLead or www.ct.gov/Plomo.

Although COVID-19 vaccines have been widely available for nearly 3 years, millions of people still have not been vaccinated. Additionally, the virus is constantly evolving, and new variants that are more transmissible and/or resistant to vaccines can emerge.

That is why it is still crucial for those who have not yet been vaccinated to get their COVID-19 vaccines and for those who have been vaccinated to get their 2023-2024 updated COVID-19 vaccines.

Key reasons why to get your COVID-19 vaccine

• Vaccines are the best way to protect yourself from serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), unvaccinated people are more likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19 than vaccinated people.
• Vaccines can also help to reduce the spread of COVID-19 to others. When more people are vaccinated, the virus has fewer opportunities to spread. This is especially important for protecting people at high risk of serious illness from COVID-19, such as older adults and people with underlying medical conditions.
• The updated COVID-19 vaccines are designed to protect against the Omicron variant, which is the most common variant circulating in the United States. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccine in the fall of 2023.

Even if you have already been vaccinated against COVID-19, it is important to get an updated vaccine. This is because your immunity to the virus can decrease over time, and the updated vaccines are designed to protect against the latest variants.

According to the CDC’s COVID-NET hospitalization surveillance system, the COVID-19 hospitalization rate for unvaccinated people aged 65 years and older in the United States was 10.9 times higher than the rate for people of the same age who received an updated COVID-19 bivalent booster dose in January 2023.

This data shows that getting a COVID-19 booster vaccine is highly effective at reducing the risk of hospitalization from COVID-19, especially for older adults.

It is important to note that the COVID-19 hospitalization rate for all people aged 65 years and older has decreased significantly since the start of the pandemic. This is due in large part to the high vaccination and booster rates among this age group. However, the risk of hospitalization from COVID-19 is still higher for unvaccinated older adults.

If you have not yet received a COVID-19 booster vaccine, it is recommended to do so as soon as possible. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from serious illness, hospitalization, and/or death from COVID-19.

Where to get COVID-19 vaccines

People can get an updated COVID-19 vaccine at a variety of locations, including:

• Pharmacies such as CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid
• Doctor’s offices
• Vaccination Clinics

To find a location near you, you can use the CDC’s Vaccine Finder tool: https://www.vaccines.gov/ 

You can also contact Uncas Health District to find out where you can get an updated COVID-19 vaccine.

International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW) is an annual observance in mid-October to raise awareness of the importance of infection prevention and control. The 2023 IIPW theme, “Celebrating the Fundamentals of Infection Prevention,” highlights the importance of simple yet effective infection prevention measures, such as hand hygiene, vaccination, and proper cleaning and disinfection.

According to the Infection Prevention and You website, 1 in 31 patients receiving care in a hospital will get a healthcare-associated infection (HAI). HAIs can be serious and even life-threatening, and they can add to the cost and length of hospital stays.

Tips for avoiding infections from medical facilities

There are a number of things you can do to reduce your risk of getting an HAI, including:

• Clean your hands often. This is the single most important thing you can do to prevent the spread of infection. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Get vaccinated. Vaccines are one of the best ways to protect yourself from infectious diseases, including some HAIs. Talk to your doctor about which vaccines are right for you.
• Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask your healthcare providers about their infection prevention practices. You have the right to know what they are doing to protect you from infection.
• Speak up. If you have any concerns about infection prevention, speak up to your healthcare providers. You are your own best advocate.

Here are some additional tips:

• Choose a reputable medical facility. Do some research before choosing a hospital or other medical facility. Look for facilities that have a good reputation for infection prevention.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to the cleanliness of the medical facility and the healthcare providers. If you see anything that concerns you, speak up.
• Take care of yourself. Make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly. This will help you stay healthy and reduce your risk of infection.

By following these tips, you can help reduce your risk of getting an HAI. Remember, infection prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Working together can create a safer and healthier healthcare environment for everyone.

Flu season is coming, and it’s important for everyone to get vaccinated. Flu vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu.

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, headache, fatigue, and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea. Flu symptoms can be mild or severe and can sometimes lead to hospitalization or even death.

Why is flu vaccination important?

Flu vaccination helps to protect against the flu by stimulating the body’s immune system to produce antibodies against the flu virus. Antibodies are proteins that help the body fight off infection. It is recommended that anyone six months of age or older get a flu vaccine every year.

Flu vaccination is especially important for people who are at high risk for complications from the flu, such as:

• People 65 years of age and older
• People with chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, or asthma
• Pregnant women
• Children younger than 5 years old
• People who live with or care for people at high risk for complications from the flu

Flu vaccines are safe and effective. The CDC estimates that flu vaccination prevents millions of flu illnesses, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, and thousands of deaths each year.

Recent data on influenza in the United States

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flu season in the United States typically peaks between December and March. The CDC estimates that from October 1, 2022, through April 30, 2023, there have been:

• 26-50 million flu illnesses
• 290,000-670,000 flu hospitalizations
• 17,000-98,000 flu deaths

How to get a flu vaccine in southeastern Connecticut

Flu vaccines are available at most doctor’s offices, pharmacies, and health departments. Flu vaccines are also available at some community events and workplaces. Additionally, Uncas Health District offers a number of ways to help local residents get their flu vaccines:

Uncas Health District Mobile Health Team

Each week, the Mobile Health Team visits locations throughout the 11 municipalities we support — offering preventative health care such as blood pressure screening, COVID-19 and Flu vaccines, Hepatitis C/ HIV testing, syringe services, wound care info, and information about other health services provided by the Uncas Health District. Check out our calendar to find out when the Mobile Health Team is coming to a location near you. 

Flu Vaccine Clinics

Uncas Health District hosts and supports a number of flu vaccine clinics throughout the year. Check out the flu vaccine clinic calendar on the Uncas Health District website. 

Flu Vaccines for the Home-Bound

For those in the community who are unable to leave their home, the nurses at Uncas Health District will come to you. Call (860) 823-1189 to schedule a vaccination visit with one of our nurses.