Keep Your Family Healthy This Summer
\nTravel Tips and More!
\nby Dr. Nasimeh Yazdani<\/p>\n
The recent scare of measles resurgence right in our own Southern California theme park triggered a flurry of calls from worried patients wanting to be tested for immunity against this dreadful virus. \u00a0CDC detectives for months raced to contain the highly contagious disease, which surfaced at Disneyland in December and spread to a half-dozen U.S. states, Mexico and Canada. The outbreak sickened 147 people in the U.S., including 131 in California. There were no deaths. Many who fell ill were not immunized against measles.<\/p>\n
If you aren\u2019t a pregnant woman, healthcare worker, school personnel, or recently infected or immunized, your chances of immunity to either of the three components of the vaccine MMR is really uncertain.\u00a0 It\u2019s a simple blood test that reads your immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella.\u00a0 If you had the vaccine series consisting of three vaccinations given in early childhood, there is a possibility that you still retained your immunity. \u00a0The fact that millions of Americans walk around without these potentially life-threatening diseases, is attestation that vaccinations do work and many of us are protected.\u00a0 The ones who catch the virus from tourists from different parts of the country and world such that happened in Disneyland are from the crowds that haven\u2019t been as compliant with vaccination schedules. \u00a0Shockingly enough, Westside children hold a 15% vaccination exempt rate, equivalent to Sudan’s.<\/p>\n
Set aside your worries, it\u2019s not too late to vaccinate yourself and your children against measles, mumps, and rubella.\u00a0 Now that travel season is right around the corner, think twice about leaving without making sure you are immune.\u00a0 Immunity can begin as early as 2 weeks and typically one is enough for adults. \u00a0Check out CDC’s MMR vaccination information sheet for further details.<\/p>\n
We offer vaccines as well as\u00a0healthy travel planning\u00a0here at Seaside. \u00a0Alternatively, we\u00a0refer to our partner\u00a0travel clinics, where excellent sources\u00a0of information are readily accessible. \u00a0We highly recommend you start here\u00a0over the conglomerate pharmacies that are popping up like mushrooms offering vaccines.<\/p>\n
On a lighter note, here are some must-do travel tips and precautions to take to help keep your family healthy this Summer, from my house to yours.<\/p>\n
Dr. Yazdani\u2019s Recommendations<\/p>\n