Health
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- Written by: California Department of Public Health
In California, flu usually begins to increase in late November or December. It takes a couple of weeks after vaccination for the body to build immunity, so now is the time to get vaccinated to have the best protection now the flu season has started.
“Getting vaccinated is the best line of defense against flu,” said Dr. Karen Smith, CDPH director and state public health officer. “You can prevent missing work or school, visits to the doctor or hospitalization, and protect others from coming down with the flu.”
A person with the flu may be contagious and infect others before they even feel sick.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, during the 2016–2017 season, flu immunization prevented an estimated 5.3 million illnesses, 2.6 million medical visits, and 85,000 influenza-associated hospitalizations in the United States.
Flu vaccines are administered as a shot or nasal spray. For the 2018-19 flu season, the CDC recommends vaccination with no preference for any one vaccine over another.
CDPH recommends the annual flu vaccination for everyone six months of age and older. While anyone can get flu, pregnant women, children under five, adults 65 years of age and older, and people with chronic conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, diabetes and asthma are particularly at risk for flu-related complications.
Flu vaccinations are needed every year to maintain the greatest protection because the vaccine changes each year to match circulating viruses and annual vaccination boosts immunity.
For pregnant women, flu complications can include premature birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth of the baby.
Besides helping prevent flu complications, flu vaccine given during pregnancy also helps protect babies from flu infection for several months after birth, before the baby can be immunized, which is a time that babies are at high risk for flu complications.
Common symptoms of the flu include fever or feeling feverish, a cough and/or sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, chills, fatigue and body aches. Children may also have nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
To stop the spread of flu and other respiratory illnesses, you should also:
· Stay home while sick and limit contact with others.
· Cover coughs or sneezes with your sleeve or disposable tissue.
· Wash hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
· Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
CDPH encourages Californians to contact their health care provider, physician’s office or clinic about getting the flu vaccine.
When flu vaccine is in stock, adults with Medi-Cal can also get immunized at the pharmacy where they generally pick up their prescriptions.
Some local health departments may also offer low- or no-cost flu immunizations.
For more information about the flu, visit CDPH’s Web site.
For the flu vaccine location nearest you, visit www.flu.gov.
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- Written by: The Carter Center
The economic cost is primarily due to early onset of mental illness and lost productivity, with an estimated 12 billion working days lost due to mental illness every year.
The Lancet Commission on Global Mental Health and Sustainable Development brought together 28 global experts in psychiatry, public health, neuroscience and advocacy, as well as people with first-hand experience of mental health conditions.
Launched at the Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit in London, the report recommends that mental health be reframed as a fundamental human right, and that the definition be expanded to promote mental well-being, prevent mental health problems, and enable recovery from mental disorders.
"Mental health is often neglected and underfunded, even though nearly 2 billion people suffer from mental illness every year," said Lancet report co-author Dr. Janice Cooper, who leads the Carter Center’s mental health work in Liberia. “Our work in Liberia shows us that that we need to begin with young people and train teachers to identify and refer students for help. We have seen substantial progress working with the Liberian government to ramp up mental health care services in every county, including school-based clinics in more than 20 schools and services in 14 prisons.”
The report shows that in many countries, people with mental disorders still routinely suffer gross human rights violations – including shackling, torture, and imprisonment.
Bringing attention to these kinds of abuse and discrimination, the Commission calls for a human rights-based approach to ensure that people with mental health conditions are not denied any of their fundamental human rights – not just to health but also to employment and education, among others.
The report was launched during the first Global Ministerial Mental Health Summit, hosted by the UK Government’s Department of Health in London.
During the two-day summit, Carter Center Board of Trustees Chairman Jason Carter spoke about U.S. efforts to ensure mental health and substance use disorders are covered by insurance in the same manner as other health conditions, such as cancer and diabetes.
Jason Carter is the grandson of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter, a mental health advocate for more than 45 years.
As young people face the brunt of the global burden of mental illnesses, the report places great emphasis on experiences in childhood and adolescence, which shape life-long mental health.
The Commission has inspired a group of young leaders to launch a campaign to fight stigma, create a worldwide community, and raise awareness, targeted at those younger than 35.
"We’ve seen a rise in mental illness in young people when, with all the knowledge we have, we should be seeing a decrease,” said Professor Helen Herrman, President of the World Psychiatric Association. “Treatment in hospitals needs to be complemented by care in the communities to bring mental health services to the masses”.
Since 2010, The Carter Center Mental Health Program in Liberia has worked with the Liberian government to pass its first Mental Health Act and build its mental health infrastructure.
The center has trained 268 mental health professionals through the collaboration to improve access to mental health services. More than 100 of these clinicians focus on youth and adolescent mental health.
The clinicians work in primary care facilities, hospitals, and other settings children frequent, such as daycare centers and schools, across all 15 counties to provide much needed care as the country seeks to strengthen its mental health services.
This group of Liberian nurses, physician assistants, and registered midwives completed a free, six-month, Child and Adolescent Post-Basic Mental Health Training Program at the Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts in Monrovia, Liberia.
Liberia is on course to reach its goal of expanding access to mental health care to 70 percent of the population in the next few years. Liberia’s current population of 4.6 million has three psychiatrists and plans to train more to meet the needs of at least 300,000 Liberians suffering from mental illnesses.
The Child and Adolescent Post-Basic Mental Health Training program is part of a three-year initiative to address the psychological effects of Liberia's Ebola crisis and to promote psychosocial health in the country.
The project, Supporting Psychosocial Health and Resilience in Liberia, is funded by Japan through the Japan Social Development Fund, a trust fund administered by the World Bank.
The project is expected to reach more than 19,000 beneficiaries in Montserrado (including Monrovia) and Margibi counties working through county health teams.
The most recent graduating class of 19 clinicians was the last in the collaboration with The Carter Center and Liberia’s Ministry of Health through funding from the World Bank and the Japanese government. The Ministry of Health, with support from The Carter Center, will continue to train child and adolescent clinicians through the DKI School of Midwifery.
The Carter Center's Mental Health Program in Liberia is supported by contributions from individuals, governments, corporations, and foundations such as the UBS Optimus Foundation.
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- Written by: Jan Cook
The Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, or HICAP, will present this program. A question and answer period will follow the presentation.
HICAP provides free and unbiased information about Medicare benefits to Medicare beneficiaries in the six North Bay counties.
The website is https://senioradvocacyservices.org/hicap.
This program is free and open to the public.
For information call 707-263-8817.
The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary.
Jan Cook is a library technician for the Lake County Library.
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- Written by: Lake County Public Health
Lake County Public Health is offering seasonal flu vaccines for $2.
Scheduled clinics for the seasonal flu vaccines are as follows while supplies last.
OCTOBER
Lakeport
Saturday, Oct. 13, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Heroes of Health and Safety Fair, Lake County Fairgrounds, 401 Martin St. Flu shots are free at this event.
Clearlake
Wednesday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Senior Community Center, 3245 Bowers Road.
NOVEMBER
Lakeport
Tuesdays from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Public Health Division, 922 Bevins Court in Lakeport. Appointments are required. Please call 707-263-1090 or 800-794-9291 to schedule.
Flu vaccinations are also available in a variety of locations such as your primary care provider and local pharmacies.
Getting vaccinated is a great way to avoid getting the flu. Anyone 6 months of age or older is encouraged to get a flu vaccine.
Being careful to use good hygiene is another way to protect yourself and those around you. If you cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or the crook of your arm instead of your hands.
A virus can easily be passed from your hands to the things you touch. Wash your hands often and use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer when soap and water aren’t available. Try not to touch your face with your hands. A virus can enter your system through the membranes of your eyes, nose and mouth.
Protect yourself by avoiding close contact with anyone who is sick.
Choosing a healthful lifestyle can also help to keep you well. Getting enough sleep, eating nutritious foods, drinking plenty of water and staying physically active can help to maintain a healthy immune system. Together, we can help to decrease the spread of influenza in our community.
The symptoms of the flu include a temperature of over 100 degrees F combined with a cough, sore throat, body aches, headache and a lack of energy. If you are ill, stay home to keep from infecting others.
For more information contact the Lake County Public Health Division at 1-800-794-9291 or 707-263-1090.
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