HEAR HOW ONE COLLEGE STUDENT’S LIFE CHANGED FOREVER AFTER NEARLY DYING FROM A VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASE

Dr. Len Friedland, practicing physician, vaccine researcher and Vice President and Director, Scientific Affairs and Public Health, Vaccines, GSK

Jamie Schanbaum, meningitis survivor, US Para-athlete and GSK spokesperson

BACKGROUND
It’s that time of the school year where teens and young adults are counting down the days to the holidays and a much-needed break from classes. In 2008, Jamie was a college freshman getting ready to complete her first semester and head home for the holidays when her life changed forever. In just 24 hours, she went from being a healthy college student to fighting for her life after contracting meningococcal disease, also known as meningitis. Jamie spent seven months in the hospital, ultimately losing both of her legs below the knees, and all of her fingers due to the disease. While many colleges require MenACWY vaccination, MenB vaccination has only been available since 2014, and most colleges still do not require it. She is sharing her story to ensure that parents are aware there are 2 different types of vaccines to help prevent meningitis – one for MenACWY, and one for MenB, , to help other families avoid her experience. During the pandemic, it’s more important than ever for parents to educate themselves and utilize the vaccines available to help protect their kids against vaccine-preventable diseases they may be at risk for, like meningitis.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Meningitis is an uncommon, but serious illness that can cause life-threatening complications, or even death. Early symptoms of meningitis may be similar to those of the flu, but can progress quickly and can be fatal, sometimes within 24 hours. ,
• Up to 1 in 5 meningitis survivors suffer long-term consequences, such as brain damage, amputations, hearing loss and nervous system problems. Among those who contract meningitis, 1 in 10 will die, despite treatment, sometimes in as little as 24 hours.7
• Teens and young adults are at an increased risk for contracting meningitis because it can spread through certain common behaviors such as living in close quarters like college dorms, kissing, and sharing drinks, utensils, or smoking devices.4,
• From 2011 through March 2019, meningitis B (MenB) caused all US college meningococcal outbreaks, which involved 13 campuses, 50 cases, and 2 deaths among an at-risk population of approximately 253,000 students.

VACCINATION IS STILL IMPORTANT
• Even if your college-aged children are not attending in-person classes due to COVID-19 precautions, they may still be at risk for diseases like MenB.4
• Your teen or young adult may have received MenACWY vaccination when they were younger, but most have not yet received MenB vaccination, which only became available in 2014. Recent CDC data show that still, only about 1 in 5 17-year-olds in the US received at least one dose of MenB vaccination in 2019.12
• Winter break is a good time to schedule a wellness visit and talk to your child’s doctor about the two different types of vaccines to help prevent meningococcal disease – one for MenACWY and one for MenB.2,3

Interview opportunities are courtesy of GSK

Visit www.meningitisB.com for more information and resources to bring to your child’s next wellness visit.

#jamie #schanbaum #meningitis #survivor #para #athlete #gsk #spokesperson #len #friedland #physician #vaccine #researcher #scientific #affairs #public #health #holidays #college #students #life #change #disease #meningococcal #body #legs #knees #fingers #risk #prevent #flu

The post HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: WHAT PARENTS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS NEED TO KNOW appeared first on Good News!.

CURRENT OUTBREAK:
UNDERSTAND YOUR RISK FOR HEPATITIS A
AN INFECTIOUS LIVER DISEASE

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS PREVENTABLE DISEASE – FROM SYMPTOMS TO RISK FACTORS – AND THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATION

Dr. Len Friedland, practicing physician, vaccine researcher and Vice President and Director, Scientific Affairs and Public Health, Vaccines, GSK

BACKGROUND:
October is National Liver Awareness Month, an important time to learn about vaccine-preventable forms of viral hepatitis, including Hepatitis A, a highly-infectious virus that affects the liver and can lead to sickness, hospitalization and even death, in some cases.[i] The US is currently experiencing a nationwide Hepatitis A outbreak, yet awareness and vaccination among adults remains shockingly low (~15%).[ii] After a consistent 20-year downward trend in cases, in 2017, Hepatitis A cases spiked nationwide, with 27 states experiencing active outbreaks in 2020. During this time, there have been more than 34,000 reported cases, with over 61% of infected people hospitalized, and 333 deaths, making it the largest person-to-person Hepatitis A virus outbreak in the postvaccine era.[iii]^,[iv]

DID YOU KNOW?

• Anyone who isn’t vaccinated can be at risk for Hepatitis A as it can be spread person-to-person or through contaminated food or drink.¹
• People with Hepatitis A may not know that they are infected and can transmit the disease to others.¹
• Most people in the US have not been vaccinated for Hepatitis A; creating opportunities for infection and spread. Additionally, more than half of older adults have never heard of or are unfamiliar with a vaccine for Hepatitis A (56%).[v]
• Hepatitis A vaccination isn’t only for higher risk groups or people traveling to certain parts of the world. The general public can come into contact with the virus when traveling even within the US and through contaminated food. For example, where food is prepared and served by food handlers infected with the Hepatitis A virus.¹
• The CDC advises that anyone who wishes to be protected against Hepatitis A speak to their doctor or pharmacist about vaccination. Most commercial plans are required to cover vaccines recommended by the CDC and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).

Raising awareness about Hepatitis A and vaccination is more important than ever.

• Immunization rates for most vaccines across all age groups have dropped significantly during COVID-19 and adult vaccination rates have dropped by over 80 percent since the peak of the pandemic.[vi] Everyone, not just those at high risk, can talk to their doctor or pharmacist about all vaccine-preventable forms of viral hepatitis and other CDC-recommended vaccines that may be needed during their next well visit. It is important to stay up-to-date on recommended vaccines to prevent unnecessary sickness and hospitalization, especially during the pandemic.[vii]
• For more information, visit CDC.gov/hepatitis/hav.

Good News Planet Hepatitis Q&A

1. If someone has fatty liver, is it even more important to get the vaccination for hepatitis A and hepatitis B?

When living with fatty liver disease, it’s important to prevent any additional sources of potential liver damage. The US Centers for Disease Control and prevention recommends hepatitis A and B vaccination for people living with chronic liver diseases, including fatty liver disease and hepatitis C.¹

1. What is the difference between Hepatitis A and B and how do you recognize it? Is there a different treatment?

Hepatitis A and B are both viruses that affect the liver, and can cause serious illness or even death, but are transmitted in different ways and can cause a different course of illness.¹ Hepatitis A is highly infectious, and is transmitted through person-to-person contact or contaminated food/drink, and usually causes a short-term illness.¹ Hepatitis B is transmitted from mother to child during birth, blood, or through sexual contact, and can cause short or long-term illness, depending on the age of someone when they contract it.[viii] In the current outbreak, Hepatitis A has been associated with a high rate of hospitalization (nationally 60% of cases), with treatment mainly administered to combat unpleasant symptoms.^1,4 Short-term treatment of hepatitis B may be similar, but long-term hepatitis B infections may require ongoing antiviral treatment to manage the virus and prevent liver damage.[ix]

1. Can you get both [Hep A and B] vaccinations the same day and who gives this vaccination?

Hepatitis A and B vaccinations can be administered by a physician or pharmacist and can be given at the same time. The hepatitis A vaccine is a 2-dose vaccine series, for children 1 year of age and older, and adults, that can be completed in 6 months.[x] The hepatitis B vaccine is available in a 2-dose series for adults 18 years of age and older, which can be completed in 1 month, or a 3-dose series for all ages, which can be completed in 6 months.[xi] There is also a hepatitis A and B combination vaccine series available for adults 18 years of age and older, to provide protection against both viruses. While routine infant vaccination has been recommended for hepatitis A since 2006, and hepatitis B since 1991, most adults in the US are not protected against these viruses.[xii]^,[xiii] Nationally, only about 20% of adults 18 years of age and older have received even 1 dose of the hepatitis A vaccine and only about 25% of adults 19 years of age and older have completed the hepatitis B vaccine series.[xiv]^,[xv]

2  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccination coverage among adults

with chronic liver disease. Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5805590/pdf/nihms934589.pdf.

3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis A Outbreaks in the United States. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/outbreaks/hepatitisaoutbreaks.htm.

4  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Widespread person-to-person outbreaks of hepatitis A across the United States. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/outbreaks/2017March-HepatitisA.htm.

5 GSK Survey by The Harris Poll. US Awareness Poll-Adults 50-79 years of age and PCPs 18 years. July-August 2020.

6 Medscape. Vaccine Rates for All Ages Drop Dramatically During COVID-19. Available at https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/931913.

7 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccination Guidance During a Pandemic. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pandemic-guidance/index.html.

8 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis B Questions and Answers for the Public. Accessed at: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/bfaq.htm.

9 Mayo Clinic. Hepatitis B. Accessed at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatitis-b/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20366821.

10 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis A VIS. Accessed at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/vis/vis-statements/hep-a.html#:~:text=Children%20need%202%20doses%20of,months%20after%20the%20first%20dose.

11 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in the United States: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Accessed at: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/rr/rr6701a1.htm.

12 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hepatitis A Vaccination Coverage Among U.S. Children Aged 12–23 Months — Immunization Information System Sentinel Sites, 2006—2009. Accessed at: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5925a3.htm?s_cid=mm5925a3_w.

13 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule — United States, 1995. Accessed at: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00038256.htm

14 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccination Coverage Among Adults in the United States, National Health Interview Survey, 2016. Accessed at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/coverage/adultvaxview/pubs-resources/NHIS-2016.html.

15 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccination Coverage among Adults in the United States, National Health Interview Survey, 2017. Accessed at: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/imz-managers/coverage/adultvaxview/pubs-resources/NHIS-2017.html.

#hepatitis #october #liver #awareness #len #friedland #physician #vaccine #researcher #president #director #scientific #affairs #public #health #vaccines #gsk #covid #covid19 #covid-19 #symptoms #risk #factors #disease #cdc #virus #vaccination #infected #hospital #sick #pandemic

The post **October is National Liver Awareness Month** appeared first on Good News!.

Stephen Hawking is the former Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at the University of Cambridge and author of A Brief History of Time which was an international bestseller. Now the Dennis Stanton Avery and Sally Tsui Wong-Avery Director of Research at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics and Founder of the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at Cambridge, his other books for the general reader include A Briefer History of Time, the essay collection Black Holes and Baby Universe and The Universe in a Nutshell. http://www.hawking.org.uk/

In 1963, Hawking contracted motor neurone disease and was given two years to live. Yet he went on to Cambridge to become a brilliant researcher and Professorial Fellow at Gonville and Caius College. From 1979 to 2009 he held the post of Lucasian Professor at Cambridge, the chair held by Isaac Newton in 1663. Professor Hawking has over a dozen honorary degrees and was awarded the CBE in 1982. He is a fellow of the Royal Society and a member of the US National Academy of Science. Stephen Hawking is regarded as one of the most brilliant theoretical physicists since Einstein.

The post Stephen Hawking appeared first on Good News!.