Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 10, NOVEMBER 3, 2008, THE ISLANDER
(News to Q-CeCv
The Best is Yet to Be
By Clark Gillespie M.D.,
Professor Emeritus, the University of Arkansas
Influenza vaccine
The time is here for some of us to
gig the rest of us into getting our flu
shot against that virus’s expected
annual assault this winter.
Why always a winter attack?
The timing theories abound
because no one knows absolutely why
it selects the winter months to pounce
and the summer months to rest,
regroup and reform. Just incidental
ly, the southern hemisphere suffers
their own winter flu onslaught which
occurs during our summer months.
That slither should tell us something
about epidemic weather timing.
Disregarding the flu virus’s travel
habits, we have lived - and died -
with this very versatile enemy since
antiquity - Hippocrates, for example,
described its symptoms some 2400
years ago.
It has survived over time, and has
produced some terrible pandemics,
because it is able, with great ease, to
change its genetic, and thus vulnera
ble, make-up as it rests each summer
in an animal or bird environment
while awaiting the next cold season.
This facile genetic vacillation is
why we have to annually change
the vaccines against it - unlike the
‘ St. Simons
•u^emgaiiy
Familiar. Friendly.
Like Family,
lor over 40
For everything from greeting cards
and beauty products to prescription
drugs and over-the-counter
medications, we hope you’ll continue
to make us your first choice. We
certainly appreciate your business.
Tommy Bryan - Pharma cist/Owner
Andy Ledford - Pharmacist
Longview Shopping Center
Frederica Rd • St. Simons Island
912-638-8676
Open Seven Days
polio virus, for instance, which has
genetically remained unaltered and
thus requires just one lifetime vac
cination.
In actual fact the flu virus vaccine
load has at least two components
called type A and type B, but is usu
ally designated by its type A genetic
background - HN.
Thus this years vaccine consists of
two type A’s - HINl-like and H3N2-
like, along with a type B compo
nent. This combination is what the
experts think we will most likely
be facing. By the way, the deadly
Spanish flu pandemic towards the
end of World War One was an HIN1
variant, fortunately quite unlike that
now expected here this year. That
pandemic destroyed more humans
than all wars combined, up to and
including WW1!
Enough rummaging through his
tory - except allowing this one hang
over - we are fearfully waiting for
the slumbering bird flu (H5N1) to
perhaps shift its genes somewhat and
thus make it more easily transmis
sible human to human.
At the same time we are praying
that the millions of flu shots against
it - now stored here - will still be
effective should that genetic shift
take place and plague our world with
another pandemic.
Each of us dwelling in the golden
years enclave have been advised to
take this year’s vaccine - with the
exception of those amongst us:
• Allergic to chicken eggs.
• Allergic to a previous flu vac
cine.
• Have a fever or feel ill at injec
tion time. Just wait.
• Who developed a very rare auto
immune disorder called Guillain-
Barre syndrome within six weeks
following a prior flu shot.
The rest of us - roll up a sleeve
and get shot - in the arm. I know, I
know, studies are appearing every
where saying that, because of our
weak senior immunity system, that
the vaccine is of little protection for
us, does not reduce the occurrence of
deadly pneumonia caused by the flu,
and that we have nothing really to
gain by vaccination.
“‘Care’ is our Middle Name”
• Locally owned and operated by a Registered Nurse: Expert in home care since 1977.
• RNs, LPNs, CNAs available 24 hrs/7 days a week for visits or extended care.
• Emergency Response System.
• All Staff drug screened, criminal background checked and bonded.
46 Professional Drive • Brunswick, GA 31520
www.sharecareservices.com
(912) 265-3033
Licensed by State of Georgia
However, infectious disease
authorities loudly - and quite cor
rectly - dispute that advice. Although
we are at greater vaccine-failure risk
because our immunity, like our virili
ty, is somewhat diminished, there are
untold vaccinated members amongst
us who never do get the flu and, of
significant importance, never pass it
along to others.
Our best plan of all is, of course,
to avoid catching this virus. We have
to contact it from someone - or from
something that a flu-infected person
has recently touched or coughed at or
on. The life expectancy of this virus
on non-human surfaces is anywhere
from a few seconds up to two days -
depending upon that surface.
The longest life tends to be on
plastics, wood or metal, the shortest
upon fabrics or paper. Remember
that when you grab a cart handle at
your favorite store. Here are a few
more guidelines:
• Protect against exposure to the
above infectious sources by remain
ing aware of their presence in daily
excursions - excursions that should
be markedly limited.
• Wash hands with soap and water
regularly during each day - always
when returning home or when han
dling items delivered to the door.
Don’t use antibiotic soaps.
• When flu is actually in the area,
absolutely avoid close contact with
others - observe the three foot sepa
ration rule. Don’t shake hands with
anyone. Avoid public gatherings -
even church - God will understand
and forgive.
• Get proper rest, don’t smoke,
drink moderately.
• Avoid touching your face - par
ticularly your eyes and mouth area.
• Remember that family members
with the flu are contagious from the
moment they get it until at least five
days after the symptoms are gone.
• There are no herbs or potions that
have any proven worth in this illness.
None. There are, however, some pre
scription drugs that will ameliorate
and shorten the flu impact.
So, we continue our annual vac
cination program with the hope that
newer research will soon confirm the
effectiveness of a ten year vaccine
now being studied.
Also with the hope - or an earnest
prayer - that we will be spared a pan
demic at this critical national time.
Or ever. □
Health System Foundation receives grant
for Senior Care Center
The Southeast Georgia Health
System Foundation, the fundraising
organization for Southeast Georgia
Health System, has been selected
to receive a grant from the Georgia
Health Foundation (GHF) for the
establishment of a unique volun
teer services program at the Health
System’s new Senior Care Center
in Brunswick. The Foundation will
receive approximately $33,500 from
GHF on Dec. 4.
The Senior Care Center opened in
September 2008 and will help meet
a rapidly growing need in southeast
Georgia for skilled nursing and long
term nursing care.
“Assessments of this region show
that our senior population will qua
druple in the next 25 years, and we
must start working now to provide
for their housing and healthcare
needs,” said the Health System’s
President and CEO, Gary R. Col-
berg, FACHE. “As we do that, we
must also look at innovative ways
to keep seniors active and engaged.
The volunteer program planned at
our Senior Care Center will be a
model for other senior communities
in the future.”
“The program will pair teen vol
unteers from the Health System’s
Volunteen program with the Cen
ter’s seniors in fun and interesting
activities, many of which are not
typically associated with senior liv
ing,” Colberg said.
Among the items that will be paid
through the grant is a portion of the
salaries for a volunteer teen super
visor, an art instructor, and dance
and music instructors. It will also
cover costs for a gardening area, and
pay for equipment that will allow
teens and seniors to share in activi
ties ranging from computer-based
communication in a computer lab to
modern video gaming like the highly
popular Wii®.
“We recognize that participating
in these kinds of activities helps our
senior population maintain higher
levels of cognitive and social func
tioning, and helps to enhance their
quality of life,” said Jim Bishop,
chairman of the Southeast Georgia
Health System Foundation. “Active
involvement in activities such as
dancing and gardening allows them
to preserve their physical health,
while computer interaction and video
gaming stimulates and develops
the mental processes of perception,
memory, judgment, and reasoning.
The assimilation of our Volunteens
into this program provides a won
derful learning opportunity for them
and allows our seniors to benefit
from their youthful enthusiasm.”
While the first teens participat
ing in the program will come from
the Health System’s existing group
of Volunteens, additional volunteers
will be actively recruited. Those who
wish to participate must be between
the ages of 14 and 18, have a B aver
age or higher, and show a sincere
interest in helping others.
After receiving appropriate train
ing, they will be able to volunteer
during summers, after school, and
on weekends. In addition to gaining
valuable life experiences, they can
count their volunteer time toward
community service hours. □