Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 14, JUNE 15, 2009, THE ISLANDER
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The Best is Yet to Be
By Clark Gillespie M.D.,
Professor Emeritus, the University of Arkansas
Vaccinations - continued
A few columns past we looked at the
activity level of our current influenza
transgressor - Swine Flu H1N1 - its
pandemic potential, and the possibility
of us getting it into our fall flu shot.
More on that in a moment - but it was
also our wish to update you in that
same column about the other vaccines
that might be important to us loveable
seniors.
My gracious editor advised me that
a full page column which such an
extended monograph might require,
would also exact some mutual cost
sharing. That ended our effort. Here,
then, is that other remaining piece of
vaccine update - but only after a few
tidbits about swine flu - as follows:
• Neither our President nor the CDC
wish us to continue calling this virus by
the “swine flu” eponym. Instead it is
to be renamed the “Novel” H1N1 flu
virus. The swine word was possibly
damaging to our pork sales - although
it is clear that congressional pork con
tinues to flourish ad infinitum..
• To date our country has sustained
8975 cases of this novel flu with, sadly,
15 deaths. It has been confirmed pres
ent in 52 other countries and is still
considered a minor pandemic perhaps
because of the low mortality.
• A suitable pure, stable virus sam
ple has just last week been given to vac
cine manufacturers here and abroad so
that the long vaccine-making process
can begin. We saw earlier about the
extended building and testing time
that now follows. Prayerfully it will be
ready and adequately tested for inclu
sion in this fall’s vaccines and, equally
prayerfully, that the virus will not have
mutated by then into a more disastrous
invader
• Presently the virus is still sensi-
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
tive to both Tamiflu and Relenza.
• Remember our suggestions for
protection and prevention.
Now then, let’s see about the other
senior vaccines that may play a protec
tive role in our lives so that our involve
ment in the golden years is not just
dependant upon the total gold in our
dental work!
• Tetanus, diphtheria and pertus
sis vaccine - Since we surely all have
had this basic vaccine combo, it is
important to remember to update them
every ten years. Tetanus infections are
always a possibility, diphtheria only
when traveling outside the USA, but
whopping cough (pertussis) is an on
going adult potential.
If we actually get whooping cough
again it is not a major disorder for
us, but transmitted to our youngster
by us, it once again becomes a severe
and dangerous enemy to these beloved
children.
• Varicella (chicken pox) vaccination
is now recommended for those of us
who only had one dose of it in the past.
Although the main disorder here is a
painful blistering rash, complications
can sometimes include a severe debili
tating neuralgia and eye damage.
• Pneumococcal vaccine. An initial
vaccination with this agent is a pro
tective goal for most of us seniors. It
will fend off pneumonia infections with
their manifest complications, and will
add further health protection to almost
all of us who are already burdened
with multiple chronic medical fetters.
The vaccine is generally given in
our late 50’s and repeated once at 65
or soon thereafter. Even if the 50’s shot
is overlooked for some reason, it needs
to be given at least by age 65. Inciden
tally, only one third amongst us get the
early shot and some two thirds get the
later one.
• Influenza vaccine. We are all- or
almost all - aware of the immense pro
tective value provided by our annual
acceptance of the influenza needle -
even though almost one third of us
don’t accept it.
While the annual predictions made
by the experts for the composition of
this invasive fiend are generally on
the money, there are still years when
an audacious intruder upsets the fine
recipe - like this year.
Hopefully, though, novel H1N1 vac
cine will wiggle in by this fall. No mat
ter - take this year’s vaccine! If you
are not - for certain uncommon health
reasons - able to take it, then follow the
protective home and social safeguards
and procedures that are readily avail
able to see on many internet spots, and
which were laid out here a few columns
ago.
• Hepatitis A and B vaccines. Pro
tection against these two viral liver
animals is a very individualizes goal.
Whether these vaccines are for any of
us depend upon what exposures we
sustain in our lifestyle or our work.
Our personal healthcare physicians
will know when such medication is a
propos. Be sure to ask and to follow
through when indicated.
When I was born (1922), the life
expectancy in America had almost
reached fifty years, and the leading
cause of death was, even then, heart
disease. It was followed closely, howev
er, by pneumonia and influenza, then
by tuberculosis, stroke, and certain
other infectious disorders.
By 2007, we could expect to live into
our late 70’s and heart disease still led
the mortality list followed now by can
cer, cardiovascular disorders, stroke
and chronic obstructive pulmonary dis
ease. Another great obstruction to a
longer life expectancy in our past, how
ever, are a multiple group that never
made it - individually - to the top ten
mortality causes.
Childhood infections with polio,
diphtheria, scarlet fever, mumps, mea
sles, small-pox, and more, were mon
strous separate ravagers that wiped
out some families before they even
knew one another.
Current vaccine anti-activists are
silent about these shattering tragedies
- but I and my 80-plus years compatri
ots all remember them well - painfully
well. And endure the silence. □
Health System Honors
1st Star of the Quarter
at Brunswick Campus
Safety & Security Officer John Nave
was selected as the first ever Star of
the Quarter for the Southeast Georgia
Health System Brunswick Campus.
The new Star of the Quarter program
was launched as part of the Health
System’s service excellence initiative to
recognize those team members who go
well beyond normal expectations.
According to Adam Brown, manager
of Service Excellence for the Health
System, Nave was selected after he
assisted a family that lives on Hamp
ton Avenue, near the Brunswick Cam
pus. “A car in a garage near our hospi
tal caught on fire. Officer Nave called
911 and immediately ran to the scene
to assist in containing the fire with an
extinguisher until the fire department
arrived,” Brown said. “Due to his quick
action, he was able to prevent the
situation from becoming much worse.
Because of this, a committee of his
peers selected him as our first Star of
the Quarter at the Brunswick Cam
pus.”
In addition to winning a gift certifi
cate to Spanky’s, a movie gift certificate
and trophy, Nave will be eligible to win
the Health System’s Star of the Year
Award. □
Carlyle Chiropractic Clinic
Celebrates 10th Anniversary with
Special Offers to New and Current Patients
June 15 -19
New Patient Visits for only $10
with a check donation to The Boys
& Girls Club of Southeast Georgia
All current patients will receive
a FREE adjustment.
Dr. Phillip Carlyle,
Board Certified
Wellness Physician
New Office Hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday: 8 a.m. -
Wednesday: 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Saturday - 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Closed weekdays 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. for Lunch
Call Today For Your Appointment
6 p.m.
207 Edwards Plaza
(next to the Post Office)
St. Simons Island, GA
www.carlylechiropractic.com
912-638-5909
Accept Most Insurance
A Medicare Provider
