Don’t forget your travel shots! It’s always exciting planning a trip. Your travel destination will have all kinds of new and fun things to do and so many different foods to taste. Keeping yourself healthy to enjoy all of these pleasures takes some planning too. Have you consulted a travel clinic about possible vaccinations or other medications that may be … Read More
Concerned about Shingles? Free vaccine available!
The shingles vaccine (Zostavax) is available to adults age 50 years and older. This vaccine is covered by Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) only for those aged 65-70 years old. For other age groups, there is a cost which may be covered by your insurance benefit plan. Shingles or herpes zoster is caused by the virus that causes chickenpox. … Read More
Taking a Trip? Don’t Forget Your Travel Shots!
While travelling, you may be at risk for a number of exotic illnesses that can be prevented by vaccination. As you age, your vaccine-acquired protection against many illnesses may decrease, and your risk of getting certain diseases may increase. Some countries may also require you to provide proof of certain vaccinations to cross their borders. Make sure you’ve read up … Read More
Do you have a child enrolled in a childcare centre?
Chatham-Kent Public Health is required by law in Ontario to maintain immunization records for every child attending a licensed childcare centre. The health unit assesses immunization records to ensure they are accurate and up to date. This is done to protect your child in the event of an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease. Many parents think their healthcare … Read More
Do you have what it takes?
Snow storms, spring flooding, tornadoes, power outages. Do you have what it takes to get through an emergency? Every household should have the following items in a basic emergency kit… Water – 2L per person per day Food – that won’t spoil, such as canned food, energy bars, dried foods Manual can opener Wind-up or battery-powered flashlight (and extra … Read More
Flooding… Are You Prepared?
Flooding is typically cause by melting snow or heavy rains. With recent changes in weather, flooding in Chatham-Kent is a real possibility. To reduce the likelihood of flood damage or if a flood is forecast… If you are indoors: Do not store your important documents in the basement Move essential items (and household chemicals) to an upper floor Disconnect … Read More
Winter is Fast Approaching: Are You Prepared?
Winter can mean bitter cold and storms that bring high winds, icy rain or heavy snowfall. Are you prepared for whatever the season will bring? Do you have an emergency plan for you and your family? It only takes about 20 minutes to make a family emergency plan online. Before starting, think about: Identifying meeting places to reunite with family … Read More
Prevent Antibiotic Resistance At Home
Do you know that certain antibiotics no longer work on certain bacteria? This is because we often use antibiotics incorrectly and too often. We need to prevent this problem from getting worse. What can we do? As a patient, ask if tests will be done to make sure the right antibiotic is prescribed. Take antibiotics exactly as the doctor tells … Read More
Do you have a child enrolled in Daycare?
Did you know… Chatham-Kent Public Health is required by Ontario law to maintain immunization records for every child attending daycare and school. The Health Unit assesses immunization records to ensure they are accurate and up-to-date. This is done to protect your child in the event of an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease. By law, these immunizations are mandatory: diphtheria, … Read More
Are you Informed or Unaware? Safe or At risk?
For the world’s eighth biggest killer, viral hepatitis is remarkably neglected. Viral hepatitis kills 1.5 million people each year, that’s as many as HIV/AIDS. Viral hepatitis is also the leading cause of liver cancer, which is the second biggest cancer killer. Despite these statistics hepatitis largely remains ignored and does not receive the same level of awareness or political priority … Read More
Rabies – May is Rabies Awareness Month
What is Rabies? Rabies is a fatal disease caused by a virus that affects the brain and spinal cord of warm-blooded mammals, including humans. How Can I get it? People may be exposed to rabies through contact with the saliva of an infected animal (usually a bite or scratch). What will I see if an animal has Rabies? Abnormal … Read More