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Flu vaccine(Fall 2006)
The flu vaccine for the fall/winter season of
2006/2007 is now available, although in limited supplies. There was some delay this year in the
manufacture of the vaccine, due to the introduction of two new influenza viral
strains, but everyone should be able to receive their shot by December. Adverse effects are really minimal, but
please ask your doctor if you have concerns.
Children as young as 6 months of age can receive the vaccine (but may
require two doses – separated by a month – if they are under 9
years of age, and have never received the vaccination before).
New vaccines (Fall 2004)
There have been three new vaccines added to the
publicly-funded routine childhood immunization schedule:
- Meningococcal
C-conjugate vaccine, to be given to:
- children born on,
or after September 1, 2003, starting September 1, 2004 (i.e. children 1
year of age, and turning 1 year after September first)
- children 12 years
of age, youth aged 15-19, and those at high-risk of all ages, starting
January 1, 2005
- Varicella
(chickenpox) vaccine, to be given to:
- children born on,
or after September 1, 2003, starting September 1, 2004 (as above)
- five year old
chidren who have not yet had chicken pox, starting January 1, 2005
- Pneumococcal conjugate
vaccine, to be given to:
- high-risk children
24 to 59 months of age, starting July 1, 2004
- all children born
on, or after January 1, 2004, starting January 1, 2005 (i.e. children 1
year of age, and turning 1 year after January first)
The traditional yellow vaccination records will be updated
to include the above new vaccines.
More information can be obtained at your local public health office, or at www.health.gov.on.ca (select Public Information,
then Publications, then Immunizations (Vaccinations)).
Travel vaccinations
If you are planning a trip outside of Canada
in the near future, please consult your doctor. There are certain vaccinations (e.g. yellow
fever) that you may be required to have, depending on where you are going,
and other vaccinations (e.g. hepatitis, enterotoxic E. coli) that may be
advised. A visit to a travel clinic
that is licensed to administer certain vaccines, with their certification,
may be needed. Also, consideration
should be given to malaria prophylaxis, mosquito bite/ sun/ STD
protection. Please give yourself
plenty of time too, because some immunizations may require several doses,
starting months before you leave. By
the way, you may believe that you may be OK because you are going
“home” (although your last trip back was many years ago) and will
be staying with relatives. Living with
the locals and eating their food may INCREASE your chances of catching
something, and your previous immunity may have waned a long time ago! And your kids were born here in Canada,
and have never been exposed to what you grew up with!
Diabetes (Fall 2002)
Everyone is familiar with the disease called
"diabetes", but few understand the enormous effect it has on
many different systems of the body. The general understanding is
that there is "too much sugar in the system", but now much is known
about the basic malfunction(s) that occur in this all-too-common affliction,
and how it does affect many parts of the body.
Research (much of which has been done in Canada)
has shed light on the role of "insulin sensitivity" in
diabetes. It appears that most diabetics (so-called type II) suffer
from a lack of insulin sensitivity, not a lack of insulin
itself. In fact, these people have more than the usual amount of
insulin circulating. For some reason, their muscles are not able to use
this insulin to metabolize the sugar (glucose) that is in the bloodstream,
and the end result is an increased amount of both sugar and insulin circulating.
This, over a long period of time (years), is believed to lead to many
detrimental effects to the heart, kidneys, blood vessels, eyes, nerves, skin,
brain and immune system. The major manifestations of this are heart
attacks, strokes, kidney failure, gangrene, blindness and infections.
Treatment of diabetes has aimed at control of
circulating sugar, and there are many medications that do that. Newer
drugs however are attempting to correct this lack of insulin sensitivity, and
hopefully will have more of a direct effect on the underlying basis of this
disease.
One of the basic cornerstones of diabetes
management has always been proper diet and attainment of a healthy body
weight, and it appears that being overweight has a major role on whether someone
will develop diabetes (especially someone with a family history), and how
easily it will be controlled. It appears that obesity has a major
effect on insulin sensitivity.
In any family practice, diabetes ranks as one of
the most significant chronic illnesses seen. Careful regular monitoring
is important, because of its long-term nature, and because of its
far-reaching pervasive complications. It has become clear that the
better the blood sugar control (over the long term), the better chance you
have of avoiding complications (heart attack, blindness, going on kidney
dialysis, etc.). Equally important is the role of the patient himself
in the role of self-monitoring and instituting lifestyle changes.
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