Editorial
Welcome to the May edition of the HealthInsite e-newsletter, and a special welcome to any new subscribers!
In this edition, we'll highlight the Fight Flu campaign being championed by the National Institute of Clinical Studies which is designed to ensure that those people most at risk of contracting flu, such as health care workers, are properly vaccinated.
Coincidentally, the National Health and Medical Research Council has just released the 9th edition of the Australian Immunisation Handbook with guidelines based on the most recent research evidence, and this is an especially useful resource for all clinicians.
The MS Readathon is in its 28th year and will be happening throughout the month of June. We'll provide you with information and links for getting you and your kids involved.
World Asthma Day is being held on 6 May 2008, and will be marked by events held throughout Australia.
News Items
The National Institute of Clinical Studies (NICS) has launched the Fight Flu 2008 campaign. The campaign stresses the need to vaccinate health care workers and others considered to be at risk ahead of this year's influenza season.
Professor Warwick Anderson, the CEO of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), is urging people to take the influenza immunisation message seriously.
"Influenza is not just a bad cold. Approximately 2,500 Australians die each year from influenza-related complications and with over one million people in the at risk groups, we have to be proactive in protecting them and the people who care for them." he said.
The NHMRC's Immunisation Handbook (see below) recommends an annual influenza vaccination for:
- anyone over 65 and of any age with risk factors such as diabetes, heart disease or severe asthma;
- anyone with suppressed immunity due to illness or medication;
- pregnant women;
- people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin; and
- health care workers.
The Fight flu website has been redeveloped to include the latest research evidence, a Q & A section, and advice and tools to assist in running workplace-based promotions.
HealthInsite has topic pages on Influenza and Influenza Vaccine.
Australian Immunisation Handbook (9th edition)
The 9th edition of the Australian Immunisation Handbook is now available. It provides clinical guidelines for health professionals on the safest and most effective use of vaccines in their practice, as well as information on new vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases in Australia.
Its clinical recommendations are based on the best scientific evidence available at the time of publication from published and unpublished literature. The recommendations were developed by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), and endorsed by the NHMRC.
The handbook includes immunisation advice for polio, meningococcal, chickenpox, pneumococcal, rotavirus, and the human papillomavirus (HPV).
The publication is available online at the Australian Immunisation Handbook website, and may be ordered through the Immunise Australia Program publications page.
HealthInsite has topic pages on Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases and Immunisation Programs.
The MS Readathon
MS stands for Multiple Sclerosis. It is a chronic and potentially debilitating disease that affects the central nervous system. More than 16,000 Australians suffer from the disease, the majority of whom are adult women - in fact, almost three times as many women than men have MS. It is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50 years of age, is more common in cool climates, and is not contagious.
The MS Readathon is an easy, entertaining, and educational way for kids to read, earn rewards, and most importantly, help Australian people live with the disease. The Readathon is organised by MS Australia. Now in its 28th year, the MS Readathon is Australia's principal literacy and fundraising program.
Children are sponsored by family and friends for the reading they complete in June. Last year, more than 52,000 Australian kids joined in the fun by reading more than one million books and raising over $4.2 million.
Every child who completes the MS Readathon receives a certificate and reading rewards to say 'thank you' for their role in changing the lives of Australians living with Multiple Sclerosis. It also offers children first-hand experience with social responsibility and community values as they raise sponsorship money to benefit people living with MS throughout the country.
For more information, go to the MS Readathon website.
HealthInsite has a topic page on Multiple Sclerosis.
World Asthma Day
World Asthma Day will be held on 6 May 2008, and will be marked by different events held throughout Australia. The theme for this year is You Can Control Your Asthma.
HealthInsite has a number of topic pages on asthma, including Causes of Asthma, Asthma Complications, the Management of Asthma, and Asthma Support Services.
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