travel vaccines los angeles

California Declares Whooping Cough Epidemic

2010-07-31T13:38:00.000-07:00

The following is a story published in the LA Times (Passport Health Los Angeles has the tetanus, diptheria, perutssis vaccine in stock-call for an appointment):

Officials are concerned about a rise in reported cases and five infant deaths so far. Vaccinations are urged for elderly adults, pregnant women, children and those who may have contact with infants.

July 20, 2010
By Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Los Angeles Times

California public health officials on Monday strongly urged elderly adults, children and pregnant women to get vaccinated against whooping cough, citing an epidemic in the state that is on track to be the worst in 50 years.

Nearly 1,500 cases of whooping cough have been reported statewide this year, nearly five times the number of cases last year, according to Dr. Gil Chavez, the state's epidemiologist.

Babies under 6 months old are the most vulnerable because even those vaccinated have yet to develop immunity, Chavez said.

Five infants have died of whooping cough so far this year, all under 3 months old. Two of the deaths were in Los Angeles County. A sixth possible infant death was still being investigated Monday in L.A. County, Chavez said.

Last year three infants died of the disease, one each in Los Angeles, Kern and San Bernardino counties. All of the whooping cough deaths since 1996 have been infants under 3 months old, according to Ken August, a spokesman for the California Department of Public Health.

As of July 16, L.A. County had reported 289 possible whooping cough cases for the year, including 73 confirmed infections and 54 likely infections, according to the Department of Public Health. The county 156 reported cases of whooping cough last year.

The highly contagious upper-respiratory infection, also known as pertussis, initially may be mistaken for a cold, becoming more serious as it escalates and often causing those infected to make a tell-tale "whooping" sound as they gasp for air.

Pertussis infections typically peak every five years, Chavez said. The last outbreak in California was in 2005, when 3,182 cases were reported statewide and eight infants died. Since then, a booster vaccine was developed for adolescents and adults.

"It's time for Californians to help us by getting vaccinated and protecting themselves," Chavez said.
The Department of Public Health on Monday expanded its vaccination recommendation to include children age 7 and older; adults age 64 and older; women before, during and immediately after pregnancy; and anyone who may have contact with pregnant women or infants.

Dr. Jack Chou, a Baldwin Park family physician, said he was "heartened" by the new recommendations.
"That will allow us to give this vaccine to grandparents who care for infants," said Chou, president of the California Academy of Family Physicians.

Documentary Film Festival In Los Angeles and New York

2010-07-31T12:53:00.000-07:00

Documentary films can change the world through their unique portrayal of the issues your organization cares about.
If you love documentary films, and the way they portray the issues you care about, you'll want to attend and support the the IDA’s 14th Annual DocuWeeks™ Theatrical Documentary Showcase in New York and Los Angeles.

Held from July 30th - August 19th, DocuWeeks™ screens featuring 18 groundbreaking features and 10 shorts for this annual showcase of documentary films qualifying for Oscar® consideration. DocuWeeks gives people, like your members, more of an opportunity to see these inspiring works.

Please find more information and the film trailers at the following link:

http://www.newamericanvision.com/docuweeks/highlight.html

High Schoolers Go On Adventure of a Lifetime

2010-07-02T11:47:00.000-07:00

Several teenagers needing travel vaccines have come through Passport Health Los Angeles talking about impending adventures to faraway places. Some talked of doing community service. Some talked of confidence building exercises. All were going with an organization called Rustic Pathways. I wanted to learn more so I contacted the national sales director and trip guide, Chris Stakich.

Chris let me know that Rustic Pathways was started in 1983 by a man who had fallen in love with the Australian outback and wanted to bring this type of adventure to high schoolers in the United States. The job appealed to Chris because it entailed being so much more than a tour guide. He is a combination guide, teacher and coach who inspires youth and shapes the lives of future leaders. The concentration is on developing global compassion and sensitivity thereby creating global citizens.

70% of the trips that they offer involve community service in 17 countries. There are over 125 programs available including home stays in small villages, elephant conservation, leadership and Spanish immersion. There are also high adventure trips that involve jumping out of airplanes!

These trips can be revolutionary for some kids. Chris recalled one student who travelled around the world for 8 months to 26 countries. He was able to see the Dalai Lama in India and ride across the desert on a camel among many other adventures. He just graduated Harvard where his studies had an international focus.

Chris feels that the programs really allow kids to appreciate their lives in this country. Their problems often become trivial compared to the issues kids face worldwide. He can see their attitudes soften and compassion grow.

There is a foundation you can read about at rusticpathways.org . They offer limited scholarships each year. Chris’s e-mail is: chris@rusticpathways.com.

Lifeafter50.com

2010-05-25T16:21:00.000-07:00

Passport Health Los Angeles gets a mention in this month's article called "Colombia's Renaissance." Check out the great tips in this online travel magazine!
http://www.lifeafter50.com/Travel/International-Travel/COLOMBIA-S-RENAISSANCE

Local Photographer Travels to India

2010-05-05T15:47:00.000-07:00

Kari Dietrich is a freelance interactive producer and photography student who has recently found an interest in development issues in India, especially in educational development and population matters. A friend involved in humanitarian work suggested she volunteer with Visions (link-http://visionsofthefuture.org), an educational development organization based in Orange County. So, Miss Dietrich decided to combine her passions, and begin work on a photo series which took up 3/4 of her 10 week journey. Kari came in to Passport Health to receive her vaccines prior to her flight to Chennai. We met up with her at Passport Health Los Angeles when she came in for her follow up vaccines.
Visions volunteers teach leadership, organizational and creative thinking skills. The organization spent one week with 9th graders of a rural school, and then another week at an urban school, witnessing the myriad of challenges that typical public education in India.
From there, Kari and her camera traveled about the country for several more weeks, visiting and capturing educational development organizations, and a rural women's health center in Dindigul. Glimpses of effective programming for the under-privileged abounded, most noticeably with the OM Foundation--an organization that hand-picks primary school-aged slum children and supports them on their long journey down a new educational path, learning all subjects in English, much to the bafflement of the parents.
Throughout, Kari picked up her digital slr and pointed it into eyes young and old, each filled with wisdom that goes beyond years. She is working with Visions on a fundraising event that will feature an exhibit of her work from India. You can see some samples of her work at: http://notamember.org. She will begin attending the University of Missouri this fall, pursuing a master's in international convergence journalism, continuing to learn how to tell visual stories on global development matters.

PBS Frontline Shows Both Sides of Vaccine Debate

2010-05-05T10:24:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to PBS's Program call "Vaccine Wars" which aired April 27, 2010:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/vaccines/view/?utm_campaign=homepage&utm_medium=proglist&utm_source=proglist

Let us know what you think.

Passport Health LA Team Member Ventures to Istanbul

2010-04-13T17:07:00.000-07:00

On March 19, 2010, (armed with immunizations from Passport Health LA) I was lucky enough to travel to Istanbul, Turkey. The sights and sounds of the city remain with me and remind me all at once of a simpler way of life and of the realities of living in a metropolis of 20 million people.
I of course visited the big tourist sites like the cathedral-turned -mosque- turned kind of both- Aya Sophia. Topkapi palace was a fascinating look into the former lives of the sultans and included a harem complex and a kitchen equipped to serve 5,000 people daily. The Blue Mosque (my first time in one) was one of the most beautiful buildings I’d ever seen. I was amazed at the tile and stained glass pieces and was moved by the years of reverence and prayer that the walls vibrated with. The spice bazaar was a sight to behold. Locals haggled with vendors of all kinds. Spices, textiles, teas, lamps, clothes, plants—WOW!
Friends teaching English in Istanbul were my hosts and I definitely got treated to some “off the beaten path “local flavor. They live in Uzkudar which is on the Asian side of Turkey. It’s more conservative with a lot less tourists. We visited a salty sailor looking chain smoking artist named Bihrat, and practiced the small amount of Turkish we knew at the local bakeries and markets. I got hooked on pistachio and walnut baklava and locally made Turkish delight—mmmmm.
What I loved most was buying fresh food daily from the market place, walking up the 7 flights of stairs to my friend’s apartment and looking out at the beautiful view of Asia and Europe over the Bosporus strait. I also loved being out with the people and away from all of the chain stores in the United States. The whole while there, I only saw one McDonalds (they had Kumpir lamb burgers!), one Burger King and of course Starbucks. All of these were in Tunel-a “SoHo” like part of town on the European side.
I know that progress is inevitable. Turkey is anxious to join the EU. But I hope it is able to maintain its old world feel and charm. Like the scores of fisherman on the Galata Bridge, the chestnut vendors on the street and the relaxing ferry boat rides between the continents. It was truly a trip I will never forget.

Fire Captain Robert Goldman Gets Yellow Fever Shot

2010-03-11T12:13:00.000-08:00

Did you know that the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s CATF-2, Urban Search and Rescue Team, is one of only 2 teams nationwide that are part of OFDA- the Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance? Twenty eight teams from across the country are certified to work domestically under FEMA, but when it comes to international search and rescue, the pool gets a lot smaller. This team is ready to be deployed at any moment when disasters strike like the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile.

Robert Goldman, a member of this elite team came into Passport Heath Los Angeles to get his yellow fever shot so he could be ready to go and help in Chile.

I asked him what a team needed to do to get OFDA certified.
The group INSARAG (International Search and Rescue Advisory Group) which is associated with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) sends rescue team representatives from countries such as Japan, Finland, France, Germany and South America to rigorously test and evaluates the applying team. The LA County Fire Dept had to set up a mock disaster site and demonstrate how to perform various search and rescue missions such as breaching concrete, performing technical searches, and prove ability to fully mobilize with very short notice. Coordination, mobilization, and the logistics for such an endeavor are intense and complex. Once certified, the team must be re-evaluated every 2-4 years to keep their status.

The first people sent out when a disaster occurs are on what’s called a DART team (Disaster Assessment Response Team). They go out and evaluate the situation and see what is needed. They then use satellite phones to call back to offices in Washington DC and alert the teams worldwide. For example: a certain village may need water purification systems and generators. Another may need sleeping bags and tents.
The LACFD has approx. 3200 members and of that only 160 members have gone through the training needed to be members of this international team. A “heavy” team sent out would be made up of 72 members who also include 4 dogs and their handlers. These special dogs are trained to find people that are still alive in disaster areas. Half of the team members work 12 hour shifts alternating with the remaining members so they can be operational 24 hours a day for 2 to 3 weeks at a time.
Along with personnel, over 150 thousand pounds of equipment must be brought as well including everything needed to sustain the team for 14 days and specialized search and rescue equipment.

Capt. Goldman has also participated in “Patriot Hook” which is run by the Department of Defense. This is basically setting up dry runs for transporting teams and equipment in different disaster situations such as swift water and hazmat rescues using various military aircraft.

Robert is now up to date on his immunizations so he is “Level A” deployable. His mission to Chile got postponed but he is “chomping at the bit” to be sent on the next one. “We all know bad things are going to happen,” Goldman said, “I just want to be on duty when they do.” Passport Health will vaccinate the rest of the team to get them ready. We can all rest easier knowing these teams are out there and ready to help worldwide!

LA Times Travel and Adventure Show

2010-02-19T10:09:00.000-08:00

Thousands of people showed up Februrary 13th and 14th for the LA Times Travel and Adventure Show at the Downtown Convention Center. There were countries from around the world represented. World cup previews encouraging a trip to South Africa, Eco Safari tours and adventure tours a plenty. There was even a zip line and scuba tank for those brave enough to try.

PassportHealth Los Angeles was there answering questions about keeping safe while travelling. It was the perfect opportunity for people to plan their trip and find out what vaccines were needed all in the same place.

We held a raffle for a treasure chest filled with awesome travel accessories. Jason Perez Howe was the winner. Jason is a senior public information officer for Lambda Legal, an organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

Here's what Jason had to say, "Woohoo! I never win anything, so the travel gift pack I won from PassportHealth was a great surprise. I'm a former travel reporter, and used PassportHealth in San Francisco for vaccinations before a trip to Southeast Asia. The gift pack includes an anti-malaria kit, bug repellant, and other goodies that will come in handy if we make a possible trip to India later this year--and it also comes with an inflatable travel pillow, which will be very welcome on our annual summer trip to Spain".

Rabies Shots Following Dog Attack

2010-02-16T14:15:00.000-08:00

On Saturday February 6th 2010, Ernest Padilla, an English professor at Santa Monica College was at his local Starbucks on a routine trip for coffee. He was headed out of the restaurant when he noticed a pit bull tied up on a leash with a 3' lead. As he walked by, the dog lunged at him. Ernest tried to jump away but the dog bit him on his upper arm. He was in shock and bleeding, but went into the bathroom to get a towel. He asked the customers if anyone owned the dog and no one answered. He went back outside and noticed a man come from inside, untie the dog and start to walk away. 2 men who had been witnesses asked the man to stop but he continued to walk and then run away. One of the men chased him, but the dog and owner got away.

Mr. Padilla went to his doctor and was treated with antibiotics. Since the owner of the dog did not stick around and the history of the dog was not known, Earnest was told that he needed HRIG (Human Rabies Immune Globulin). Most physicians do not carry HRIG, so Earnest was referred to PassportHealth Los Angeles.

We were able to get Mr. Padilla exactly what he needed along with a series of 4 rabies vaccines. Earnest is doing better and is glad the situation wasn't worse. "There was a 2 year old girl and a 4 year old boy that walked out right after me and they could have been bitten too."

What did he think of his PassportHealth experience? "The people at Passporthealth were so professional and proficient. They made me feel so comfortable. The nurses were also so humane--the shots didn't even hurt that much!"

If anyone has information about the attack, please contact PassportHealth Los Angeles.