News
7 Benefits of Flu Vaccination
It may seem harmless to skip your flu shot each year, but the flu is nothing to mess with. While it may not be perfect, flu vaccination comes with many benefits. Flu vaccination can keep you from getting sick with flu. Flu vaccine prevents millions of illnesses and...
Chickenpox, whooping cough remain concerns in Ottawa, Allegan
In September, Jenison’s Kids First Early Childhood Center had to exclude unvaccinated children from school for 21 days after a student was diagnosed with chicken pox. In October, West Ottawa’s Waukazoo Elementary also had to exclude unvaccinated students after a...
Health officials push for flu vaccine during National Influenza Week
Michigan residents are being reminded that it is not too late to get your flu vaccine during National Influenza Week. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has declared the week of December 2 through December 8 as National Influenza Week to promote...
Vaccine waiver rates slightly rise in Michigan
Vaccine waiver rates for school-age children have increased slightly in Michigan. Data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services shows the vaccine waiver rate climbed from 3.2 percent in 2016 to 3.6 percent in 2017, and the daycare waiver rate was 2.5...
Flu killed at least five children this fall
At least five children have died from the flu this fall, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday, as cases related to the deadly viral strain increase across the U.S. with flu season underway. Two children died in the second and third weeks of...
First case of Acute Flaccid Myelitis confirmed in Michigan
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed a case of acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) in a Michigan child. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says it was notified by the CDC about the case Wednesday. The child is from Wayne County....
Protect yourself from influenza this holiday season by getting the flu vaccine
As part of National Influenza Vaccination Week, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is reminding Michigan residents that it’s not too late to get the flu vaccine. National Influenza Vaccination Week, Dec. 2-8, promotes awareness about the...
As measles surges, ‘decades of progress’ are in jeopardy
Reported cases of measles worldwide surged by nearly a third last year, partly because parents did not vaccinate their children, health organizations said Thursday. The increase in measles, a highly contagious scourge that had been nearly eradicated in many parts of...
The HSS Feed: Keeping the kids healthy this fall
Thanks to Nina of The HSS Feed for sharing how her family stays healthy during back-to-school and winter months. Since school started up again, I think you could say we’ve gone a little overboard trying to keep everyone from getting sick. It never fails, the kids go...
The Story Behind The Worst Measles Outbreak In The European Union
Liliana Czegledi devoted herself to keeping her daughter, Ioana, alive. The girl had been born with a compromised immune system, a damaged heart and muscles that wouldn't work. She wasn't expected to live past her second birthday. Czegledi gave up her bartending job...