Speak Out!
Losing Lives to Preventable Diseases
Sun, 12/07/2008 - 21:02 | Health
According to an article on Black Politics on the Web, a new report by AARP’s Public Policy Institute shows that influenza and pneumonia vaccination rates for older African Americans and Hispanics lag significantly behind those of whites.
“It’s tragic that America loses so many lives each year to preventable diseases,” said AARP Board Member Jacob Lozada. “Even more alarming are the drastic ethnic and racial disparities that exist in immunization rates. With so much riding on our health, there is no excuse not to get vaccinated.” Lozada noted that both flu and pneumonia vaccination are available at no cost to people on Medicare. “We know that minority groups often experience more medical consequences from influenza. One example is Hispanics 65 years of age and older often suffer from more chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, which makes them more susceptible to flu-related complications that can lead to hospitalization and even death,” said Dr. Jeanne Santoli of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Why are older African Americans and Hispanics reluctant to get vaccinated against influenza and pneumonia?
Doing What's Right
Comments
Help fighting the Swine Flu
I agree that we lose lives each year to preventable diseases. One of the reasons for this is because there is not a lot of access in our community to alternative or complementary medicine. Education is key to achieving and maintaing health and wellness.
I am certified to use essential oils in my practice as a Health and Wellness Consultant. During this flu pandemic, I help people get well and stay that way by using inexpensive oils that can be taken in capsule form or massaged on their feet. My daughter contracted the flu on a Wednesday but it really hit her hard by Saturday, so much so, that she could not even stand up to take a shower. She had to lie in the hallway until she could get to her bed. I arrived about 3:00 Saturday afternoon, I administered a capsule of the oils along with freshly made juice and a foot massage with several other oils. Within a few hours, her color had returned along with her appetite. By the time I left and after another capsule, she was feeling much better. By Monday, she was at the mall shopping and has been fine ever since.
I believe if more people knew about this option, they would be better equipped to take care of themselves in conjunction with their health care professional. I have been in this field for many years and I have never seen it fail or have any side effects. I would be glad to share more with you on this subject. There are many lives that can be saved by adding this to their health care plan. All the best, Maria DeShields
Some blacks are afraid of the
Some blacks are afraid of the medical institutions. Every since the Tuskegee experiment, blacks have been known to be used as part of "The Pharmaceutical Genocide." This is where pharmaceutical companies with the help of some physicians, are using blacks and other minorities as lab rats, testing their untested products on a race of people, and it is without their permission. There are many known cases of this happening so they don't trust the Medical Institution, nor the pharmaceutical companies, as well as the doctors. Another reason that blacks don't seek medical care is because they can't afford the co-payments. Or they just don't have any medical insurance at all.
One of the reasons I feel
One of the reasons I feel that African Americans and Hispanics are reluctant to take any vaccine shots is probably the reason I reject the thought of taking vaccine shots, it’s not always a good medical thing to do. The reason I say this is simple, most vaccine shots are suppose to help prevent the problem from happening. Well my son, may he rest in peace, took several vaccine shots while in the military, which in return caused an allergic reaction in his body, that later caused his death. So vaccines are not all that popular in my world, and then I heard Holly Robinson Pete associate her kid's autism with the vaccine shots he had taken, excuse me for being a little skeptical, but life experiences has me wondering what do they really have in these vaccine shots.
It's not until you experience this or have someone close to you that has been affected by these vaccines shots, only then will people understand why many, not just blacks and Hispanics, but many people are reluctant about taking vaccines. Vaccines to me are just like those commercials that claim to cure one problem but create another problem. Especially when the side affects outweigh the cure.
H1N1, Vaccines, and the Bad Rap!
Its interesting when I hear individuals comment about vaccines and about influenza. As with most things, nothing is a "for sure thing." Medicine is an exploratative science that, although helps many, can also kill the few.
I must admit that the Tuskeegee project was a horrible event in our history but we must also remember the good projects that have happened since then and not just the bad. Medicine has made incredible leaps and bounds...from the artificial heart to HIV medications that have increased the survival time for many affected and infected individuals.
I believe that people do not seek vaccinations or treatment for different reasons. As a minority, I hear family members all the time stating "don't go to the doctor, save some money and here just take my left over antibiotic" or "I don't have time to see the doctor, it takes too long...what's in your cabinet?" or "be a man and suck it up, here take some aspirin and a shot of whiskey." People are always trying to find excuses why not to see the doctor because of past experiences, needle phobia, and the ultimate fear that something may really be wrong with them and they simply don't want to know...at least not today. That doesn't just happened with illness, it happens with broken bones, and ailments that don't go away.
As for vaccines, I agree that vaccinations still have unexplored side effects and that some children and adults do not have good results...but it is only a very small percentage. I apologize if I insult anyone who has had a family member die from vaccinations but just like there is a small percentage of babies born with congenital defects...does that mean that we stop having babies because of that small percentage of something that can go wrong? Some people would say YES...others, a strong majority, say, the risk is worth it.
Vaccinations work in a variety of ways. They protect a person from him/herself and others. HOW? Herd immunity. When one susceptible person is vaccinated, he offers a certain amount of resistance to the bacteria or virus that is transferring from person to person. This will do one of two things. It will weaken the infection or completely prevent it from attacking that person's body. It gives the body instructions on how to deal with the critter. At that point, the person next to you, be it family, friends, or co-workers, or even the stranger on the bus becomes exposed to a weakened or dead microbe. This allows the body sufficient amount of time to study the microbe and develop antibodies. It kills off the version of the microbe if those individuals you come in contact with are all ready vaccinated.
What is the bad rap? I get sick when I get the vaccine!? Well, sort of. Your body is trying to read the instructions on how to kill the microbe and goes through a series of checks...kinda like a drill. All your white cells (killers) begin absorbing the dead or weakened microbe and begin sending signals to the rest of your body. It tells your body to make more white cells and less red cells to prepare for war (that's how you fight an infection). Less red cells means less oxygen in your body which makes you feel tired. Your body automatically elevates your temperature to make the microbe uncomfortable, among other things...here's your fever. Once your body gets the signal that they have killed off all the microbes, things go back to normal. But every person's immune system is different and some may take longer than others to recoop.
What about the influenza scare? Exaggerated rap by the government? I don't believe that anything is ever exaggerated if you hear what is being said and not just listening. The CDC and the media have to reach millions of people and like most things, certain messages are lost in translation. If there is no emphasis on influenza, then people will not think that its "that big a deal" but if you emphasize how many people are dying..people may just start listening and absorbing the information. If people are really listening, they are more apt to follow instruction. Washing your hands, not taking antibiotics for a flu or cold, and staying home when you are ill are only a few of the things that are getting said and re-said by the media.
People say that tragedies happen because people are not informed...look at Hurricane Katrina for example. With the H1N1, people ARE being informed, they are just not listening to the message.