From ALLtech medical provider Regence BlueShield

Thousands of people in the U.S. become severely ill and are hospitalized or even die each year because of vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccines have saved lives from polio, measles, mumps, rubella, flu and now COVID-19. At times, vaccines have helped to remove disease from areas that have high vaccination rates.

In 2000, measles was declared eliminated in the United States. However, in December 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 1,276 cases in 31 states. So how did measles make a comeback?

Most cases where vaccine-preventable disease re-emerges involve unvaccinated people. It’s also important to remember that measles and other diseases are still common in other countries. This makes it easy for unvaccinated travelers to become infected with preventable disease and bring it back to the U.S. And as the number of unvaccinated people increases, the virus is more likely to spread to others and cause infections.

“Immunizations play such an important role in protecting our health as well as the health of our loved ones and communities,” says Dr. Drew Oliveira, senior executive medical director at Regence. “National Immunization Awareness Month is a great time to highlight the value of getting recommended vaccines. You have the power to protect yourself and your family against serious vaccine preventable diseases like measles, the flu, whooping cough, hepatitis, and cancers caused by HPV.”

Vaccines aren’t just for young children. Adults also need vaccines to protect against different types of pneumonia and shingles. And adults with certain health conditions like diabetes are more susceptible to severe complications from certain vaccine-preventable diseases. By getting recommended vaccines during pregnancy, women can give their babies and themselves the best protection against whooping cough and the flu.

Specific immunizations are recommended for young adults and teens entering middle school and college, anyone who may be traveling abroad, and those with underlying health conditions. The CDC provides immunization schedules for all age groups on their website.

If you have school-age children, Oliveira recommends scheduling an appointment for their vaccinations as soon as possible to ensure they get all their recommended doses before school starts. “This is the month where we see the biggest delay in being able to schedule an appointment,” says Oliveira. “We encourage everyone, including adults that may not be aware they need vaccines, to have a conversation with their health care provider now to ensure they’re up to date on all routine vaccines”

Regence health plans cover most immunizations at 100% when members use an in-network provider. ALLtech members enrolled in Regence BlueShield can use the online Find a Doctor tool at regence.com to find a doctor or clinic. Be sure to sign in to your account so results are based on your benefits.

From ALLtech vision care provider VSP Vision Care Inc.

There are plenty of ways to celebrate the Fourth of July, from parades and barbecues to fireworks. If you plan on spending the day outdoors, don’t forget to protect your eyes from the sun with a pair of quality sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection, because even your eyes can get sunburnt.

After the sun goes down, it’s still important to be vigilant about eye safety, especially if you are handling fireworks. Each year, the month surrounding the Fourth of July has a spike in the number of injuries caused by fireworks. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, last year 19% of those injuries were to the eyes. Yikes!

To learn more about the risks associated with fireworks and how to protect you and your loved ones, please click this link to view the entire post from our partners at VSP Vision Care Inc.