Importance of Childhood Immunizations

Dr. Delbert Dennis Myers, pediatrician at HCHD's Gulfgate Health Center

It’s back-to-school time. While kids are still reveling in summer and parents are thinking about buying school supplies, one thing that might slip from parents’ minds are back-to-school immunizations. 

While vaccinations may not be fun, they provide good protection against diseases that could have detrimental effects. 

Dr. Delbert Dennis Myers, pediatrician at Gulfgate Health Center, part of the Harris County Hospital District, reports one example of vaccination success. It is the protection against the bacteria, Haemophilus Influenzae Type B, commonly known as HIB. 

“I’m old enough that I have seen HIB disease firsthand before the vaccine was around,” Myers says. 

During his residency and earlier years of practice, he remembers working with very sick children, often struggling to survive from HIB infections. 

Prior to the availability of HIB vaccine, in the United States about 20,000 children under 5 years of age got severe HIB disease each year. Nearly 1,000 people died annually.  

Dr. Myers has not seen HIB disease for years thanks to the HIB vaccine. 

This is but one example of why Dr. Myers is a strong advocate for immunizations. 

“Being a pediatrician, I’m biased toward immunizations,” says Dr. Myers. “Vaccines have been around for more than 50 years. They are safe, 90 to 99 percent effective, and there are few side effects.” 

He stresses the importance for a child to get all the vaccines required in a series. When children miss a vaccine in a series, they don’t get the maximum amount of protection needed. 

While Myers doesn’t have many hesitant parents, he knows fears exist.

“Parents are concerned for their child and should ask questions to allay their fears,” Dr. Myers says. “Some parents say they’ve never heard of the diseases their child is being immunized against. I tell them, that’s because of the success of vaccines. The germs are still out there, but vaccines keep the kids and adults from getting the diseases.’” 

“Some kids are freaked out by needles,” says Myers. “I’d rather a child be scared of a needle and dealing with that than to spend time with a child in the ICU from a serious illness that could have been prevented.”

Hurricanes and Medications

By Michelle Nguyen, PharmD 
Clinical Pharmacist, Baytown Health Center

Hurricane season is here and it lasts from June through November. This is a time when many residents stock up on supplies and create an evacuation plan. However people often times forget to plan for their medications. 

Steps for getting prepared:

1. Keep an updated list of all your medications, including any over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and supplements. Information to include:

• Name of medication
• Dose / strength of medication
• How often you take the medication
• Your doctor’s name and phone number

2. Have a supply of sandwich bags at home

• If you need to leave your house during a hurricane, put your medication bottles inside the sandwich bags to protect them from the water.

3. If you take insulin or other injectable medications, make sure you have the necessary supplies available, such as syringes and needles. 

In the event of an emergency, take your medication (in sandwich bags) with you. If your medication comes in contact with flood waters, do not take them. If you take insulin, a bottle will last 28-42 days (depending on the type), from the day it was opened or left un-refrigerated. Check your bottle to find more information. 

Taking these simple precautions will help you stay healthy in case there is an emergency. To learn more about preparing for the hurricane season, please visit the FDA website or ready.gov.

Keep Babies Out of Sun to Reduce Risk of Skin Cancer

Plan on having fun in the sun this summer with your family? 

If your answer is yes and your family includes a baby, the Harris County Hospital District’s dermatology experts want you to protect the littlest member from the sun’s harmful rays. 

“Infants have delicate and thin skin, which doesn’t have as much pigment as adult skin,” said Dr. Carolyn Bangert, dermatologist at HCHD’s Quentin Mease Community Hospital and UTHealth physician. “This results in babies getting easily sunburned. Parents have to be careful to not expose their baby to the sun for extended periods of time.” 

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than half a person’s lifetime UV exposure typically occurs during childhood and adolescence. Starting a sun protection habit now will spare babies from sunburn and reduce the risk of skin cancer later in life. 

“There is an association between sunburns in childhood and an increased risk of developing skin cancer such as basal cell carcinoma and melanoma in adulthood,” Bangert said. 

Sunburns can happen within 15 minutes of being in the sun, and just a few serious sunburns can increase a child’s risk of skin cancer later in life according to the CDC. 

While parents can use sunscreen on their baby, Bangert says that is the last resort. The best protection is to avoid high intensity or prolonged sun exposure altogether. 

However, since you can’t spend all your time cooped up in the house, follow these tips to ensure your baby stays sunburn free:

• Seek shade – UV rays are strongest and most harmful during midday, so it’s best to plan indoor activities between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If this is not possible, seek shade under a tree, an umbrella, or a porch. Make use of the stroller or car seat canopy cover. Shade does not prevent sunburn, and people can get sunburned even on cloudy days or in the shade, but it does lessen the amount of UV exposure.
• Cover up – clothing that covers your child’s skin helps protect against UV rays more effectively than sunscreen. While a long-sleeve shirt and long pants with a tight weave are best, they aren’t always practical.
• Get a hat – hats that shade the face, scalp, ears and neck offer great protection. Some hats are available with specific UV protection.
• Wear sunglasses – they protect your child’s eyes from UV rays. Look for sunglasses that wrap around and are labeled 100 percent UVA and UVB rays
• Apply sunscreen – use sunscreen with at least SPF 15. For best protection, apply 30 minutes before going outdoors, and use two coats. Dr. Bangert suggests Neutrogena’s^® sensitive skin sunscreen for babies. Remember to reapply every few hours, and more frequently with swimming or significant sweating.

Resource: Centers for Disease Control 

If despite taking all precautions, your baby does get sunburned, Dr. Bangert suggests soothing the burns with moisturizing cream. 

“Refrigerate creams such as Cetaphil^® or Aquafor^® before applying them to provide a cool feeling on the skin and reduce the pain. Tylenol^® may be necessary for severe sunburns,” Bangert said.