Now more than ever, the importance of vaccines is apparent. With COVID-19 expected to re-emerge during the fall, coinciding with seasonal influenza, you’ll definitely want to protect yourself from the latter in an effort to stay safe from the pandemic illness for which there is no inoculation yet.

Of course, the influenza vaccine is not recommended for babies under the age of 6 months, so that is why it is recommended that all pregnant women receive one.

That’s just one issue to discuss during World Immunization Week, which started on Friday. It coincides with National Infant Immunization Week, which begins on Sunday. 

The World Health Organization, along with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  and many other organizations promote the use of vaccines to protect against the spread of disease. Immunization is considered to be one of the most successful and cost-effective health treatments in the world, saving millions of young and old lives every year.

World Immunization Week’s specific theme #VaccinesWorkforAll focuses on how all who develop, deliver and receive vaccines are heroes for protecting themselves and others. The main goal of this campaign is to encourage more people to get vaccinated. Routine immunization protects children and entire communities. It is most effective when everyone receives the treatment.

National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) focuses on protecting children 2 years and younger from vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). Some VPDs include diphtheria, tetanus, measles and mumps. As part of WHO’s World Immunization Week, NIIW also seeks to provide universal access to vaccines and the information surrounding them.

This year has presented a unique challenge to global health. As COVID-19 spreads through communities far and wide, one cannot help but imagine how the situation would be different if a vaccine existed. 

Top health experts work tirelessly in the pursuit of it. Vaccinations of the general public would ultimately protect those who are at the highest risk of developing severe complications. COVID-19 remains an ongoing battle as the year progresses and countless organizations are working hard to ensure current vaccines remain available.

So, you may be asking yourself, “Why are vaccines so important?” or “How do they work?” Vaccines are like training wheels on a bicycle. They are important to have because they prepare you to ride on your own. If you hop on a bike for the first time without them, there is a good chance you will crash. Now apply the same idea to a vaccine. It helps your body develop an immunity by imitating an infection, so that when the real thing comes around your body is ready to fight it off. Vaccines do not cause illness, but rather they stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies. 

Sometimes you may feel a bit different after receiving a vaccine. This does not mean you are sick. It is your body reacting to a foreign invader and building up memory on how to fight it. Once there are enough of these antibodies, the vaccination process is complete.

It is very important to vaccinate infants and children. According to the CDC, routine childhood immunization from 1994-2018 will prevent an estimated 419 million illnesses. Almost 1 million early deaths will also be prevented. Childhood vaccination rates remain high in the U.S., but one of the greatest challenges to maintaining this is the spread of misinformation. When misleading or untrue information spreads, youth vaccinations can decrease. This change can lead to outbreaks of Vaccine Preventable Diseases. 

Small resurgences of measles throughout 2019 have been attributed to decreases in vaccinations. Because West Virginia has some of the toughest vaccination laws in the country, our state didn’t experience any cases during that outbreak.

Vaccines are an incredible medical technology that protect us from illness and disease. Maintaining high immunization rates are key to protecting entire populations from outbreaks. While a vaccine has yet to be discovered for COVID-19, it was of course the first preventive measure researchers jumped on.

Although Monongalia County Health Department's Clinical Services program is not offering vaccines as the pandemic surges, we expect to be back at it closer to the start of school in the fall. When that date gets closer, call 304-598-5119 to make an appointment.

Sure, I felt silly the first time I took a walk around my neighborhood with a mask on. 
Now I’m pretty accustomed to it. 

I’ve smiled at people who are walking their dogs and then I realize they probably can’t tell. I’ve wondered if I can perfect “smizing,” the modeling technique of “smiling with your eyes.”

I know I’m not the only one who worries about that. I overheard a co-worker telling someone the same thing, how she had smiled at someone before realizing her mask was hiding it.

I also know there are people who don’t wear a face covering. I see them out and I hear about it when people send in complaints and post about it on Monongalia County Health Department’s social media, including on Facebook. 

Dr. Lee B. Smith, MCHD’s executive director and county health officer, released an order on April 7 recommending that everyone don a mask or some kind of face covering when they go outside. 

And here’s the thing: If you do, it doesn’t provide as much protection for you from getting sick as it does others you encounter. Instead, it helps keep your germs from spreading to someone else. And vice versa. That’s why, when I see someone wearing a mask, I appreciate their consideration for other people.

As a meme geared toward yoga enthusiasts stated: “The mask I wear to protect you recognizes the mask you wear to protect me. Namaske.”

And just because you don’t feel sick doesn’t mean you aren’t. It is estimated that 1 in 4 people with COVID-19 don’t have symptoms. Also, people can shed the virus before they begin to feel ill.

Of course, when the COVID-19 pandemic began, a shortage of medical masks made it unfeasible for the general public to wear them. Now that several groups have organized to sew face coverings during the pandemic, that’s not an excuse anymore.

West Virginia Association of Local Health Departments created a program called Masks4WV that encourages community members to pick up needle and thread on behalf of this effort. More information and instructions can be found on the health department’s COVID-19 web page. Monongalia County Health Department has a mask drop-off bin at the front entrance of our building, the one on the upper level.

Plus, United Way of Monongalia and Preston Counties has an organized mask-making effort (email servando@unitedwaympc.org to either make or get masks) and the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources also devotes a web page to this topic.

Plus, you’ve probably seen the videos of how to take an ordinary bandanna and with a few simple folds and a couple of hair ties …. Voila! You can be safe and fashionable. 

Also, about the walking: We’ve heard complaints from area residents who have gone to popular strolling and hiking locations, expressing that they are upset over the crowds and lack of masks.

This is unfortunate. A complaint can be made to Monongalia County Health Department about situations like this, as well as other observations such as people gathering in groups greater than five, a lack of social distancing or certain workers not wearing a mask if they should be. 

MCHD follows up on complaints. But some infringements are worse than others; and some are more enforceable too. 

In the end, sometimes, if you see a situation that makes you uncomfortable, and if it’s something you can avoid, then that might be the solution. Like the frequent and thorough hand washing you should be doing, sometimes you just have to make commonsense decisions to remain safe.

It doesn’t seem fair, and it won’t always be like this. But as COVID-19 cases continue to climb in West Virginia, staying home except for essential errands and work is best.
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Other than, maybe, a walk or job around the neighborhood, preferably while wearing a mask. It’s not always easy in Morgantown, a city not blessed with a surplus of sidewalks. I know my neighborhood isn’t.
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Still, that’s my after-work plan. Mask and all.

With all the social distancing that’s going on right now, maybe it’s ironic that April is STD Awareness Month. 

But even in the midst of a pandemic, we must take care of all aspects of our health, and this is an important one, especially with the explosion of cases of such STDs as chlamydia and gonorrhea, as well as a resurgence of syphilis.

This period of recognition highlights diseases that may seem minor and embarrassing but can cause serious consequences in the long run. It is important to know what is out there so that proper prevention methods can be practiced.

The term STD stands for sexually transmitted disease. They are contracted by having unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex with someone who already has one. Other common names for STDs are sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or venereal diseases (VDs). They are often asymptomatic, meaning an infected person experiences no symptoms, but can still cause damage to the body.

STDs affect men and women in different ways. Common symptoms in men can include discomfort or pain during urination or sex, rashes or lesions on or around genitalia, discharge and swollen or painful testicles. 

Similarly, symptoms with women can also include uncomfortable sex or urination, abnormal skin conditions in or around genitalia or mouth, discharge and itchiness. 

If untreated, some STDs can cause cancer in both women and men, and infertility in women. 

Here is a breakdown of some of the most common types of STDs:

Chlamydia is reported to be the most common STD in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It may quickly spread among communities because there are largely no symptoms. But if left undiagnosed or untreated, chlamydia can lead to frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs), pelvic inflammatory disease and even infertility. There is also the possibility of pregnant women passing it on to the fetus. 

Human Papillomavirus, or HPV for short, is spread through intimate sexual or skin contact. The common symptoms of HPV are warts on the genitals and mouth. Some strains of HPV can lead to cervical, oral, vulvar and penile cancers. There is no treatment for the disease, but there is a vaccine. It is important for both girls and boys to get both doses of the vaccine around ages 11-12 in order to reduce the risk of infection and cancers.

Syphilis is a bacterial infection that can often show no symptoms, but is very infectious. A tell-tale sign of this disease is the appearance of small round sores around the mouth or genitals. If left untreated, syphilis can lead to loss of vision, hearing, memory, brain infections, heart disease and even death. 

HIV/AIDS is a dangerous disease that can leave your body defenseless to bacteria and other viruses. HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. It damages the body’s immune system, and if left untreated, can lead to the condition of AIDS. In this stage of the virus, opportunistic infections can cause serious illness and death. It is very important to receive treatment early with HIV. Symptoms include constant fatigue, flu-like conditions and swollen lymph nodes. 

Prevention is the best tool in protecting yourself from STDs. Be sure to wear a condom with every new sex act. If you feel you have been exposed at any point, do not hesitate to get tested. Receiving treatment early is the best way to mitigate the effects of disease. During non-pandemic times, Monongalia County Health Department offers free or low-cost birth control and confidential testing. In the meantime, stay safe by using condoms and limiting your partner to someone you trust.

There’s a lot going on right now to think about. This one is something to ponder as school approaches in the fall — meningitis. 

Friday is World Meningitis Day, so even with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that students aren't gathering for school, it's a good time to learn more about this illness. 

Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding the spinal cord and brain, and it affects more than 1 million people each year. Children under 5 years old and adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 are most at risk. 

There are three types of meningitis: bacterial, viral and fungal or environmental. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a lot of information on meningitis. Here are some basic facts: 

Of the three types, bacterial meningitis is most severe and causes nearly 170,000 deaths annually. This type develops within a few hours and can lead to death within 24-48 hours after symptoms begin. Of those who survive, there are often permanent disabilities. 

Bacterial meningitis is caused by three types of bacteria: meningococcus, pneumococcus and Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (Hib). Most people already have these bacteria in their throat and nose, and most of the time they do not cause harm. These bacteria are spread through respiratory droplets.

Those who recover from bacterial meningitis can have serious after-effects or complications, such as cerebral palsy, depression, epilepsy, blindness, deafness or developmental delays in children. 

Viral meningitis is the most common type of meningitis. In most cases, people take weeks or months to recover, but often do not have permanent damage. This type of meningitis is caused by viruses such as enterovirus or the mumps, which are frequently spread through respiratory droplets. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine can decrease chances of this type. The after-effects of this type of meningitis include balance problems, memory lapses, concentration problems and mood swings. 

There are vaccines to help prevent some types of both bacterial and viral meningitis. That vaccine, along with the MMR, is available at MCHD Clinical Services, although not currently because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fungal or environmental meningitis can be very severe but is not very common. This type is not contagious and spreads through spores of fungus being inhaled. Meningitis can also be caused by parasites or other illnesses, such as cancer, lupus, head injuries, brain surgery or some drugs.

The symptoms of meningitis can sometimes be mistaken for those of seasonal influenza and are different depending on age group. 

The symptoms of meningitis in older children and adults are the following:
● Fever
● Severe headache
● Sensitivity to light
● Vomiting
● Irritability
● Diarrhea 
● Stiff neck
● Joint pain
● Seizures

The symptoms of infants are different:
● Fever
● Difficult to wake 
● Vomiting
● Pale or blotchy skin
● Loss of appetite
● Irritability

In addition to vaccines, there are other preventative measures that can be taken. Smoking can increase your chances of being a carrier of meningitis bacteria and quitting can lower your risk of spreading them. Keeping surfaces clean and avoiding environments with fungal spores such as dust or bird droppings can decrease chances of viral and fungal meningitis. 

So even when the COVID-19 pandemic calms down, there’s good reason to keep wiping down surfaces with a 10% bleach solution.

If you or someone you know is showing these symptoms, go to the emergency room quickly.

And, as the new school year approaches, call MCHD Clinical Services at 304-598-5119 to schedule an appointment for vaccinations to help prevent meningitis and other illnesses.