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Welcome to the I Have Immunity blog!
Posted: March 27, 2012
When we started reaching out to communities around BC for I Have Immunity, we had a simple question: how do you keep your families healthy?
We wanted to hear all the ways people protect themselves and their loved ones from illness and injury, since vaccines are a big part of it. Unlike washing your hands or buckling up when you're in the car, vaccines aren't something you have to think about daily. But like a healthy diet, exercise, and clean air, they protect the health of you and your family all the time.
So we ran a contest asking people to share with us the ways they keep their family healthy. We received some great submissions! Here are a few below:
- I protect my families health by making sure all their vaccinations are current. We eat healthy foods and get plenty of exercise. My daughters play soccer with their friends. I encourage all family members to wash their hands after they come home from school to stop the spread of bacteria and viruses. - Iris
- I make sure that my husband and I have regular screening tests for colon cancer, prostate health, Pap smears, etc. I also make sure we eat right, exercise, take vitamins, and take time for fun to reduce stress. - Cindy
- My family washes often with soap and water and we get our flu shots regularly. - Darlene
- Proper rest, adequate exercise, and a healthy diet to bolster the immune system. - Gary
We were glad to hear from so many folks around the province that regular vaccinations are a part of their plan for health!
To wrap up the contest, we randomly selected a winner. Congratulations to Linda in Osoyoos, who shared her tips for staying healthy in flu season:
Washing my hands frequently. Staying away from others who are sick. And most importantly, I got the flu shot!
Posted: March 16, 2012
A Google search is simple enough: you simply type in "vaccines" and click on the search results, probably starting from the entries at the top of the page, or the ones with reliable-sounding web addresses. But the challenge with online searches is that even websites that look professional and trustworthy might provide inaccurate or unverified information. Here are some questions you should ask yourself when reviewing information found online.
Who is the author?
Information about vaccines should come from a medical or scientific source- a medical researcher, public health nurse, or health organization. Their positions are supported by research that is peer-reviewed and supported by decades of research. You wouldn't ask your mechanic for legal advice (unless your mechanic was also a brilliant lawyer!) and you wouldn't ask a teacher to install your kitchen. Trust the person with training and expertise in the subject to provide you with the best information.
A great tip from the Colorado Children's Immunization Coalition: Look for an "About Us" section on the website. It will often contain information about the site's mission and beliefs. Or Google the author's name to find out more about their affilitations.
What is the purpose of the website?
If the website is encouraging you to buy specific items like books, DVDs, or alternative healing products, it is not a public health website.
Posted: March 8, 2012
Yesterday I Have Immunity presented at Social Media Camp, an event organized by the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council. As a social media campaign, we were excited to share our experiences with the attendees and learn from their insights and projects as well. It was a day of learning and thinking- and also tweeting, as participants were encouraged to tweet updates using the hashtag #SocialMediaCamp. You can view all the tweets here!
I Have Immunity is a storytelling campaign, but social media is an integral part of how we gather and share those stories. Social media tools are invaluable for connecting with people who are interested in immunization, whether they have questions to ask, stories to tell, or information to contribute. In our presentation, we stressed that social media can be overwhelming and time-consuming, but when used strategically it can make a huge difference in disseminating your campaign! We used Cindy's story, which made it's way to use through a nurse and Facebook supporter, as an example of the power of social media networks!
It's not new anymore that people use the internet to research information about health and diseases to help them make choices in their care, but now that health care providers and organizations are getting involved with social media as well, there is huge potential for dialogue and partnership through social media networks! Since we hope to connect health care providers with advocates in their communities all across the province, it was encouraging to hear so many other health care experts talking about using social media to educate and communicate with the public!
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Posted: March 5, 2012
A few weeks ago, we got an email from Denise, a nurse in the interior. She had signed up as a supporter I Have Immunity almost a year before, when we were just building this campaign from scratch. As a public health nurse who gives immunizations, Denise was a strong supporter of the campaign, but didn't have a story in mind to share. However, when she met with a mom who did have a story, she put us in touch with one another! We were so grateful, as one of our goals is to build a network of immunization supporters through people like Denise (and you!) who share our campaign with their communities. Without Denise's help, we wouldn't know Cindy's story now!
Cindy is a mom of two girls, whose younger daughter Richelle (pictured here in 2009) has a heart condition called cardiomyopathy. She was placed on the wait list for a heart transplant at only seven months old, before she was able to receive her MMR and varicella immunizations, which are given at twelve months. Cindy was extremely cautious with Richelle's health, because if a heart became available for transplant and Richelle had any signs of infection in her system, she would not be eligible to receive it. The chickenpox, a disease many assume is no big deal, could literally be the difference between life and death for a child awaiting a transplant.
Recently, Richelle was taken off the transplant list as her heart function improved. Cindy immediately took her daughter to be vaccinated, and is glad to know that her daughter is protected. But children and adults who do receive transplants remain vulnerable to serious complications from immuization-preventable disease. While many take their immunity and good health for granted, some are not so lucky. Your immunity protects you and everyone around you too- especially the children and adults who need that protection!
Posted: March 2, 2012
Yesterday we (Chelsea and Michelle) had the pleasure of attending a health fair jointly organized by the Squamish and Teleil-Waututh Nations. Whooping cough vaccinations were also being offered at the health fair, to prevent the spread of the current outbreak in Fraser Valley. We were delighted that nearly everyone we talked to had either received the vaccine or scheduled an appointment to get it! A few people admitted that they were nervous about getting a needle, but agreed that they didn't want to risk infecting any of the babies or elders in their community. It's great to see the members of a community taking precautions to protect one another.
We were also able to hear a few great stories. One nurse stopped by to talk with us about the HPV vaccine. She said when it came out, she didn't know whether or not she should immunize her daughters. She told us, "I prayed to God to give me a sign, and within a few weeks, two members of our family were diagnosed with cervical cancer." She chose the vaccine for her daughters, who are now protected against the viruses that cause 70% of cervical cancers.
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