The importance of seasonal influenza vaccine for health care workers and high risk groups has been well documented, yet health care worker (HCW) influenza vaccination rates have risen only minimally over the past 20 years and are far short of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2020 goals whose target is a 90 percent vaccination rate. One of the fundamental tenets of health care is to care for patients while protecting ourselves from harm. Because HCWs work in an environment where frequent contact with infectious patients is routine, we are at risk for exposure to influenza with possible transmission to other patients, their families, and other HCWs. The situation calls for a review of attitudes and beliefs toward influenza vaccination with a focus on the successful strategies associated with increased HCW vaccination rates.
SHAPE America’s 50 Million Strong initiative is a commitment to put all children on the path to health and physical literacy through effective health and physical education programs so they have the ability, confidence, and desire to be physically active and make healthy choices by 2029. Celebrate back to school with this post on physical literacy.
August is National Breastfeeding Month, and this year’s theme is Charting the Course Together. The focus is on using data to connect breastfeeding to a range of other health topics. An important health topic is the role that breastfeeding plays in infant and child health outcomes. Systematic reviews that highlight some of these key outcomes will be available in 2018.
The Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee is composed of 17 nationally recognized experts in the fields of physical activity and health. Today, we are highlighting Dr. Kirk Erickson, Associate Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Geriatric Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. On the Committee, Dr. Erickson serves as chair of the Brain Health Subcommittee and is a member of the Aging Subcommittee.