One of my friends recently posted an article about the HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vaccine.  When I clicked on the link, it took me to a fairly official looking webpage from a “college of physicians” with possible safety warnings. I was somewhat shocked, since I hadn’t seen any other research or data about this. A few days later, I realized I had been duped. Fortunately, another friend who is a pediatrician, posted a response on Facebook calling out the group issuing warning.

Immunize Nevada and the Washoe County Health District are partnering to offer free flu vaccines this Wednesday at the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows at 2680 E 9^th St., Reno, NV 89512.

Vaccinations will be available for everyone ages 6 months to 64 years and older on a first come, first served basis. People should bring their insurance card (including Nevada Checkup and Medicaid) or information if they have it.

Want to support the pro-vaccine movement, but don't know where to start? Check out these 10 tips to get started. 

As a healthy adult, when you get a flu vaccine, you’re protecting more than yourself. You’re helping to limit the spread of disease to the most fragile members of our communities. Infants and young children are particularly susceptible to complications or even death from the flu virus. Children are two to three times more likely to get the flu.

Carson City -- The Division of Public and Behavioral Health's (DPBH) Immunization Program is one of ten awardees of a new Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF) award from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The application process was competitive, and Immunization Program leadership is excited to announce that Nevada will receive $938,606 to focus on comprehensive efforts to increase adult immunization rates across the state. 

A weekend was lost, but for Karissa Loper, it was nothing compared with the knowledge gained.

Loper is now a program manager for the Nevada State Immunization Program. Then, she was just a college student who thought flu vaccines were for someone else.

“I just ignored it,” she says. “It wasn’t like I was against it or anything. My whole crew that I hung out with, none of us were in health-related fields of study. So no one really even talked about it.”

It took just one weekend for that to change for Loper.

As part of National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), December 6-12, 2015, established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), government and health officials will join community partners to raise awareness about the benefits of flu vaccination and honor local flu vaccination heroes during a press conference and awards ceremony. 

The National Influenza Vaccination Disparities Partnership (NIVDP) is a national multi-sector campaign, spearheaded by local influential partners who commit to promote the importance of flu vaccination among underserved populations. The partnership is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and has worked in 95 cities throughout the United States. Immunize Nevada has been working with NIVDP since its inception.

When Erik Schoen made it through 2013 without getting the flu, he thought he was in the clear. He had seen co-workers, several high school students he chaperoned on a trip and even his own stepdaughter become ill, but he hadn’t felt any symptoms,despite being exposed to the flu virus numerous times. So, when 2014 rolled around, he decided he would skip getting a flu shot. That decision would come back to haunt him a few months later.

Reno, Nev. (November 4, 2015) – It may be common knowledge that the flu is a miserable experience – characterized by severe aches, chills, high fever, cough/runny nose and a desire to stay in bed until the illness has run its course. But what some may not realize is that the flu is also a miserable experience for businesses.

From a numbers standpoint, the flu ravages a business much like it does the human body.