Back To School In A Healthy Way

Main Category: Immune System / Vaccines
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Public Health
Article Date: 30 Aug 2007 - 0:00 PST

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Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio is reminding parents to make sure their kids' immunizations are up-to- date as part of their back to school preparations.

In 2006 more than half of Ohio adolescents were not immunized against potentially dangerous viral diseases, including Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Chicken Pox, according to the 2006 report from the Health Plan Employer Data Information Set (HEDIS(R)).

"As we begin to prepare our children for school with new clothes and school supplies, it's also very important that they get their recommended immunizations," said Barry Malinowski, M.D., medical director for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in southern Ohio. Dr. Malinowski also noted that the need for immunizations continues after high school because many colleges require vaccination against meningococcal disease.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio sends immunization reminders to parents who have children up to 18 years of age. Since the beginning of the year, Anthem has sent more than 85,000 postcards to members in Ohio and surrounding states reminding them of their scheduled immunizations.

Dr. Malinowski said that adolescents (11 to 12-year-olds) are not immunized as regularly as young children (infant - age 2) because adolescents don't visit a physician's office as frequently.

"The opportunity for medical staff to determine if a vaccination is due doesn't occur as often with adolescents as with infants and young children. That's why it is important for parents to take an active role in checking their children's immunization status," Dr. Malinowski said.

Preventive health guidelines, including a complete recommended immunization schedule, are available for both members and non-members at http://www.anthem.com.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio is a subsidiary of WellPoint, Inc. WellPoint's mission is to improve the lives of the people it serves and the health of its communities. WellPoint, Inc. is the largest health benefits company in terms of commercial membership in the United States. Through its nationwide networks, the company delivers a number of leading health benefit solutions through a broad portfolio of integrated health care plans and related services, along with a wide range of specialty products such as life and disability insurance benefits, pharmacy benefit management, dental, vision, behavioral health benefit services, as well as long term care insurance and flexible spending accounts. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, WellPoint is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and serves its members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as Blue Cross Blue Shield in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties and as Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through UniCare. Additional information about WellPoint is available at http://www.wellpoint.com.

HEDIS(R) (Healthplan Employer Data and Information Set) is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio
http://www.anthem.com