The Greendale Health Department has received a grant to allow us to more closely track the immunizations of all children in Greendale up to two years old. Most childhood primary doses of vaccines are scheduled to be given by two years of age. Families of children two years and under are sent letters and/or called to be sure the families are aware of the recommended immunizations and that they have access to care that includes immunizations. If we are unable to reach a family by letter or phone, a home visit may be made.

Please help us to keep Greendale a healthy community by working with the public health nurses if they contact you about your child’s immunizations.

The Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) is a secure computerized data system that tracks the immunizations given to people in Wisconsin. The Registry electronically stores an individual’s immunization record in a secure system.

Health care providers can access this information to determine which immunizations are due at a given time. Parents and legal guardians can also access this information via the internet. Your health care provider can help you to register to access your own records. Public and private health care providers can access WIR only after they have been trained and have signed a confidentiality agreement administered through the Wisconsin Department of Health.

WIR is easily accessible on Internet Explorer. It allows immediate access to your immunization history. If you move within the state or change providers for your immunizations, your immunization history is available to your new health care provider via this registry. By using WIR, duplication of immunizations can be prevented as well as keeping one up to date on needed immunizations.

If you have further questions about the Wisconsin Immunization Registry call Greendale Health Department at 423-2110 or visit http://dhfsWIR.org.

For your New Year’s resolution, consider giving your health a boost by resolving to avoid environments where you and your family would be exposed to second hand smoke.

Dr. Robert Shepard, co-author of the landmark Helena Heart Study, recently spoke to a group of Greendale and Greenfield residents about second hand smoke and heart disease. His study, now confirmed by 10 other studies, showed that exposure to second hand smoke increases the risk of fatal and non-fatal coronary heart disease in non-smokers by about 30%. After only 20 min exposure to second hand smoke, the platelets in a non-smoker are as “sticky” as a smoker’s. This stickiness can cause the platelets to clump together to form clots that can block the arteries in the heart, causing a heart attack. This stickiness can take up to 24 hours to decrease to normal levels. In addition, second hand smoke causes inflammation in the inside of the artery, problems with the ability of the blood vessels to dilate, and increases cholesterol deposits in the blood vessels, further contributing to heart problems.

In Helena (Montana) and other cities, states and countries, it has been demonstrated that enacting smoke free workplace laws leads to an immediate decrease in the number of hospital admissions for heart attacks. Wisconsin is nearly surrounded by smoke-free states. Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa, have smoke-free workplace laws to protect the health of their citizens and Michigan is working on one. Twenty four states and 24 foreign countries, including Ireland, also protect their citizens with smoke-free laws. Wisconsin does not.

More information can be found at: www.ittimewisconsin.org; www.tobwis.org; www.tobaccofreekids.org and www.anr.org

Available FREE from the Health Department: Make It Your Business: Strategies for a Tobacco-Free Workplace in Wisconsin. This is booklet describes 3 steps for making your workplace tobacco-free, how to use your company’s health plan to help employees quit, ideas for implementing policies, materials and resources.

Lighten Up Wisconsin (and Greendale)
January 19-April 28, 2009

Kick Off Event: January 8, 2009
Greendale High School MPR, 7 p.m.

Lighten Up is a fun, team based wellness initiative from Step Up and our partners. Your team of two to ten adults can compete with other teams in Greendale and across Wisconsin in the Weight Loss Division, Activity Division or Total Fitness Division. Take advantage of a wealth of innovative resources to jump start small, realistic and permanent changes in exercise and eating habits. It is as easy as 1-2-3:
1 Form a Team: Gather up to 10 co-workers, family members, neighbors, or friends. Choose a team name and a team captain.
2 Choose a Division: Choose the weight loss, activity or total fitness division for the same fee of $15 per person. (The money goes to the Lighten Up program)
3 Register Your Team: Watch for more information about registration. You will be able to register on-line or at the Kick-Off event at Greendale High School on January 8, 2009
Your registration fee includes a wealth of innovative resources including: interactive website with Team Page, online training log and activity tracker (privacy protected), online food journal, team message board, online health and fitness discussion forum, weekly tips from Wisconsin health professionals, weekly incentive challenges, free participation in the Healthy Holidays Challenge, AND a t-shirt!

For more information contact the call Greendale Health Department at 423-2110.

Flu clinics held in the Community Room in Health Department lower level:

For flu shots for children aged 6 months through 18 years, contact the Health Department for an appointment.

Flumist (inhaled flu vaccine) is available for children aged 5 through 18 years.

For residents unable to leave their homes, flu shots can be given in the home. Contact the Health Department for more information.

The Wisconsin Student Immunization law was recently changed. Two different vaccine requirements were added which may affect your child’s compliance with the law. The change will go into effect this fall with the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year. Parents are required to have their children vaccinated or claim a waiver by indicating their choice on the Student Immunization Record and returning it to their child’s school.

The new requirements are:

• 1 dose of tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis vaccine (Tdap) for students entering 6th, 9th , and 12th grades and
• 2 doses of varicella (chickenpox) vaccine for students entering kindergarten, 6th and 12th grades. Students who have had chickenpox disease are not required to get this shot.