National Volunteer Week

Volunteer: A person who voluntarily offers himself or herself for a service or undertaking. (www.dictionary.com)

In honor of National Volunteer Week, we would like to personally thank each and every volunteer that has given so freely of their time to assist or help out in any way possible for the Hinds County MS Study Location of The National Children's Study! Your smiles, positive attitudes, and dedication has helped to encourage a spirit of community building throughout Hinds County. 

Also, we'd like to give a special thanks to our very own Community Advisory Board (CAB) and Youth Advisory Board (YAB) members! Your dedication to the NCS is absolutely priceless!

NCS Hinds County Community Advisory Board

(Back Row: Paul Jones II, Billy Redd;

Fourth Row: Paul “Trey” Jones III, Shane McNeill, Dolphus Weary

Third Row: Holly Zimmerman, Mary-Ellen Stewart

Second Row: Shirley Tucker,Christianne Pinell-Jansen, Hazel Gaines, Linda Jackson-Assad

Front Row: Doris Bridgeman, Maggie Wade Dixon, Keith Tonkel)

NCS Hinds County Youth Advisory Board

(From left: Ariel Dawkins-Chair, Elizabeth Nichols, Jamilah Perkins, Jared Taylor-Vice Chair, Kensheda Brown, Andrea Leigh-Ann Kyles Not Pictured: Tori Langworthy, Sara Todd, and Nate Watson)

HAPPY NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK!

HPV Vaccine Recommended by the Committee on Infectious Diseases for both males and females

In an effort to keep all of our blog readers informed on the most up-to-date public health information, we would like to share a very informative journal article from The American Academy of Pediatrics.

The journal abstract states:

"On October 25, 2011, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine (Gardasil; Merck & Co, Inc, Whitehouse Station, NJ) be used routinely in males. The American Academy of Pediatrics has reviewed updated data provided by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices on vaccine efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness as well as programmatic considerations and supports this recommendation. This revised statement updates recommendations for human papillomavirus immunization of both males and females."

The article highlights several recommendations including:

1. Girls 11 through 12 years of age should be immunized routinely with 3 doses of HPV4 or HPV2, administered intramuscularly at 0, 1 to 2, and 6 months. The vaccines can be administered starting at 9 years of age at the discretion of the physician.

2. All girls and women 13 through 26 years of age who have not been immunized previously or have not completed the full vaccine series should complete the series.

3. Boys 11 through 12 years of age should be immunized routinely with 3 doses of HPV4, administered intramuscularly at 0, 1 to 2, and 6 months. The vaccine can be given starting at 9 years of age at the discretion of the physician.

Of course, we would like for you to check out the article in it's entirety, to read the article from the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, click on the following link: 

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/reprint/pediatrics;129/3/602.pdf

We hope that you find this journal article informative, and please do share with us what you think of these new recommendations.