DOVER – While new school clothes, backpacks and school supplies can dominate parents’ back-to-school lists, the Division of Public Health (DPH) shares these tips to keep your child healthier and safer during the new school year:

• Wellness checks: Beginning at age 2, children and adolescents need an annual wellness check-up that includes a physical examination. The health care provider will screen the child’s overall health, including vision, and hearing. Immunizations are often given during these appointments.
• Visit the dentist: Back to school time is the perfect opportunity to get kids ready for a great year of oral health. Remember to set up dental appointments along with other routine check-ups. Wake up a few minutes earlier on school days to allow kids enough time to brush their teeth before the rush to the bus. Be on the lookout for permission slips allowing your child to participate in school based oral health programs partnering with his or her school.
• Immunizations: Many people know that vaccines including: Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap), Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR), Hepatitis B, Polio (IPV OR OPV) and Varicella are required to enter kindergarten but most don’t know that a Tdap booster and the meningococcal vaccine are required for entry to ninth-grade. The HPV Vaccine series is also strongly recommended starting at 9 years of age. For a list of required immunizations, visit: http://regulations.delaware.gov/AdminCode/title14/800/804.shtml#TopOfPage or call 800-282-8672.
• Ease into the routine: Switching from a summer to a school schedule can be stressful to everyone in the household. Avoid first-day-of-school mayhem by practicing your routine a few days in advance. Set the alarm clock, go through your morning rituals, and get in the car or to the bus stop on time. Routines help children feel comfortable, and establishing a solid school routine will make the first day of school go much smoother. Work through your own anxious feelings about back-to-school. Children pick up on spoken and unspoken anxiety. The more relaxed you are about school, the more relaxed your kids will be. Put your family on a routine and emphasize sleep. For bedtime, focus on relaxation and sleep will follow.
• Healthy lunches: Pack nutritious lunches with protein, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and water or non-fat milk. Get recipe inspiration at https://www.choosemyplate.gov/. To prevent foodborne illness, pack lunches in insulated coolers with ice packs to keep food at 40◦ F or below, and follow the food safety advice at this link at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/bam/nutrition/power-packing.html. So children do not skip school meals, parents should complete and return school breakfast and lunch forms and send back-up lunch money the first few days. After school, provide your kids with healthy snacks.
• Backpack weight: Keep backpacks light. Most doctors and physical therapists recommend that kids carry no more than 10-15 percent of their body weight in their backpacks. Children should wear backpacks over both shoulders to reduce the risk of muscle and neck strains or injuries.
• Reflective tape: Buy outer clothes and backpacks with reflective tape so bus drivers and other motorists can easily see children at bus stops, or walking and bicycling to and from school.
• Mark personal items: In case backpacks or coats are accidentally left at school or on the bus, mark students’ personal items with their name and phone number. Make sure to write the information on the inside of items, instead of outside for the child’s safety.
• Bus safety: Parents should review bus information with their children. Write down the bus driver’s name, bus number, driver phone number, and the pick-up and drop-off times and locations. Keep that information handy at home and also include it in the child’s backpack for their easy reference.
• Pedestrian safety: Teach children to use crosswalks and obey traffic signals, highway signs, and laws. Map out safe routes to and from school. Remind children never to accept rides, candy, or other invitations from strangers. Trustworthy adults should accompany younger children.
• Protect their skin: Students regularly go outside for recess, gym, and sports practices. To prevent skin cancer, cream-based (not spray) sunscreens with a Sun Protective Factor (SPF) of 30 or higher, are recommended. Parents are encouraged to apply sunscreen daily before kids head off to school. If you want it applied at school for recess, field trips or late-day activities, please discuss this with your school nurse. You will need to provide written permission and the sunscreen. Older children participating in after-school sports should pack a tube of sunscreen in their sports bags, along with water for hydration and a high-protein or high-energy snack.
• Don’t forget the bug spray: Mosquitoes can spread a variety of illnesses and make children miserable with itchy bites. Spray their clothing with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents containing permethrin. As with sunscreen, parents are encouraged to apply insect repellent at home daily through the fall months, and follow product instructions.

For more information about preparing children for returning to school, visit Nemours Health and Prevention Services’ parenting website: http://kidshealth.org/en/parents.

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.

DOVER — Delaware ranks third in the nation for its percentage of immunized children ages 19 to 35 months, and seventh for its percentage of adolescents receiving the trio of the recommended human papillomavirus (HPV), meningococcal and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis) vaccines, according to a recent national rankings report.

In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the National Immunization Survey (NIS) results for 2015. Based on the results of this survey, Delaware was recognized with awards for outstanding progress towards Healthy People 2020 goals in the following three areas:

• Outstanding progress toward the Healthy People 2020 target of 70 percent for influenza vaccination coverage among children aged 6 months to 17 years during the 2015-2016 influenza season. Delaware had a rate of 69.2 percent, a 3 percent increase from the 2014-2015 influenza season.

• Outstanding progress toward the Healthy People 2020 targets of 80 percent for nine selected vaccinations for children aged 19 months to 35 months.

• Outstanding progress toward the Healthy People 2020 targets of 80 percent coverage for each of the three vaccines (one dose of Tdap vaccine, one dose of Meningitis vaccine, and three doses of Human Papilloma Virus or HPV Vaccine) among adolescents aged 13 to 17 years. Delaware has exceeded the targets for the first two vaccines but despite progress, still falls below the target for HPV vaccine.

“This achievement is an excellent example of collaboration at work as immunizations are delivered by many different partners,” said Division of Public Health (DPH) Immunization Program Director Jim Talbott, who accepted the awards at the National Immunization Conference in Atlanta, Ga.

The National Immunization Survey is a random telephone survey conducted by the CDC every year. Healthy People provides science-based, 10-year national objectives for improving the health of all Americans. For three decades, Healthy People has established benchmarks and monitored progress.

State-mandated vaccination requirements for school entry protect children and communities against vaccine preventable diseases. The annual Delaware school vaccination survey conducted in 2016 to assess kindergarten immunization coverage shows that Delaware had a 97 percent immunization coverage rate for two doses of MMR, five doses of DTaP, and two doses of Varicella vaccine. The same survey shows a combined medical/religious vaccine exemption rate of only 1.2 percent.

For additional information on immunizations, visit the Delaware Immunization Program webpage at http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/dpc/immunize.html or call DPH at 800-282-8672.

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.

DOVER – Every year, thousands of Americans are hospitalized, and some die, from diseases that could have been prevented by vaccination. To celebrate the importance of immunizations for all ages, the Division of Public Health (DPH) is joining with partners nationwide in recognizing August as National Immunization Awareness Month.

“There is a misconception among many adults that vaccines are only for children,” said DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf. “The truth is you never outgrow the need for immunizations.”

The specific vaccines an adult needs are determined by factors such as age, lifestyle, risk factors, travel, and immunizations previously received (i.e.: tetanus, Hepatitis A and B). All adults should talk to their health care professionals to make sure they are up to date on vaccines recommended for them.

When children are not vaccinated, they are at increased risk of infection and can also spread these diseases to others in their classrooms, their communities, and their families. This includes infecting babies who may be too young to be fully vaccinated and people with immune systems weakened by cancer or other health conditions.

“Getting children all of the vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is one of the most important things parents can do to protect their children from serious infections,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay. “If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to check with your doctor to find out what vaccines your children may need.”

Ensuring pregnant women are immunized is also important. The two vaccines routinely recommended during pregnancy are the pertussis or whooping cough vaccine (Tdap) and the flu shot.

“Getting a flu shot is the best way to protect a pregnant woman from the flu and prevent serious flu-related complications, such as premature labor and delivery. When you get a whooping cough vaccine during each pregnancy, you’ll pass on antibodies that will help protect your baby for the first months of life,” said Dr. Martin Luta, chief for DPH’s Bureau of Communicable Diseases.

In addition to DPH’s efforts, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is calling on partners, individuals, families, public health workers, and health care professionals to join the #VaxWithMe Thunderclap.

#VaxWithMe is a social and digital media campaign being launched by the CDC to bring a personal, empowering, and impactful aspect to vaccine messages.

To join the #VaxWithMe Thunderclap, visit https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/44448-support-vaccination-vaxwithme. Thunderclap is a platform that uses the power of crowds to amplify a single important message. The #VaxWithMe Thunderclap message will go live on Aug. 17 at 3:00 p.m.

To find out which vaccines you or your children may need and where you can get vaccinated, visit http://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dph/dpc/immunize.html or http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines or call the DPH Immunization Program at 800-282-8672.

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH.  The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.

DOVER – Michelle P. Power, BS, MT (ASCP), from Christiana Care Health System, has been named Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Childhood Immunization Champion for her outstanding efforts to promote childhood immunizations in Delaware. Ms. Power was recognized for her involvement with the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Christiana Care’s Christiana Hospital, and for her efforts discussing the importance of childhood immunizations to postpartum parents. Power counsels clients on discussing immunizations with their baby’s pediatrician after discharge from the hospital.

“I am greatly humbled and honored to receive this award,” said Power, an infection preventionist. “I have had the good fortune of working with a wonderful team of health professionals who are incredibly passionate about vaccines and who have helped me emphasize how immunizations can protect the health of children and adults.”

This award acknowledges the outstanding efforts of individuals who strive to ensure that children in their communities are fully immunized against 14 preventable diseases before the age of 2.

“Ensuring that every child is vaccinated on schedule is critical to protecting our children, schools, and communities from outbreaks of serious diseases,” said Dr. Amanda Cohn, a pediatrician at CDC and the Executive Secretary of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. “We could not achieve our goal of protecting children without those committed individuals who promote immunizations at the state and local levels.”

Vaccination is considered one of the top 10 medical achievements of the 20th century and now protects us from such vaccine-preventable diseases as the flu, mumps, rubella, pertussis, polio, and certain forms of cancer.

Vaccinations prevent disease and reduce suffering, improve our quality of life, and help us live longer. The CDC believes one of several measles outbreaks last year began when an infected overseas traveler passed on the highly contagious infection to unvaccinated children in Disneyland in California. Between January and November 2015, there were 189 cases of measles — a disease virtually thought eliminated in this country. While Delaware’s vaccination rates are high, there are still outbreaks, including this year’s flu outbreak at a New Castle County prison and the 2014 outbreak of whooping cough, mainly in Kent County. Delawareans should talk to their doctors about vaccinations recommendations, and schedules.

CDC Childhood Immunization Champions were selected from a pool of health professionals, coalition members, community advocates, and other immunization leaders. State Immunization Programs coordinated the nomination process and submitted nominees to the CDC. One winner was selected in each of the participating states and the District of Columbia. “Through the Childhood Immunization Champion awards, CDC and Delaware proudly acknowledge Michelle Power’s passion, hard work, and commitment to children’s health,” said Dr. Karyl Rattay, Director of the Division of Public Health.

“We are grateful for Michelle Power’s deep commitment to keep our youngest and most fragile patients safe,” said Dr. David Paul, a neonatologist and chair of Christiana Care’s Department of Pediatrics and the chair of the Delaware Healthy Mother and Infant Consortium. “Through her tireless efforts to ensure that children are properly immunized, she is helping us create a healthier community and a healthier Delaware.”

For profiles of other CDC Childhood Immunization Champion award winners, visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/champions.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.

Dover – Back to school is a busy time and there are many things for time-crunched parents to remember. The Division of Public Health (DPH) wants to help with these tips for a healthy and safe school year:

• Wellness check: DPH recommends that children and adolescents have an annual wellness check-up that includes a physical examination. At these visits, the child’s health care provider will screen the child’s overall health, including vision, hearing, and oral health. Health care providers also take this opportunity to assess promote healthy behaviors and strategies to prevent diseases. Annual wellness checks beginning at age 2 are strongly encouraged.

• Immunizations: To prevent communicable diseases such as chickenpox, measles, and mumps, DPH’s Immunization Program recommends that Delawareans be up-to-date with their immunizations. New for the 2015-2016 school year, meningococcal and Tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) vaccines are strongly recommended for 9th-grade entry. Starting in the 2016-2017 school year they will be required. For a list of required immunizations by age, visit the Delaware Immunization Program’s website or call 800-282-8672.

• School medical forms: Medical and safety forms should be completed as soon as possible and returned to the school. In particular, school nurses need to know medical and learning conditions, prescribed medications, and allergies.

• Sports participation forms: Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association forms must be completed by parents or guardians and signed by the student’s physician.

• Backpacks: Backpacks should be light – most doctors and physical therapists recommend that kids carry no more than 10 percent-15 percent of their body weight in their backpacks when loaded. Children should wear backpacks over both shoulders not just one to reduce the risk of muscle and neck strains or injuries.

• Reflective tape: Buy back-to-school outer clothes and supplies with reflective tape to assist bus drivers and other motorists to see children at bus stops, and walking or bicycling to and from school.

• Bus Safety: Parents should review bus information with their children. Write down the bus driver’s name, bus number, driver phone number, and the pick-up and drop-off times and locations. Keep that information handy at home and also include it in the child’s backpack for their easy reference.

• Pedestrian Safety: All children should be coached about crossing at crosswalks and be taught to obey traffic signals, highway signs, and laws. Safe routes to and from school should be mapped out, and children should be reminded never to accept rides, candy, or other invitations from strangers. When possible, younger children should be accompanied by a trustworthy adult.

• Healthy lunches: Parents should complete and return school forms to establish lunch accounts quickly, sending some lunch money the first days of school as a back-up measure. To prevent foodborne illness, pack lunches in insulated coolers with ice or ice packs to keep food at 40 F or below. Pack nutritious, lunches with protein, whole grains and fruits, and vegetables. Water or non-fat milk are great drink choices.

For more information about preparing children for returning to school, visit the KidsHealth from Nemours parenting website.

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind, or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person’s spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.