SENIORS ALIVE! THE MAY 2019 ISSUE

HERE IS YOUR MAY ISSUE OF SENIORS ALIVE!

A lot of good stuff in this issue!

A replacement for trusty bus Betsy is near at hand!

But ... lots of trips scheduled for Betsy. Take this opportunity to ride on her with your friends before Betsy goes to Bus Heaven.

Don't miss the bio of my neighbor Marie Merrow, the nice lady who makes sure you get the best seats for GHSS luncheons.

And a tip to the wise:

The TICKS are swarming, we’ve found two today. Protect yourself, check your clothes, skin and your pets, etc. Eucalyptus oil or peppermint and citrus oils are recommended as natural tick repellents. Combine the last two into a spray bottle and apply to clothing, skin and hair to deter the critters.

SHOULD ADULTS GET A MEASLES BOOSTER?

 Our country is experiencing a relatively high incidence if measles now. This despite eradication of the virus from the USA not many years ago, in 2000.

Control of measles and other diseases that respond to vaccines depends on a large proportion  of the population getting that vaccine. Those few unvaccinated are not likely to encounter other unvaccinated people and so the virus is contained. Rates of vaccination against measles in the USA have been above the 90-something-percent that is required to achieve nearly universal protection.

Some groups of people are unvaccinated.

Infants do not receive their first dose until they are 12 months old. For a year they are susceptible to this highly contagious virus.

Some insular groups of people are unaware of the timing of vaccination for their children and so miss getting the protection.

Still other people are swayed away from vaccination by those who spread COM0LETELY UNFOUNDED claims that vaccination enhances - - or causes - - autism and other diseases.

How did the virus return to plague us?

Most likely travelers from other parts of the world such as Europe and the Middle East reintroduced the measles virus into the USA. Vaccination rates are much lower there than here - -  and incidence of measles is much higher.  The virus that they carry with them finds a robust population of victims. Unfortunately,  most of the victims are unwitting children.

Because of the unusually high incidence of measles in the USA today, it is reasonable for us seniors to ask whether we are immune. Whether they should get a booster.

An article in the New York Times addresses this question. You can read it if you will follow this link:Should adults get a measles booster?

Basically, the vast majority of adults in the USA are considered to be immune. The virus was considered to have been eradicated from the USA in 2000, and if we were not immune there would have been outbreaks before now.

Adults who are uncertain of their vaccination history and who work with unvaccinated groups, university students,  or are planning a trip abroad might consider getting a booster. Anybody born before 1957 is probably immune.

Avoid or put off vaccination if you are pregnant, have TB or any other condition that causes you to bleed (think blood thinners) or recently received a transfusion or blood products, have a compromised immune system, or have recently been vaccinated against another disease.

As always, if you are in doubt, check with your doctor.

SENIORS ALIVE! YOUR APRIL ISSUE

HERE IS YOUR APRIL ISSUE OF SENIORS ALIVE! 

LOTS OF GOOD STUFF.

ENJOY!

PROTECTING YOUR INTERNET ACCOUNTS

In the last year or so there have been reports of disastrous security breaches in companies such as EQUIFAX and FACEBOOK. Your passwords and other internet ogin information may have been stolen. Bad people could have been able to get into your bank accounts, your email, your .. whatever it is you have that is accessed through the internet. 

There are fairly simple ways to protect yourself. Nothing is free: they all require at least one extra step on your part, but the increased security is worth it.

Basically, these steps all involve 'two-step authentication.

What is 'two-step authentication?'  Maybe your bank requires it of you now: when you try to log in, a temporary code is sent to your phone, land line or cell, as a voice or text message. You then type in that code and, Bob's your uncle, you're in. d

You can also download authenticator apps from Google or Facebookk to protect your accounts, including Twitter. 

I understand that fewer then 10% of internet users adopt two step authentication. You should think about it because hacking is only going to become more common and probably your are going to increasingly depend upon the internet for social and financial connections.

An article describing 4 simple two-step authentication procedures was published recently in the New York Times.  Check it out! Here is the link

BE SMART/BE SAFE!

SENIORS ALIVE! YOUR MARCH ISSUE

HERE IS YOUR MARCH ISSUE OF SENIORS ALIVE!

Note that the Hillsborough Food Pantry is aiming to bring in $10,000 by the end of April. Please donate to this most worthy cause

2019 Annual Meeting

Each year, GHSS is required to hold an Annual Meeting to reflect on the prior year and the plan for the next.  Pat Mathison was reelected Chair and two awards were presented.  Debernie Carpenter received the GHSS Volunteer of the Year Award.  Since GHSS's inception, Debernie has built all manner of items.  Most recently, he built the new sign in front of Shaw's.

Also, the Board selected Barbara Cavanaugh was voted as The Board Member Above and Beyond.

GET YOUR KIDS VACCINATED

 DEADLY DISEASES THAT SHOULD ONLY BE SEEN IN TEXT BOOKS ARE SHOWING UP IN EMERGENCY ROOMS

In recent years there have been pockets of resistance to childhood vaccination in the United States. This is very worrying. 

So what's the problem? 

Whooping cough, chickenpox, Hib (a cause of meningitis), measles and influenza still circulate in the USA. Polio still infects kids in other countries and our world is highly mobile.

The measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine is recommended for children 12 months old (6 months in certain high-risk groups of childern).  This means that for about one year your unvaccinated infant can be infected when  coming in contact with a diseased individual.

There is no reason for most children not to be vaccinated and a whole lot of reasons to get the vaccination.

Modern vaccines are highly effective and safe, with most serious side effects being exceptionally rare and far less serious than the disease itself. Vaccination in the USA, and worldwide, has saved the lives of millions of children.

 Vaccines do not cause autism and they do not contain toxic chemicals. Do not believe anybody who tells you they do.

For more information about the safety of vaccines -- and of the dangers of foregoing vaccination -- please read this, and the director of the CDC.