Poll: Many Americans on the fence about swine flu vaccine

How concerned are most Americans about swine flu? Apparently, not enough to get vaccinated against it, a new Consumer Reports poll shows.

Forty-three percent of Americans say they’re on the fence about getting the H1N1 vaccine, 34 percent plan on getting the vaccine and 35 percent of parents say they’ll definitely have their children vaccinated.

Those aren’t good numbers for federal health officials, who are encouraging just about everyone to get vaccinated, especially those who are pregnant, those with chronic medical conditions, health care workers, emergency personnel and children 6 months and older.

The Consumer Reports poll was conducted from Sept. 2-7. The magazine asked respondents about flu vaccinations and how worried they were about flu season.

Among other findings:

- 43 percent of parents said they were not too worried about their kids getting swine flu.
- 44 percent of parents expressed concern that other parents would be overly worried.
- 50 percent of parents said they’re holding off on making a decision about whether to vaccinate their kids.
- 14 percent said they will definitely not get their kids vaccinated.

Richard Martin, Times Staff Writer

Look on the bright side

Appreciate the little things. When you're stressed out, overly busy, or just feeling down, make it a point to find something positive in your life. On a hot day, it might be air conditioning. On a rainy day, it's the fact that your car starts and is keeping you dry.  Click here for more on the benefits of focusing on the positive.

Irene Maher, Staff Health Writer

Headaches? Check your teeth.

Having a lot of headaches? They may be caused by clenching or grinding your teeth at night, a misaligned jaw or by an infected tooth socket. Talk to your dentist who can check for unusual wear on your teeth, popping in your jaw joint, and the overall health of your teeth.

Irene Maher, Staff Health Writer 

Exercise idea

Go roller skating. The Roller Skating Association says, in adults, an hour of skating can burn between 330 and 590 calories an hour, depending on how fast and vigorously you skate. It's as aerobically beneficial as running, without the impact on your joints. Click on the above link to find a rink near you.

Irene Maher, Staff Health Writer

Medicare Advantage: A different view

So, we've had a few calls today about the Medicare Advantage story in today's paper (see the latest Politifact entry here on the subject), and Sen. Bill Nelson's quest to keep seniors on these plans from losing any benefits, despite the possibility that they're costing billions needed to help people who have no insurance at all.

Nobody wants to lose stuff they like, that's for sure.

So I was a little startled to hear from a Spring Hill gentleman who told me that he likes his Advantage plan very much, but wondered how it is that he can get his $96 monthly Medicare Part B premium refunded during times like this. Between him and his wife, that benefit is worth $2,300 a year. Not to mention the approximately $10,000 a year the government gives Advantage companies per recipient.

"Do you know what the cost to the government is?'' he exclaimed.

At this point, I had to stop and ask if he truly meant to say cutbacks in Advantage might be needed. Yes, he said, that's exactly what he meant. I wanted to interview him for a story, but he said he really didn't want his name published.

I could understand that, so I thanked him for calling, and said it was nice to hear from somebody willing to sacrifice. He didn't see it that way. "I fought in World War II, but we weren't heroes. We just did what needed to be done.''

Just thought I'd pass all that along.

Charlotte Sutton, health and medicine editor

Keep flu at home

Stay home from work, school, the mall, grocery store etc, if you develop flu symptoms: fever, chills, sore throat, cough, lethargy, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, diarrhea or vomiting. Limit contact with others especially those at high risk for flu-related complications including people with cancer, heart or lung disease, organ transplant patients, anyone over age 65 or under age 5, and pregnant women.

Irene Maher, Staff Health Writer

Hands down flu prevention

Habitually bite your nails, rub your eyes, scratch your nose? Stop! That's how we pick up and ingest germs, including the seasonal and H1N1 or swine flu viruses. Keep hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth. If necessary, touch with a tissue. Then toss it. Teach kids to do the same.

Irene Maher, Staff Health Writer

Jordin Sparks drops weight, gets a milk mustache

 

Jordin Sparks, the 19-year-old who shot to fame on American Idol, is the latest celebrity to grace the Body By Milk "Got Milk?'' ad campaign.

And to judge from the ad, she has slimmed down considerably from her "Idol'' days. (she's shown here in March 2007)

But though she talks about milk's nutrition, she doesn't credit it with any special weight loss powers.

"I know that I am in charge of what I eat and drink and my choices affect how I look and feel," she says in a press release. "I skip the sugary beverages and reach for milk instead. Milk is full of important nutrients and is something I feel good about putting into my body. I encourage all teens to help make a difference in the world and Drink Milk for a Change."

(That last line refers to the link between the milk campaign and the VH-1 Save the Music effort.)

So, how did Jordin lose the weight? In July, she told TV's Insider that it was being the opening act for the Jonas' Brothers dance-intensive tour that did it.

"I'm literally drenched every night when I get off the set because the stage for this world tour I'm on is so massive. I'm constantly moving," she said then.

"I do have my trainer out on tour with me this time around. He just got here last week, and it's been a lot of fun. Any time I find time - or I'm not sleeping - he's like, 'Let's work out, let's do something.' I'm like 'nooo,' but he gets my butt up and I've got to do it. It's fun to do that."

 (Photos: Body By Milk, Fox-TV)

Keep the flu to yourself

The flu, seasonal or H1N1, is spread when infected people cough or sneeze. Because you can be infected and not have symptoms yet, don't forget to cough or sneeze into a tissue, covering your nose and mouth, then throw the tissue away and wash your hands. Can't get a tissue in time? Use the bend of your elbow. Teach children to do the same.

Irene Maher, Staff Health Writer

Go on, wash your hands ... again!

Because there's a study for everything these days, we bring you this dispatch from the Soap and Detergent Association:

Looks like more Americans are heeding advice about washing hands to keep from spreading the swine flu virus. An August survey found that: 
 
--50% say they wash their hands more than 10 times per day (up from 36% in 2008).
--70% wash up at least 7 times per day (up from 62%).
--More Americans claim to always wash their hands before eating lunch, after coughing or sneezing and after using the bathroom. 
 

But there are still holdouts:

 
--While 62% of women are washing more than 10 times per day, only 37% of men are doing the same.
--39% of respondents seldom or never wash their hands after coughing or sneezing (on par with 2008).
--46% of respondents wash their hands for 15 seconds or less (on par with 2008).  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (and, not suprirsingly, the Soap and Detergent Association) recommend washing with soap and water for at least 15-20 seconds. 
 
And just to prove that human behavior often makes no sense:

--65% expressed concern about H1N1 flu, but only one-third of respondents said they changed their overall hygiene habits in response to the threat.
 
Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go celebrate International Clean Hands Week (that would be now) with a nice, 20-second hand scrub.

Charlotte Sutton, health and medicine editor