Advertisement
"As parents start to think about back to school preparation, it's veryimportant that children get their recommended immunizations and their eyestested," said Dr. Jeff Holmstrom, DO, medical director for Anthem Blue Crossand Blue Shield in Maine. Holmstrom noted that immunizations don't stop afterhigh school, as many colleges now require vaccinations against meningococcaldisease.
Advertisement
There are several new vaccines that have become available for adolescents.The new human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for girls ages 11-12years. The HPV vaccine is a 3-dose series administered over a six-monthperiod. Whooping cough (pertussis) is a vaccine given to young children, butimmunity fades over time. The best protection for teens and pre-teens is abooster shot of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) that protects againstthese serious diseases. Anthem provides coverage for most vaccines.Policyholders should confirm their specific benefits by calling the toll freenumber listed on their insurance card.
According to Dr. Holmstrom, adolescents (11- to 12-year-olds) are notimmunized as regularly as young children (infant to 2-year-olds) becauseadolescents don't visit a physician's office as frequently.
"The opportunity for medical staff to check health records to see if avaccination is due is not present as often with adolescents as it is withinfants and young children. That's why it is important for parents to take theinitiative in checking about their children's immunization status," saidHolmstrom.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has a longstanding collaboration withthe Maine Immunization Program (MIP). Funding assistance from Anthem and otherhealth insurers allows the MIP to purchase vaccines in bulk at discountedprices. The MIP then distributes the vaccines at no cost to pediatricians andprimary care practices across the state. Anthem's contribution to this programtotals approximately $500,000 each year.
The American Public Health Association recently reported that one in fourchildren in kindergarten through sixth grade has a vision problem. Since somestudies indicate that 80 percent of learning in children occurs visually, aregular eye exam that can detect and prevent eye disease is a crucial part ofback to school planning.
Anthem has recently added the Eye Health Resource Center to its website,www.anthem.com . This educational tool, which is available to all consumers,features a series of short consumer-focused videos ranging from how the eyeworks to diseases of the eye to protecting your eyes from harmful ultravioletrays. There is also a special section devoted to children's eye health. Thewebsite also includes preventive health guidelines, including a completerecommended immunization schedule in the myhealth@Anthem section of thewebsite.
About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Health Plansof Maine, Inc., and an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue ShieldAssociation. (R)ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem InsuranceCompanies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols areregistered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additionalinformation about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine is available atwww.anthem.com .
SOURCE Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
