HPV Protection
GARDASIL® is the only vaccine that may help guard against diseases that are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) Types 6, 11, 16, and 18: cervical cancer, cervical abnormalities that can sometimes lead to cervical cancer, and genital warts.

In October 2005 the pharmaceutical company Merck announced that in clinical trials Gardasil was 100% effective in preventing infection with HPV strains 16 and 18, which together cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases.

Cervical cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in women and 2nd leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide.

The new human papilloma virus vaccine recently approved is now recommended by CDC for women and men from 9 - 26 years of age.

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Shingles Protection
Shingles is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. After an attack of chickenpox, the virus lies dormant in certain nerve tissue. As people age, it is possible for the virus to reappear in the form of shingles, which is estimated to affect 2 in every 10 people in their lifetime. Shingles is characterized by clusters of blisters, which develop on one side of the body and can cause severe pain that may last for weeks, months or years after the virus reappears.

ZOSTAVAX®, approved in 2006, is now recommended by CDC for people age 50 and older to prevent herpes zoster, or shingles, a condition that often leads to debilitating chronic pain.

FDA Okays Shingles Vaccine for Younger Age Group (March 24, 2011)
The FDA has approved use of the varicella zoster vaccine Zostavax in patients ages 50 to 59 for prevention of shingles.

The vaccine was approved in 2006 for prevention of shingles in patients 60 and older.

Approval for the new indication was based on a 22,000-patient multicenter study in the U.S. and four other countries. Patients ages 50 to 59 were randomized equally to the vaccine or placebo and were followed for a year.

Shingles risk was 70% lower in the treatment group than in the placebo group.

Adverse events in the study included injection site redness, pain, and swelling, as well as headache.

Shingles affects some 200,000 healthy patients in the newly approved younger age group each year in the U.S., an FDA statement said.

"The likelihood of shingles increases with age. The availability of Zostavax to a younger age group provides an additional opportunity to prevent this often painful and debilitating disease," Karen Midthun, MD, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research said in the statement.

By Cole Petrochko, Staff Writer, MedPage Today

Call 305-642-9889 for your appointment! In spite of the continuing nationwide shortage of Shingles vaccine, we DO have the serum available in both offices (Coral Gables-MIA and Aventura).

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Read here Fred Tasker's article about the shingles vaccine - Miami Herald, 01-11-2011

For more information click here to read Claudie Boulay's, RN, Executive Director Passport Health Miami contributing material to the Healthcare Committee of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce article titled "Caring for Aging Parents"; and watch the video produced by the UAB Health System Alabama.

You can also visit Spotlight on Shingles Program website.

America's children and adults strive for a healthier lifestyle, longevity and better quality of life than their ancestors. With today's medical breakthroughs and product offerings, people are living longer and healthier. Good health is paramount when nurturing families, delivering productivity to employers, and improving the quality of life for everyone. At Passport Health we understand these objectives and offer protective vaccines for a healthy lifestyle.

Vaccine-preventable disease levels are at or near record lows. However, as consumers, we cannot take high immunization coverage levels for granted. To continue to protect America's children and adults, we must obtain maximum immunization coverage in all populations, establish effective partnerships, implement immunization programs, and ensure vaccine safety. At Passport Health, we are committed to all of these components. Passport Health's professional staff has a high degree of proficiency and expertise in vaccines related to international travel and healthy lifestyles.

Passport Health has grown into one of the largest purchasers and providers of vaccines in the country. Physician's offices nationwide are reluctant to stock a full compliment of vaccines for their patients because of the high cost and insurance reimbursement schedules. Passport Health is known for its vaccine fulfillment services for travel medicine as well as protective vaccines for a healthy lifestyle.

We respond to the needs in the marketplace for specialty vaccines that are not necessarily related to travel. These vaccines require similar assessments of health history, risk groups, and individual needs. We follow the same protocols and guidelines to ensure proper application of these wellness vaccines to our clients.

Research has shown that companies across the country are looking for ways to minimize their insurance costs, decrease absenteeism and increase productivity. The interest in learning more about the benefits of a wellness program for groups as well as individuals is extremely high. Passport Health plays a vital role in partnering with corporations, schools, international travelers, church mission groups, and intercountry adoption travelers in the area of protective vaccines for a healthy lifestyle.

Passport Health is a nationwide comprehensive immunization provider. We have the ability to deliver services in our nationwide offices or on-site at your corporation, school, or church. Our experienced staff of Travel Medicine Specialists are available to answer your questions and administer protective vaccines quickly and efficiently.