Taking your blood pressure at home is quick, simple, and convenient, but there are a few things you need to do to ensure you are getting accurate blood pressure readings. This video will give you the information you need to do just that.
Over the last century, vaccines have saved more lives than any other health intervention. The World Health Organization estimates that 2 to 3 million lives are spared each year as a result of immunization.
Immunization prevents disease, improves health and reduces pressure on the health care system. It is important to note that immunization does not only protect you or your child, it is meant to provide “herd immunity”. Herd immunity provides indirect protection from vaccine-preventable diseases to infants too young to be vaccinated, pregnant women, the elderly, those that cannot be vaccinated and the immunocompromised. Herd immunity is achieved when a large enough proportion of the population is immune to a disease making it difficult for the disease to spread.
The vast majority of vaccine-preventable diseases still exist, even though they are rarely seen in Canada. If immunization rates were to fall in Canada, the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases would increase. This has been observed in other countries were large epidemics have resulted in huge numbers of preventable hospitalizations and deaths. These diseases can range from mild to life-threatening. In most cases there is no way to know if you or your child will get a mild or serious case.
Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to vaccine preventable diseases due to their immature immune systems being less able to fight off infection. The Canadian immunization schedule is timed to ensure that infants are protected from diseases most likely to cause harm. Any delay in immunization can result in unnecessary risk. Immunization is not only important in infants, older children and adults also require immunizations. Immunization gives your immune system a boost as well as builds new protection against diseases that are more common in these age groups.
Everyday you are exposed to millions of germs that keep your immune system working and protecting you. Therefore, vaccinations are easily handled by the immune system. Although it is true that no vaccine is 100% safe or effective, serious adverse effects are rare. The threats posed by the diseases that the vaccine prevents are many times greater. Canadian vaccines are put through rigorous scientific testing and review prior to use in order to ensure quality, safety and effectiveness. Scientific studies have repeatedly found no link between autism and vaccination. Vaccines do not contain harmful preservatives or additives.
Ask your primary care provider today what you can do to help keep your family and loved ones safe!
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Vaccines and immunizations. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/index.html
Immunize Canada. (2017). Retrieved from http://www.immunize.ca
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2017). Immunization and vaccination. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/immunization-vaccines.html
World Health Organization. (2017). Immunization. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/topics/immunization/en/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Vaccines and immunizations. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/index.html
Immunize Canada. (2017). Retrieved from http://www.immunize.ca
Public Health Agency of Canada. (2017). Immunization and vaccination. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/immunization-vaccines.html
World Health Organization. (2017). Immunization. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/topics/immunization/en/
Every year, the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario (AFHTO) recognizes Family Health Teams leadership, outstanding work and significant progress being made to improve the care Ontario Family Health Teams across Ontario deliver.
Bright Lights Award recipients are:
Family First Family Health Team is proud to have won such an award in the Comprehensive Team-Based Care category for increasing access to psychotherapy services.
Family First FHT’s Mental Health Team took action to defuse a critical mental health care situation in the local area by increasing access to its services. Many local hospitals had closed their mental health referral lists to the community, shut down dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) services, or had wait times of up to 2 years.
Family First FHT’s Mental Health Team found this problematic for an already-underserved population. The aim was to decrease deterioration in those in this complex, underserved population with more severe symptoms (such as self-harm, emotion dysregulation) and psychiatric diagnoses (including Borderline Personality Disorder, eating disorders, treatment-resistant depression, interpersonal and personality disorders, and problem drinking).
The mental health team modified an existing program based on Dialectical Behaviour Therapy for a primary care setting. The program, which was launched in September 2018, provided evidence-based group interventions.
Its flexible format allowed patients to enroll in one of the three 4-week modules. Holding sessions in a primary care setting reduced barriers to participation, since there was no stigma associated with the location. Standardized outcome measures indicate reductions in symptoms of depression and anxiety, increases in work and social functioning, and real-life implementation of the new skills. Patients had an 86 per cent satisfaction rate.
The program reduces the demand on hospital-based care and empowers patients in their community, while shortening wait times and producing results. It also fostered an inclusive community of care providers and patients working together toward recovery.
Family First FHT’s mental health team has made it possible for primary care clinicians to assist more complex patients by being seamlessly
Vaccination is not just for children. Vaccines are safe and protect you and those around you from vaccine-preventable diseases. As we get older, the protection we had from previous vaccination can decrease for some diseases. Getting another dose (called a booster) can increase our immunity to provide the best protection. Some adults may have missed one or more of their vaccines when they were a child. They may need to catch up and get these vaccines now.
There are also diseases that are more common in adults, even healthy adults. This is why additional vaccines are needed as we get older.
By keeping up to date with vaccines, adults can prevent the spread of disease to those who may be more likely to contract them. These include:
This is known as community immunity or herd immunity. Many Canadian adults are not up to date with their vaccines. Talk to your healthcare provider to see what you need to do to be fully protected.
Unless contraindicated, it is recommended that adults get vaccinated for common diseases at certain stages of life.
Adults may also want to consider being vaccinated for the following diseases if medically appropriate.
* multiple doses may be required
Not everyone is the same. You may need more or fewer vaccines depending on your medical history and risks. Talk to your healthcare provider about the right vaccines for you.
As we get older, our immune system can get weaker. This puts us at a greater risk for certain diseases, including influenza. The flu is more likely to cause severe illness and even death in older adults. Other vaccine-preventable diseases such as herpes zoster (shingles) and pneumococcal disease are more common with age.
Government of Canada – Vaccinations for Adults
We are happy to announce the launch of our new website. It has been redesigned to be more visually appealing, easier to navigate, and provide more meaningful and up-to-date content. Underlying this effort is our desire to provide our patients and the community at large with an easy way to learn about our clinic, the programs and services we offer and, over the coming months, provide meaningful health education content that people can access 24 / 7 / 365 at their discretion.