• Your Child's Immunizations

• Student Immunizations

• Benefits Corner

• Employee Assistance Program

• Immunizations Clinics

• New Child-care & Pre-K Immunization  Requirements

• Safety Tip!

• Fitness Center Discounts
  for MISD Staff

• Water Aerobics

Immunizations Clinics

McAllen ISD is here to help keep your children healthy! The Hidalgo County Health Dept. has arranged for an immunization clinic. A parent must accompany the student and bring her/his immunization record or school nurse’s referral.  There is a $5.00 fee for each vaccine.

Contact Person: Adalia Del Bosque, RN, BSN
Telephone: (956) 632-3275
 

http://mcallenisd.com/cshealth/immunizations.shtml

New Child-care & Pre-K Immunization  Requirements

Effective September 1, 2005, House Bill (HB) 1316 will become law. This law requires that children attending child-care facilities be vaccinated against invasive pneumococcal and hepatitis A diseases. This change will effect children attending pre-kindergarten, Head Start, or other early childhood programs. The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) will revise rules related to these immunization requirements at a later date, however, the statute is effective September 1, 2005.

Pursuant to the Human Resource Code §42.043(b), each child at an appropriate age shall be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, mumps, rubella, rubeola, invasive pneumococcal and hepatitis A disease and against any other communicable disease as recommended by the DSHS. Additionally, DSHS requires vaccination against pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, varicella, and hepatitis B. Although the law requires that the immunizations must be administered to the child on the date of first entry into the child-care facility, a child may be provisionally admitted if the required immunizations have begun and are completed as rapidly as medically feasible.

Pneumococcal disease is an infection caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae, also known as pneumococcus. The most common types of infections caused by these bacteria include middle ear infections, pneumonia, blood stream infections (bacteremia), sinus infections, and meningitis. There are currently two licensed vaccines that prevent pneumococcal disease. The pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) is required for all children attending child-care facilities aged 2 months through 59 months of age.

In addition to PCV7, children in certain high-risk groups aged two years and older are also required to have pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23). The attached chart explains the requirements and timing for these vaccines.

Hepatitis A is a liver disease commonly associated with food servers. It is spread from person to person by putting objects in the mouth that has been contaminated with the stool of a person with hepatitis A. Children attending child-care who are two years of age or older will need two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine separated by six to 18 months. Children must be allowed 18 months from the date of the first dose to complete the series before a child-care facility can deny admittance.

The requirement for students in grades kindergarten through third grade in specific high-incidence counties has not changed.

Programming ICE into Cell Phones
for Emergencies

By First Coast News Staff

FT. PIERCE, FL -- If you fall victim to an accident, would emergency crews know how to reach your loved ones?

St. Lucie County's Fire Chief wants to make sure his crews can find someone's family with the touch of a button.

He wants to expand a program called "ICE." That's an acronym that stands for, "In case of emergency."

The idea is to encourage people to program the word ICE into their cell phones along with an emergency contact number.

That way, if there's an accident, and a firefighter or paramedic finds you unconscious they can scroll to the ICE listing on your phone and call your emergency contact.

Research sponsored by Vodafone shows most people carry their cell phones wherever they go, but the vast majority, nearly eight in ten do not carry any emergency contact information with them.

Water Aerobics

Wellness...a way of life!

The risks of vaccinations are small in comparison to the health risks associated with the diseases vaccines are intended to prevent.

The Nemours Foundation

• Texas Department of State Health Services - Immunization Branch
• Texas Department of State Health Services - School Health Program
• The Parents Guide to Childhood Immunization
• Immunization Action Coalition
• Immunization Gateway
• Institute for Vaccine Safety
• National Vaccine Program Office

You can get a predetermination of dental benefits before you obtain treatment….this means no surprises when your dental claims are processed.  Before your visit to the dentist, complete the patient portion of the dental claim form available from the Employee Benefits Office.  Then, have your dentist list all necessary procedures for your course of treatment.  The form should be sent to the claim address on the form.  Mutual of Omaha will provide an advance estimate of dental benefits.

You can avoid surprises on your bill by asking questions.  Talk to your dentist and make sure you understand and agree with the recommended treatment program before it begins and request a predetermination of benefits.  And remember that although your dentist may recommend a service or supply for treatment of a condition, only medically necessary services or supplies are covered by the District’s self funded medical plan.

What’s in a generic drug?  Everything that’s in a brand-name drug-minus a hefty price tag.  The difference you’ll notice is in your checkbook.  Prices for generic drugs are generally 40%-60% lower than brand-name drugs.  So to help keep the Districts’ self funded pharmacy benefit co-payments under control, ask your doctor to prescribe generic drugs when appropriate.  There are about 60% of all medications that have a generic equivalent. 

The District's self funded medical plan has access to the Texas True Choice, Inc, Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) network of medical providers through Mutual of Omaha.  Effective July 1, 2005, South Texas Health System facilities, including McAllen Medical Center, Edinburg Regional Medical Center, McAllen Heart Hospital, South Texas Behavioral Center and South Texas Rehabilitation Pavilion, WILL NOT  be in-network providers.  The South Texas Health System facilities will be out-of-network providers.   

The following hospitals are considered in-network providers.

• Rio Grande Regional Hospital, 101 E Ridge, McAllen,TX  78503

• Mission Medical Center, 900 S Bryan Rd, Mission, TX  78572

• Knapp Medical Center, 1401 E 8th St, Weslaco, TX  78596

• Valley Baptist Medical Center, 2101 Pease St, Harlingen, TX  78550

• Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, 5501 McColl Rd, Edinburg, TX  78539 (effective July 1, 2005)

Mr. Andres Silva is the Director of Employee Benefits/Risk Management

Statistics prove regular exercise can help reduce, stress, depression, insomnia, high blood pressure and heart disease. It can also improve circulation, weight management, muscle tone, self - esteem, and osteoporosis, so what are we waiting for, lets get started.

There are two fitness centers that offer group discounts for MISD employees.

Have a great workout!