AUGUST IS NATIONAL IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS MONTH
Back-to-school means it’s time for kids to get their physicals and make sure vaccines are up to date. But with so much talk in the media about vaccination safety, you might wonder, what’s a parent to do? Here are a few things to think about.
- Vaccines save lives. Skipping them leaves your child vulnerable to serious diseases like diphtheria, measles, meningitis, mumps, pertussis, polio, rubella, tetanus, tuberculosis and yellow fever.
- Be informed about vaccine safety. In the U.S., several safeguards are required by law to help ensure that the vaccines we receive are safe. Learn more in this video.
- Understand both sides. See the long history of the anti-vaccination movement in this infographic.
Vaccinations have nearly wiped out many diseases that were once prevalent in the U.S. and will prevent more than 732,000 deaths among children born in the last 20 years. See what that really means: Protect tomorrow.
We encourage you to talk with your doctor about how you can safely protect your child from illness.
Source: Centers for Disease Control/Vaccine Safety
Get more information:
- Kaiser Permanente: Learn about KP’s Vaccine Study Center
- Providence: Why vaccinating your child matters
- Regence: Five reasons to keep vaccines up to date
- For a quick review of the vaccines adults need and why, see our infographic
ACTIVE PEOPLE FEEL BETTER
Move more and sit less every day. That’s the secret to feeling better, says the CDC.
People have proved this simple principle for centuries. And just to be sure, scientific studies prove it too: Active people are less likely to get heart disease, diabetes, cancer, anxiety, depression, fatigue and more.
So, how much activity do you need to fit in to your already busy schedule? It depends on the intensity:
- 42 min/day (5 hours/week) of moderate activity: brisk walking, exercise classes like water aerobics and bicycling slower than 10 mph.
- 20 min/day (2.5 hours/week) of moderate-to-vigorous activity: jogging, swimming laps, bicycling faster than 10 mph.
- 11 min/day (1.25 hours/week) to 21 min/day (2.5 hours/week) of vigorous activity: running, jumping rope, exercise classes, like step aerobics or high intensity interval training.
Even a little bit of activity every day is better than none, so take a walk on your break, do some sit-ups in the morning and crank up the music and dance like no one’s watching. It’s all good for you!
See Move Your Way for tips on getting active at any age, in any condition. Source: Centers for Disease Control/Physical Activity.
Your benefits help you get active:
- See our infographic: You bring the why, your Health Plan brings the how.
- Health club discounts: Log in to your Health Plan and search for discounts. If you have Life Insurance through the Health Trust (administered by The Standard), you also have access to Active & Fit Program discounts.
- Kaiser Permanente: Wellness coaching puts a coach in your corner.
- Providence: Health coaching helps you set personalized goals with manageable steps.
- Regence: Wellness tools help you reach healthy goals.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
Did you ever wonder what your rights are when it comes to your benefits? The Health Trust complies with all legal requirements that protect you, including:
- Appeal Rights and Procedures: You have the right to appeal declined benefits.
- Continuation of Coverage Rights: You have the right to temporarily continue coverage, if your coverage ends because of a qualifying event.
- HIPAA Privacy Notice: You have the right to expect your protected health information to be secure and remain confidential.
Learn more about your rights in the Legal Notices brochure on sdtrust.com: click Menu, then More, then My Rights.