NORTH HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut is reminding parents to make sure they contact their children's health care physician to confirm that all immunizations and vision screenings are up-to-date as part of their back to school preparations. "As parents start to think about back to school preparation, it's very important they make sure that early adolescent children and teenagers get doctor recommended immunizations and vision screenings," said Peter Bowers, M.D., medical director for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut. "Late August and early September is the perfect time to schedule appointments with health care providers so that adolescents are up to date on vaccines and that eye disease is detected and prevented."

Immunizations

Adolescents are not immunized as regularly as young children, because they don't visit a physician's office as frequently, but they do need to have had measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria immunizations. In addition, several vaccines are available for adolescents, including:

Influenza vaccine - typically recommended annually for all children and adolescents, 6 months to 18 years. Generally speaking, the best time to receive the vaccination is at the beginning of the flu season; however, the vaccination may be given later in the season.

Meningococcal vaccine - typically recommended for all adolescents age 11-12 and at age 13-18 if not previously vaccinated. In addition, parents should consult with their child's physician to determine whether college freshman who plan to live in dormitories should be revaccinated.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine - typically recommended for females age 11-12 year but the vaccine (a three-dose series) can be administered as young as age 9 if required or specified by a physician. A catch-up vaccination is often recommended by physicians for females aged 13-26 who have not been vaccinated.

Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) - typically recommended for all adolescents age 11-12 who have not received a tetanus and diphtheria toxoids vaccine (Td) booster dose.

Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine - generally, all children should receive two doses of the varicella vaccine at age 12-15 months and 4-6 years, depending on the decision reached by the child's physician.

Hepatitis B vaccine - typically recommended for all children and adolescents who did not receive the hepatitis B vaccine series as an infant.

Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR) - generally, all children should receive two doses of the varicella vaccine at age 12-15 months and 4-6 years depending on the decision reached by the child's physician.

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Vision

"A regular eye exam is a crucial part of back to school planning and a successful school experience," said Dr. Bowers. "While most parents schedule annual physicals and dental appointments, it's easy to overlook an annual eye exam as an essential part of any preventive health routine."

According to some studies, adolescents with low vision were involved in fewer activities than their "sighted" peers, didn't regularly spend as much time with friends and were more dependent on their parents for transportation. Studies also show that 80 percent of learning in children occurs visually, and approximately one in four school-aged children has a visual disability that affects their ability to learn.

For more information on vision, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut recently added the Eye Health Resource Center to its Web site, www.anthem.com . This educational tool, which is available to all consumers, features a series of videos ranging from how the eye works to diseases of the eye to eye health. The Web site also includes preventive health guidelines, including a complete recommended immunization schedule in the myhealth@Anthem section of the Web site.

The foregoing material is provided for informational purposes only and does not evidence an effort on the part of Anthem or any of its associates to provide medical advice concerning any of the matters addressed herein. Please consult your licensed physician to interpret how the information supplied in this announcement should best be applied to your individual medical circumstances or that of your loved ones for whom you are responsible.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. (R) ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut is available at www.anthem.com .

Contact: Scott Golden (804) 354-5252

             Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield

SOURCE Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut

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