Chicken pox has been reported at a couple of schools in Shasta County, and county Public Health officials urge anyone who hasn’t had the disease — especially those in fragile health — to get a two-step vaccination.
Public Health says 10 children and one adult have been diagnosed with chicken pox. All the children had one dose of the vaccine, as required by schools, but two doses greatly reduces the odds of contracting chicken pox. Health care providers have the vaccine, and Public Health offers it for $10 per dose for kids and $85 per dose for adults. Learn more about the vaccine at www.shastapublichealth.net.
Years ago, when the vaccine wasn’t yet available and our two sons were small, they caught chicken pox and brought it home to dear old Dad. Rarely have I been so miserable. The only thing that would ease the all-over itching was an oatmeal bath. Try not to picture that in your mind . . . oops, too late. Sorry.
- Public Health officials also are tackling chewing tobacco with a campaign next week called “Lose the Chew.” Officials say chewing tobacco contains many of the same health risks as smoking it, including oral cancer, heart attack and stroke. Public Health offices throughout the county are offering “Quit Kits” to help users kick the habit. For more info, contact Katherine Sellman at 229-8426.
- They Fired All the Copy Editors, Part XIV: In today’s local paper, the front-page story on Redding’s bald eagles features a photo of bridge construction workers with the eagle nest a tiny smudge “off in the distance.” Above the photo are the words “Bridging feathers.” Huh? Maybe I just don’t get it. Please feel free to explain “Bridging feathers” in the comments. It might help my headache.
- DVD I’m Watching on the Treadmill: Speaking of things I don’t understand, I’m watching Guy Ritchie’s latest crime thriller, “RocknRolla.” It seems to be an interesting, fast-paced movie, but there are so many competing British accents, I can’t make heads or tails of it. Maybe I should use the closed captioning.
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