Wyoming Governor Stresses The Importance Of Preventive Medicine, Immunization

August 8, 2007 -- CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Emphasizing that prevention and immunization can keep Wyoming residents healthy and avert future health problems, today Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal signed a proclamation declaring August 20 to 26 “Prevention and Immunization Awareness Week” in Wyoming.

“Over the years we have been fortunate to make recommendations and have the Legislature adopt them to expand our immunization programs,” Freudenthal said. “It is clear that the old adage is true, ‘The best healthcare dollar is the one you don’t have to spend.’ We’ve been sufficiently successful with immunization that people began to think, ‘Well, maybe we don’t need to do it.’ And it seems to me that that’s the point in time at which all of the efforts of prior generations falter, because we become a victim of our own success."

The proclamation came in conjunction with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s focus on August as National Immunization Awareness Month.

“We think of Wyoming as being an incredibly healthy state with the great outdoors, but quite frankly, we’ve got a long way to go to get healthy again," added Dr. Brent Sherard, director of the Wyoming Department of Health. "I think that in the 21st Century the burden is really on chronic disease, whereas in the 19th Century it was on acute infectious disease.”

Also present at the signing was Joe Nuñez, regional director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Zachary Taylor, regional administrator of the Public Health Service and Diane Livesay of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The federal health officials stopped in Wyoming as part of their tour of the nation this summer to promote a motivational initiative called “A Healthier U.S. Starts Here.” The effort aims to motivate seniors and others with Medicare to make the most of Medicare’s preventive services.

Traveling in a tour bus that promotes Medicare’s preventative services, the group aims to visit each state to start conversations between people with Medicare and their families, care givers, health professionals, and community organizations.

In Laramie early today, the group stopped at the Eppson Center for Seniors where they held a Health Resource Fair and distributed nutrition information and discussed diabetes treatment services. Following the proclamation signing, the group held another Health Resource Fair in Cheyenne at the Union Pacific Depot where Sherard spoke about local programs that support good nutrition, wellness and disease prevention. Laramie County Commissioner Jack Knudson also attended the fair.

Tomorrow, the group will hold a recognition ceremony in Casper at the Community Health Center of Central Wyoming and will visit the Resource Center at the Wyoming Independent Living, Aging & Disability Resource Center.

“Preventive health care can help people live healthier lives and can help reduce costs associated with treating chronic disease,” said Heath and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. “From Seattle to Miami and Boston to San Diego, ‘A Healthier US Starts Here’ will enlist the support of local organizations to help Medicare beneficiaries and all Americans learn how to live longer, healthier, and happier lives.”

Among the preventative measures that could make a significant impact on public health are the following:

• More than 34 million Americans have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for osteoporosis; osteoporosis can be prevented and early diagnosis and treatment can reduce or prevent fractures from occurring.

• Decreasing total cholesterol levels by 10 percent in the U.S. population could result in a 30 percent reduction in the incidence of coronary heart disease.

• One pneumonia vaccine, which is free to Medicare beneficiaries, can be life saving-yet only about two thirds of those with Medicare report receiving the service and 46,700 U.S. adults die annually from vaccine preventable diseases.

“A Healthier US Starts Here” also aims to teach people how to make the most of the CMS Web site, www.mymedicare.gov. This is a one-stop, user-friendly Web site that gives registered Medicare users access to information on benefits and services.

When beneficiaries log on, they can check which preventive benefits they need; check their Part B deductible status; view eligibility and enrollment information and take care of administrative issues such as verifying an address, ordering replacement Medicare cards, check on the status of claims and get online forms and publications. People with Medicare can also get this information by calling 1-800-Medicare.

Source: Wyoming Governor

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