Medicaid and CHIP Sickle Cell Disease Report, T-MSIS Analytic Files (TAF) 2017

Sickle cell disease (SCD), the most prevalent lifelong inherited blood disorder in the United States, causes the body to produce red blood cells shaped like crescents or sickles rather than discs. These sickle-shaped blood cells tend to stick to vessel walls leading to blockage and impeding blood flow. When this occurs, oxygen is not delivered to body tissues, which ultimately leads to severe acute and chronic pain episodes known as crises. SCD impacts all racial and ethnic groups. Of the approximate 100,000 people affected by SCD in the United States, Black and Hispanic populations are disproportionately impacted. While medical advancements, such as newborn screening, penicillin prophylaxis and therapeutics have transitioned SCD from a fatal childhood disease to a chronic condition, long-term health complications (for example, stroke, acute chest syndrome, and chronic end-organ damage) have been associated with increased morbidity and mortality among people with SCD compared to those without.   Full text
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Frequently Asked Questions About the COVID-19 Vaccine

Why should I get vaccinated for COVID-19? COVID-19 can cause serious illness or even death. There is no way to know how COVID-19 will affect you. And if you get sick, you could spread the disease to friends, family, and others around you. All COVID-19 vaccines currently available in the United States have been shown to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19 disease. Even if you still get infected after you get vaccinated, the vaccine may prevent serious illness.   Can the vaccine give me COVID-19? No, the vaccine does not cause COVID-19. None of the approved COVID-19 vaccines contain the virus that causes COVID-19. It does take a few weeks after vaccination for your body to build up antibodies to protect you from the virus. That means it’s possible you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after getting the vaccine and still get sick.   Full text
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COVID-19 Vaccine: Key Messages

You can help stop the pandemic by getting a COVID-19 vaccine. To stop this pandemic, we need to use all our prevention tools. Vaccines are one of the most effective tools to protect your health and prevent disease. Vaccines work with your body’s natural defenses so your body will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed (also called “immunity”). In the coming months, doctors’ offices, retail pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics will offer COVID-19 vaccine. Your doctor’s office or local pharmacy may have contacted you with information about their vaccine plans. If not, you can contact your state or local health department to find out when and where vaccines will be available in your community.   Full text
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Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine

Getting the COVID-19 Vaccine My name is Shirley and I recently took the COVID-19 vaccine. You might wonder how I got it so fast. Well, the fact is that I work in a healthcare center and my hospital system obtained the vaccine for all employees and is now supplying the community with the vaccine. Yes, I do live with sickle cell anemia and I am 64 years old. I have been able to manage my condition and don’t have many interruptions in my life. I work a full-time job and really enjoy working. When my company alerted me to make an appointment to get the vaccine, I followed the instructions immediately. When I got my appointment for the first shot, I got an appointment for the second shot. I received my first dose of the Pfizer vaccine on December 22, 2020. I thought the shot hurt less than the annual flu shot that all healthcare workers are required to get. I took Tylenol before going to bed that night. I woke to a sore arm, but no other side effects. The sore arm lasted two days. I received my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine on January 11, 2021. This time, I didn’t even feel the shot going in my arm. I wondered if there was anything in the needle, but I knew they wouldn’t make that mistake. I had much less soreness in my arm and I felt good. It has been reported that some people may feel a low-grade fever and a few aches and pains after the second dosage. I didn’t feel anything until three days later. I experienced a few aches in my legs and a little fatigue. I did not experience a fever. I took a mild medication, grabbed my heating pad, and stayed in bed most of the day. The next day, I felt much better and the day after that I was back to my normal self. The reason I decided to take the vaccine was that I wanted to protect my immune system. I thought of this vaccine as I do the flu shot. Now I am advocating for all my family to get the vaccine. The distribution system is different with each state. Some are providing equitable opportunity for people to get the vaccine and some are not. If you are told you can get the vaccine, I would suggest you get it. I am still fighting for my 95-year-old mom to get the vaccine in her state.   Shirley Miller, MA National Advocate Charlotte, North Carolina
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