Vaccines have been a crucial part of child healthcare for a long time. They protect kids from serious diseases that used to be common. Dr. Stanley Plotkin, a well-known vaccine expert, remembers a time when parents were scared of diseases like polio and measles. Now, thanks to vaccines, these fears are mostly gone. But not everyone agrees on the current vaccine sche...
A group of independent experts in the U. S. is set to review the data on giving the hepatitis B vaccine to newborns. This comes after a delay in a decision about when babies should get their first dose. The Vaccine Integrity Project is taking on this task. They want to check the safety and benefits of giving the vaccine within 24 hours of birth. They also want to se...
Malaysia is looking at new ways to fight COVID-19. Researchers are checking out different vaccine plans. They want to see how these plans might affect people's health and the country's money. First, they looked at the latest vaccine info. Then, they used this info to predict outcomes. The goal was to find the best strategy. They considered things like how many peopl...
Vaccine opinions have been a hot topic worldwide. In German-speaking countries like Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, people were initially slow to get COVID-19 shots. This was different from other parts of Europe. But why did this happen? And what made more people eventually get vaccinated? First, let's talk about the start of the vaccine rollout. At first, not ma...
People often see science and faith as opposites, but what if they could work together? Think about vaccines. Some people worry about science conflicting with their beliefs. But maybe science and faith can learn from each other instead of fighting. Science gives us facts and predictions. It helps us make choices, but it doesn't make decisions for us. For big issues l...
The world is still aiming to get rid of polio, even though there's less money to do it. The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has seen a big cut in funding. In 2026, their budget will be 30% smaller, and they're missing $1. 7 billion until 2029. This is mostly because some big donors, like the U. S. and other wealthy countries, are giving less aid. To deal ...
Mpox, a virus known for causing flu-like symptoms and painful sores, has a new, more severe strain spreading in California. This strain, called Clade 1, has been found in three people who hadn't traveled outside the U. S. It's the first time this strain has spread locally in the country. Clade 1 is not new. It has been causing infections and deaths in Africa for yea...
A recent study has brought good news for parents worried about RSV in their little ones. It turns out that babies can get an antibody shot to protect them from RSV, even if their moms were vaccinated during pregnancy. This shot, called nirsevimab, is a big deal because RSV is a common and serious respiratory infection for infants. The study looked at 181 pairs of mo...
Flu season is here, and it's important to know how to protect yourself and others. The flu can be serious, causing millions of illnesses, hospitalizations, and even deaths each year. In New York City alone, thousands of people lose their lives to the flu and pneumonia combined every year. Last year, there were over 22, 000 confirmed cases by early February. Vaccines...
A young child in Olmsted County has been diagnosed with measles, sparking concerns among health experts. The child, who is too young to have received the full course of vaccinations, had recently traveled abroad. This is a wake-up call for parents who may be hesitant about vaccines. Measles is no joke. It spreads easily through the air when an infected person coughs...