VACCINES

Jan 03 2025HEALTH

The COVID Puzzle: What We Know and What We Don't

The world is still grappling with COVID, though vaccines and natural infections have provided some protection. The virus isn't as deadly as it once was, but it's always changing. Scientists need to keep a close eye on it. Five years ago, people in Wuhan, China, got sick with a new virus. We don't k

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Jan 02 2025HEALTH

COVID-19: Five Years of Change and Challenge

It's been five years since the world met COVID-19 for the first time. The journey began in Wuhan, China, and no one could forecast the global storm it would unleash. By now, over 20 million lives have been lost to the virus, according to estimates. Experts suspect the virus made the leap from animal

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Jan 01 2025HEALTH

Learning from COVID-19: A Five-Year Reflection

Five years after health officials first learned about the mysterious pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China, it's hard to believe how much has changed. The World Health Organization (WHO) got its first clue on December 31, 2019. Experts soon realized that the virus, later named COVID-19, would spread like

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Dec 28 2024HEALTH

How Different News Sources Talked About COVID Vaccines

When the COVID-19 vaccines were first announced, they sparked a lot of debate. Most studies focused on misinformation on social media, but not much was said about how mainstream and alternative news sources talked about the vaccines. To fill this gap, researchers used cognitive network science and n

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Dec 22 2024HEALTH

What Makes an Influenza Vaccine Irresistible to Australians?

Ever wondered what makes an influenza vaccine appealing to Aussies? A recent study dug into this by asking people who have gotten the flu shot in the past five years and plan to get it again. The study used a approach called a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE), where participants were given three dif

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Dec 20 2024HEALTH

Louisiana's New Vaccine Policy: A Quiet Change

In a surprising turn of events, Louisiana's health department has been told not to promote vaccines for flu, COVID-19, and mpox. This shocking policy change was uncovered by several news outlets, including NPR and KFF Health News, after they talked to health department employees who wanted to stay a

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Dec 20 2024HEALTH

A Fresh Look at the U. S. Health System: Is It Time for a Change?

Ever thought about why the U. S. spends a lot on healthcare but doesn't get the best results? Let's chat about that. Recently, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was chosen for a big health job. Some say he's not right for it because he questions some health stuff. But let's look at what's really happening. Our

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Dec 20 2024SCIENCE

The Surprising Role of Start Nucleotides in mRNA Immunity

Imagine you're cooking up mRNA in a lab, using a common technique called in vitro transcription (IVT). This method is a big deal for making mRNA therapies and understanding RNA biology. Here's an interesting fact: the mRNA you produce can start with either a 5'-pppG or a 5'-pppA. No big deal, right?

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Dec 19 2024POLITICS

Vaccine Skeptic RFK Jr. May Shape Future U. S. Health Policies

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is meeting with Senate Republicans to secure his spot as the health secretary. Despite his decades-long opposition to vaccines, he aims to convince them he holds moderate views. Kennedy has long promoted false claims linking vaccines to autism and is affiliated with anti-vaccin

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Dec 16 2024POLITICS

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. : Capitol Hill Bound on Health Secretary Quest

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is setting his sights on Capitol Hill, hoping to become the next U. S. health secretary. His visit won't be all smiles, though. Senators have their eyes on his past comments about vaccines and the food industry. They're expected to grill him on his vaccine stance, specifically

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