People often ask why we vaccinate against diseases no longer in the United States. A frequent example is polio because it has been 40 years since the last case of wild polio here. Wild polio is only seen in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.
It’s well known that vaccines are used to prevent infection. However, they’re also used to prevent and treat cancers, and now there’s growing evidence for the prevention of diabetes.
Serious injury from vaccination is extraordinarily rare — but it does happen. In 1986, Congress established the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program to provide financial support for those few individuals that suffer a vaccine injury. We’re extremely fortunate to have such a program.
“Do you want a flu shot?” is commonly heard in doctor offices this time of year.
Nothing brings family together more than the birth of a new loved one. It’s exciting to shower with love and cradle the newest addition to the family.
Every parent wants the best for their child. People involved in anti-vaccination groups frequently fall back to “prochoice” and “parental rights” arguments because science doesn’t support their position.
August is National Immunization Awareness Month every year, which is perfect because children are heading back to school with many requiring vaccines.
There has been much in the media regarding childhood vaccination in light of recent measles outbreaks, but it’s also important to remember that healthy adults also need to stay up to date.
Human papilloma virus accounts for 42,000 new cancer cases in the United States each year.
Are vaccines covered by health insurance? The short answer is yes. Many options are available to be vaccinated, and it’s likely there’s at least one option that works for you.
It’s the time of year when high school seniors start scrambling for proof of meningococcal vaccination as part of the college admission process. It’s not as clear-cut as it would seem, now there are two different types of meningococcal vaccines.
There’s a lot of talk about measles recently and with good reason. Worldwide, there are an estimated 7 million measles cases annually. With modern-day global travel, coupled with growing vaccine hesitancy, it’s not surprising measles cases in the U.S have hit an all-time record — the highest…
How do vaccines work? Think of it as your body’s defense system getting secret information about the enemy before the battle even begins.
While most people are familiar with fist bumps and baby bumps, few are aware of the mommy bump. The mommy bump refers to the bump in protection that babies receive when their mothers receive their Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) and flu vaccines during pregnancy.
Recently, Gov. Matt Biven of Kentucky created a stir when he stated that he doesn’t support mandatory chickenpox (varicella) vaccination. He explained that his nine children had attended chickenpox parties growing up and had survived chickenpox without problem.
If you were born before 1980, then you have either had chickenpox or were exposed to the virus and therefore have immunity. But this virus can lay dormant in your nerve cells for many years, so when you get older and your immune system weakens, this virus can reactivate and voila, you have s…
Measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000, but travelers continue to bring it in from abroad. There were at least 349 cases that occurred in 17 outbreaks in 2018. Currently, there are outbreaks in Texas, New Jersey, New York and Washington. Washington State has declared …
Have you ever watched a wildlife show where bison or elephants are attacked by wolves or lions? The strong of the herd encircle the young and weaker members while keeping their horns or tusks pointed outward at their attackers. The wolves or lions are defeated because they cannot get to the …
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