Who’s In Charge?
How government agencies influence vaccine policy Fact checked by Derick Wilder Although local health departments set vaccine requirements and schedules, the federal government plays a significant role in vaccine development, approval, and distribution. With Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. as secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), that process may change. Kennedy has […]
Physicians React to Robert F. Kennedy Nomination
Fact checked by Catherine Gianaro U.S. senators will meet this week to discuss whether to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental lawyer, as head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The department oversees 13 agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the […]
The Vaccine Controversy
Why some still shun one of the most important healthcare advances in the history of the world Fact checked by Shannon Sparks What is the greatest accomplishment in the history of public health? One word, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC): vaccines. Vaccines have eradicated some of the worst diseases on the […]
Ask the Harvard Experts: Practical Steps to Boost Your Child’s Immune System
Q: What steps can I take to help my child’s immune system strong? A: There are no magic wands or magic supplements to maintain a strong immune system. It’s the same formula to help children stay healthy. Give them a healthy diet. By “healthy,” I mean a diet with lots of fruits and vegetables (five […]
Polio, Chickenpox, Measles, Now Covid. It’s Time to Consult History on School Vaccine Mandates
The rapid spread of omicron across the nation — and the finding that vaccines continue to provide strong protection against severe disease — brings Covid-19 one step closer, perhaps, to truly earning its place on the list of diseases that have been tamed by vaccines. These include polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox, all of […]
As Omicron Surges, Here’s What You Need to Know About Covid-19 Testing and Precautions
As omicron transmission soars, it seems like Covid-19 cases are all around us. We can’t get away from them. We spoke to Mia Taormina, DO, chair of the department of infectious disease at Duly Health and Care, formerly named DuPage Medical Group, to ask her about the best precaution and testing strategies to use now. […]
Fear of Needles is Common. Here’s How to Work Through the Anxiety
When Charlie thinks about getting an injection, he shudders. “I am terrified of needles,” says the 45-year-old Pilsen resident, who asked that his last name be withheld for privacy. He ticks off a montage of past needle disasters: At 9 years old, he had his tonsils out. When he awoke from surgery, he was so […]
Vaccine Hesitation: Blood Clots Pose an Extremely Rare Risk
To date, more than 160 million Americans — about half of the U.S. population — have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Yet, some are still holding back due to their concerns surrounding the newness of the vaccines. Here, we take a deeper look into one potential reason for that hesitation: Covid-19 vaccines and the rare […]
Covid-19 Vaccine Q&A: Chicago Physicians Weigh In
Even though the toll of Americans dying from Covid-19 continues to rise and Chicago specifically is seeing a surge in cases, hope is on the horizon. Scientists and public health officials expect that vaccines against the illness will eventually bring an end to the pandemic. As of late March, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) […]
Supply Is Limited and Distribution Uncertain as Covid Vaccine Rolls Out
High stakes and big challenges await as the U.S. prepares to roll out vaccines against Covid-19, with front-line healthcare workers and vulnerable nursing home residents recommended as the top priority. Doses could be on their way very soon. An independent advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration on Dec. 10 gave a green light […]
Mayo Clinic Q&A: Vaccines Are Important for Those with Suppressed Immune Systems
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am 72 and take a drug for rheumatoid arthritis that suppresses my immune system. I’m scheduled to receive a vaccine later this year. Is it safe for me to receive this vaccine? ANSWER: Appropriate and timely vaccines are important for anyone with a suppressed immune system. That’s because a suppressed immune […]
New shingles vaccine offers more protection
The Medicine Cabinet: Ask the Harvard Experts Q: I recently read that the new shingles vaccine might be better than the older vaccine. I did have one shot of the older vaccine about seven years ago. Should I get this new one? A: Shingles is caused by the same virus — the varicella zoster […]
How we can all help protect babies with immunizations
Harvard Health Blog When you are pregnant, what you hear from people around you makes a difference. You want to do the right thing for your child; if someone you trust gives you advice, you listen. That’s why we need to be sure that pregnant women get good advice. In a study published in the […]
Are vaccines safe for pregnant moms?
The Kid’s Doctor August is National Immunization Awareness Month and a great time to discuss childhood vaccines, but it’s also a good time to discuss vaccines for adults. Adult vaccines help to protect our children, especially the Tdap vaccination during pregnancy. Immunizations may protect a newborn, and this is accomplished by immunizing the mother during […]
Don’t shrug off shingles
Harvard Health Blog If you had chickenpox as a kid, there is a good chance you may develop shingles later in life. “In fact, one in three is predicted to get shingles during their lifetime,” says Anne Louise Oaklander, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Nerve Unit at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. The same varicella-zoster virus […]
Doctor’s Orders
What Patients Should Know By Dr. Gena Vennikandam When was the last time you visited the doctor? In more scenarios than one, sadly, this question often elicits only a long pause followed by a shameful shrug of the shoulders. Understandably, our lives get hectic, but checking in on your health with your primary care physician should […]
The Kid’s Doctor: Dog flu no threat to humans
By Sue Hubbard, M.D., www.kidsdr.com Seem like a funny time of year for me to be writing about flu? Well, now the problem is dog flu, which has been spreading rapidly across the country. Dog flu is caused by an influenza virus and is a contagious respiratory disease in dogs. Fortunately, however, there have been […]
Options Against the Flu
This season’s flu shots will be more individualized, but immunization can begin in summer By Megy Karydes Patients who have avoided getting the flu shot because of their fear of needles or allergies to eggs (egg protein is among the ingredients of some influenza vaccines) will have other options this season: seven of them. According […]
The Flu Outbreak
Why it broke and whether it’s fixed By David Himmel It begins with an ache. Then a chill. And before you can reach Walgreens, you find yourself in the grip of an influenza outbreak. The final days of last December brought holiday cheer and the third biggest flu season since 2002. After New Year’s Day, […]
It’s Not About STDs. It’s About Fighting Cancer.
How immunizing young girls—and boys—against the human papillomavirus can save lives. Odds are you’ve contracted, are carrying, or will be infected by the human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted infection out there. “This is a very ancient virus,” explains Dr. Kenneth Alexander, professor of pediatrics and chief of pediatric infectious diseases at University of Chicago’s […]
Health Mastery
HPV and Males: Moms and Dads, Let’s Talk Before my son left for his freshman year at college, I, the single mom, pushed myself to have the talk with him. Not that talk. This talk was about HPV (human papillomavirus), and its link to the increasing number of occurrences of head and neck cancer in […]
