Adult Vaccinations

A new The Journal of Infectious Diseases study examines pathogen or host genetic risk factors for RSV infection and whether certain viral variants are associated with prolonged infection. Study:  Viral genetic determinants of prolonged respiratory syncytial virus infection among infants in a healthy term birth cohort. Image Credit: ART_ur / Shutterstock.com The transmission of RSV Human orthopneumovirus, more commonly known as the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), can lead to significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. All children between the age of two to three years are infected by RSV at least once. RSV mainly infects the lower and upper respiratory tract epithelium; however, it has also been found in non-airway sources. Although RSV typically causes acute respiratory infection, it can also lead to persistent or prolonged illness in some individuals. The prolonged shedding of RSV in infants after the first infection has been observed to increas...

A fungus is a type of organism that lives in soil, air, and plants. A fungus can also live in or on the human body—for example, on the skin. Fungal infections are caused by fungi (the plural word for fungus). Some fungal infections are contagious. Many fungal infections are not serious, but some can be harmful. This article will take a look at the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of some of the most common types of fungal infections. Sirisak Boakaew / Getty Images What Is a Fungal Infection? A fungal infection is an infection caused by a fungus. In everyday life, some examples of fungi are mold and mushrooms. However, these fungi do not cause infections. There are millions of types of fungi, but only a small percentage can make people sick. Fungal infections are passed when you inhale or come into contact with the spores from a fungus. The spores can also land on the skin. Some fungi can reproduce through spores. Fungal infections commonly s...

PASADENA, Calif.—Dr. Eric Handler has been contracted to serve as interim health officer for the City of Pasadena, effective immediately. He will serve as interim health officer while Pasadena Public Health Director and Health Officer Dr. Ying-Ying Goh participates in a 12-month prestigious fellowship in Washington, D.C. Dr. Handler is a retired public health consultant. His prior work experience, education and training makes him highly qualified to perform the functions and duties of a health officer. His primary duties will include supporting the response to public health emergencies, monitoring trends in population health, providing clinical consultation to public health staff, and interpreting federal and state public health policy and guidance. "Pasadena Public Health Department is excited to have Dr. Handler join us, especially as we continue to respond to COVID-19 and now MPX," states Interim Director of Public Health Manuel Carmona. "Dr. Handler has a long an...

What GAO Found Based on survey data it reviewed, GAO estimated that adults' receipt of four routine vaccines at the ages they are recommended for all adults—flu, pneumococcal, shingles, and tetanus—varied by type of vaccine, state, and other factors, such as race and ethnicity. Vaccine type: Estimated adult vaccination rates for tetanus and pneumococcal were nearly 40 percentage points higher than the rate for the shingles vaccine. State: Most states had estimated vaccination rates that fell within 5 percentage points of these national averages, with 16 states consistently above—and 9 states consistently below—the median vaccination rate. Race and ethnicity: Black or African American and Hispanic or Latino adults generally had estimated vaccination rates 13 or more percentage points below that of White adults for each of the four vaccines. Estimated National Adult Vaccination Rates for Four Routine Vaccines Factors stakeholders identified as aff...

November 29, 2022 2 min read Source/Disclosures Published by: Source: Postlethwaite R, et al. Abstract S1443: Predictors of pancreatitis on initiation of GLP-1 receptor agonists for weight loss. Presented at: ACG Annual Scientific Meeting; Oct. 21-26, 2022; Charlotte, N.C. (hybrid). Disclosures: Postlethwaite reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the study abstract for all other authors' relevant financial disclosures. ADD TOPIC TO EMAIL ALERTS Receive an email when new articles are posted on Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on . " data-action="subscribe"> Subscribe ADDED TO EMAIL ALERTS We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com. Back to Healio CHARLO...

[unable to retrieve full-text content] Pandemic accelerated Arizona's years-long decline in childhood vaccination rates    Arizona Mirror

As with most vaccines, a meningitis shot often causes temporary — but mild — discomfort. This usually includes soreness in the arm you had the shot in and general fatigue. Most side effects resolve within a day or two. Meningitis is a serious inflammation of the tissues around your brain and spinal cord (meninges). While viral meningitis is the most common type, bacterial is the more serious infection. Vaccines have proven an effective tool in lowering the spread and severity of bacterial meningitis. Meningitis vaccines are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for most children and teens, as well as some adults in high risk categories. Read on to learn what you need to know about the different types of meningitis vaccines and who should receive them. Talk with your doctor about any concerns you might have regarding any side effects. Meningitis vaccines may be recommended at certain milestones and may be administered during your annual physical. It's ...

US adults who get vaccinated against the flu every year were 24.7% more likely to complete a primary COVID-19 vaccine regimen than those who never received the flu vaccine, finds a study yesterday in JAMA Network Open . Rand Corp. researchers used their American Life Panel, a probability sample of US adults, to analyze self-reported flu vaccine uptake in the 2009 to 2017, 2019-20 (largely prepandemic), and 2021-22 (pandemic) flu seasons. The team also evaluated COVID-19 vaccine status during the latter two seasons. Of 1,366 survey respondents, 85% were White, 11% were Hispanic, 7% were Black, and 2% were Asian. Average age was 56 years. Among 358 participants who always received the flu vaccine through 2017, 81.4% to 92.2% still did so two to four seasons later. But of 642 respondents who never received the flu vaccine, only 20.3% received it in 2019 to 2020, rising to 23.5% during the pandemic. Those who always got the flu shot were 24.7% more likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19 ...

University of Wisconsin researchers find that people with asthma benefit from intervention that includes meditation and yoga and sustained focus on the breathing, thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations. Studies have shown that individuals with asthma as well as mood or anxiety disorders and psychological distress tend to have poorer control of their asthma, more severe symptoms, and greater utilization of healthcare services than asthma patients without these conditions. Additionally, chronic stress aggravates asthma symptoms and promotes type 2 inflammatory responses, such as those seen in severe asthma. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is a nonpharmacological approach for treating chronic conditions, including depression, chronic pain, immune disorders, and hypertension. Developed originally to relieve stress, MBSR is an 8-week training program that incorporates meditation and yoga and involves a sustained focus on the breathing, thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations....

A n experimental influenza vaccine developed using messenger RNA technology appears capable of inducing what should be a protective immune response against all known subtypes of flu, at least in animals. If the work is translated into humans it could turn out to be a version of a long-sought universal vaccine. This would not be a vaccine that would block all flu infections, nor would it replace the need for an annual flu shot. Instead, it would prime the immune system to better respond to new flu viruses, lowering the risk of hospitalization, death, and social disruption. Flu pandemics, in effect, would be defanged. Michael Worobey, a professor of evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, has long been interested in how the immune system responds to influenza. He hailed the work as a potential game changer. "I think this is some of the most exciting work in vaccinology in a long, long time," Worobey, who was not involved in the research, told STAT. ...

Vaccines and vitamin K injections given to children are unsafe Incorrect : Several studies performed in various countries demonstrated that the hepatitis B and HPV vaccines are safe. These vaccines prevent diseases that can cause life-threatening conditions, like liver cancer due to chronic hepatitis B or cervical cancer due to the human papillomavirus. Factually inaccurate : Newborns may suffer from dangerous bleeding due to vitamin K deficiency, which can be prevented with a vitamin K shot. Vitamin K shots don't contain adjuvants, as these are ingredients of some vaccines. KEY TAKE AWAY Numerous studies support the safety of hepatitis B and HPV vaccines. These vaccines prevent potentially life-threatening diseases, such as liver cancer due to chronic hepatitis B and cervical cancer due to the human papillomavirus. Vitamin K injections are routinely given to newborns in order to prevent dangerous bleeding due to vitami...