Tag

Immunization

All articles tagged with #immunization

politics24 days ago•2 min saved

Cassidy blasts vaccine policy, warns it’s not making America healthy again

Sen. Bill Cassidy criticized the Trump administration’s vaccine handling at Semafor’s Future of Health Forum, saying the messaging undermines immunization and risks measles outbreaks, which could cost Republicans at the polls if preventable diseases return. He also said Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr. broke vaccine commitments, expressing anger and warning voters will hold the administration accountable in elections.

via Semafor|

#cassidy #immunization #measles

health25 days ago•6 min saved

Bangladesh’s measles wave claims 1,000 lives despite big vaccination push

Bangladesh is grappling with a severe measles outbreak that has killed more than 1,000 people since March, despite a vaccination drive that reached about 20 million children. Experts say national averages mask local immunity gaps, with underestimations of the number of susceptible children and disruptions to routine immunization contributing to continued transmission. Most deaths are among infants under 15 months who had not yet received the first measles vaccine, and pneumonia is a common complication. Health officials are planning another round of vaccinations and emphasize targeted, community-level outreach to reach vulnerable populations, potentially extending vaccination to older children to close immunity gaps.

via Al Jazeera|

#bangladesh #health #immunization

health26 days ago•17 min saved

Updated COVID Shot Targets JN.1: Who Should Get It This Fall

The latest COVID-19 vaccine is monovalent and updated to target the JN.1 variant and is now available at pharmacies nationwide. Health experts say it’s particularly beneficial for older adults, people with preexisting conditions, pregnant people, and children with underlying illnesses, though many adults under 65 may choose to get it for added protection. Health authorities recommend starting in mid-September to October to build defense before respiratory virus season; vaccines are usually free under most insurance plans and widely available at CVS and Walgreens. Side effects are similar to previous shots and typically short-lived. While ACIP meetings have been disrupted by litigation, the guidance around who should get the shot generally aligns with CDC recommendations.

via HuffPost|

#covid-19 #fall-season #health

health29 days ago•17 min saved

New COVID Vaccine Targets Emerging Variant and Expands Who Should Get It

The 2026-2027 COVID vaccine is now available and targets the JN.1 variant with a monovalent formulation. Guidance suggests older adults (65+), people with preexisting conditions, pregnant people, and children aged 6 months–18 years with certain conditions should consider vaccination; healthy adults 19–64 may also be advised to get it. Vaccines are typically covered by insurance, with some state nuances about prescriptions. Experts urge getting the shot from mid-September to October to maximize protection before fall/winter waves, noting side effects are similar to prior vaccines and vaccination can reduce severe disease and long COVID risk.

via HuffPost|

#covid-19 #health #immunization

health1 month ago•17 min saved

Meet-and-greets: how one clinic tackles vaccine hesitancy

In Massachusetts, Middleboro Pediatrics uses extended “meet-and-greet” conversations with vaccine-hesitant families to understand concerns, explain risks and benefits of vaccines, and build trust rather than dismiss patients. The approach acknowledges local variation in uptake and the broader political and public-health shifts affecting how doctors discuss immunization, aiming to keep families engaged and informed rather than expelled from care.

via STAT|

#doctor-patient-relationship #health #immunization

health1 month ago•208 min saved

Fall 2026 Vaccines: Key Details on Flu, COVID-19, and RSV

With the CDC providing no new fall guidance this year, independent reviews informed 2026–27 recommendations for RSV, flu and updated COVID-19 vaccines. RSV immunization is advised for older adults, pregnant people and infants (with specific age-related notes); seasonal flu shots are recommended for everyone 6 months and older, including high‑dose options for seniors and a new mRNA flu vaccine for some adults; updated COVID-19 vaccines are advised for adults and certain children, with timing emphasizing early fall (October) to maximize protection. Vaccines are expected to be available at major pharmacies and covered by insurers, and pregnant people are encouraged to vaccinate, as safety data show benefits for both mother and baby.

via CNN|

#covid-19 #flu #health

health1 month ago•55 min saved

NJ vaccine gaps emerge as exemptions rise and coverage dips

CDC data show New Jersey’s vaccination coverage remains high but has dipped slightly: 92.1% of public-school kindergartners were fully vaccinated in 2024-25 (down from 92.9%), and eight counties reported non-medical vaccine exemptions above 5% (one county above 10%); exemptions are higher in private schools (15 counties above 5%). NJ’s MMR rate among kindergartners was 92.5%, above the national median of 91.5% but down from the prior year. County-level data for 2025-26 aren’t yet available. National data for 2025-26 show vaccination rates continuing to fall and exemptions rising to about 4.2% from 3.6%.

via Yahoo|

#cdc #exemptions #health

public-health1 month ago•6 min saved

Record-high vaccine exemptions trigger concern as kindergarten MMR rates dip

CDC data show kindergarten vaccination rates remain high overall, but non-medical exemptions rose to a record 4.2% and MMR coverage fell slightly to 92.4%, signaling pockets of under-vaccination amid a national debate fueled by political figures and misinformation; experts say confusion around vaccines undermines uptake even as most parents still vaccinate.

via The Guardian|

#exemptions #immunization #mmr

health1 month ago•36 min saved

US kindergarten vaccine exemptions rise to a record high as coverage falls nationwide

CDC data show U.S. kindergarten exemptions rose to a record 4.2% in the 2025–2026 school year, contributing to a nationwide drop in vaccination coverage and highlighting wide state-by-state variation in exemption policies.

via KABB|

#cdc #health #immunization

public-health1 month ago•1 min saved

CDC data show surge in kindergarten vaccine exemptions to 4.2%

CDC data for the 2025-26 school year show kindergarten vaccination exemptions hit a record 4.2%, up from 3.6% and higher than 2020-21, with most exemptions for non-medical reasons. Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) coverage dipped to 92.4% (below the 95% herd-immunity target), while varicella vaccination fell to 93.4% with the two-dose rate edging up to 92.2%, underscoring ongoing measles risk amid suboptimum vaccination levels.

via abcnews.com|

#cdc #immunization #kindergarten

health3 months ago•20 min saved

Vaccines That Rewrote a Nation’s Health: 17 Breakthroughs from Smallpox to COVID

The piece lists 17 vaccines deemed transformative to U.S. public health over 250 years, from Jenner’s smallpox vaccine to COVID-19, highlighting how each reduced illness and deaths, contributed to eradication or near-elimination of diseases like smallpox and polio, and underscoring the ongoing role of vaccination with expert commentary and CDC guidance guidance.

via Fox News|

#covid-19 #health #immunization

health3 months ago•19 min saved

Tetanus resurges as vaccination gaps widen

Tetanus, a preventable disease caused by Clostridium tetani, is reappearing in the U.S. as vaccination rates dip; it can cause severe muscle spasms and even death if untreated. There were 38 reported cases in 2025—the most since 2006—prompting experts to warn that lower immunization could fuel more infections. Vaccines such as DTaP and Tdap remain the key prevention.

via The Washington Post|

#health #immunization #infectious-diseases

health4 months ago•28 min saved

Pennsylvania school districts linked parents to anti-vaccine sites as immunization gaps widened

A Pittsburgh Post-Gazette investigation found that at least 20 Pennsylvania school districts linked parents to Vaclib.org, an anti-vaccine site, via exemption forms as vaccination rates fell and herd immunity weakened in dozens of elementary schools. While a state ad campaign aimed to boost immunizations, districts broadly shared the misinformation—some without realizing it—that then was removed after media inquiries. The findings highlight a lack of centralized oversight and enforcement of vaccine laws in Pennsylvania, and raise concerns about contributing to measles risk as districts face divergent messaging about vaccines.

via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|

#health #immunization #misinformation

health5 months ago•22 min saved

NJ Rotavirus Surge Tied to Wastewater Signals

Wastewater data indicate a rise in rotavirus in parts of New Jersey (notably Monmouth and Somerset counties) and the broader Northeast, signaling increased community transmission. Health experts urge vaccination and proper handwashing to protect children from vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration, noting that the New Jersey Department of Health does not track individual cases. The virus typically peaks in late winter to spring, with expectations that activity may decline through May–July as the season progresses.

via WHYY|

#health #immunization #new-jersey

health5 months ago•17 min saved

Global Catch-Up Vaccination Drive Immunizes Over 100 Million Doses Across 36 Countries

The Big Catch-Up immunization campaign, led by WHO, UNICEF and Gavi, delivered over 100 million vaccine doses to about 18.3 million children in 36 countries from 2023 through March 31, 2026, including 12.3 million zero-dose children and 15 million who had never received a measles vaccine. The effort also provided 23 million IPV doses and expanded to reach older children (1–5) to close equity gaps. While on track to reach at least 21 million un- and under-immunized kids, experts caution that strengthening routine immunization remains essential to sustain gains and prevent outbreaks, especially as measles cases rise. The initiative coincided with World Immunization Week under the banner “For every generation, vaccines work.”

via World Health Organization (WHO)|

#global-health #health #immunization