Getting a Flu Shot and COVID Bivalent Booster Together

Getting a Flu Shot and COVID Bivalent Booster Together

Despite President Biden’s recent admission that the COVID-19 pandemic is over, the White House is making another big push to encourage Americans to get yet another COVID booster shot. This time, the Biden administration is marketing the COVID Bivalent versions of messenger RNA (mRNA) Comirnaty and Spikevax biologics developed by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna/NIAID respectively.1 2 […]

Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Estimated at 16 Percent

Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Estimated at 16 Percent

In an interim report published on Mar. 11, 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates the effectiveness rate  of the influenza vaccine at 16 percent during 2021-2022. The rate, which the CDC termed as “not statistically significant,” is based on a study involving 3,636 children, adolescents and adults in the United […]

Flu Shot Deaths in South Korea Said to Be “Coincidental”

Flu Shot Deaths in South Korea Said to Be “Coincidental”

Story Highlights More than 80 people have died in South Korea following influenza vaccination. After an investigation into the safety of the vaccines, South Korean health authorities ruled the deaths as “coincidental.” The public health agency in South Korea has decided to continue and promote its free influenza vaccine program despite public anxiety relating to […]

Flu Vaccines Failing Seniors

Flu Vaccines Failing Seniors

Opinion | Ever since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began recommending that all Americans six months of age and older get an annual flu shot, it’s been touted as the best method of preventing influenza. While it’s true that influenza is a highly infectious airborne disease, controversy exists over the use […]

Vaccine Compensation Program Repays Those Injured By Shots

His story starts in the same place it almost ended, a hospital where doctors treated him for pneumonia in 2014. When I was being discharged, the nurse said, oh, hey, by the way, you need a flu shot. He says that flu shot nearly killed him, causing Guillain-Barré Syndrome. The pain was just massive. A […]

What to Do When Vaccines Go Wrong

Every year, millions of people receive vaccines. These vaccinations are designed to keep people healthy. But sometimes things go wrong, and when that happens patients can only seek recourse at what’s known as Vaccine Court—a government program run by the Department of Health that compensates the injured. … If you’ve never heard of Vaccine Court, […]

Massachusetts Health Care Workers Refusing Free Flu Shots

Massachusetts Health Care Workers Refusing Free Flu Shots

Story Highlights Hundreds of health care workers in Massachusetts are declining the annual flu shot. Health care worker flu shot requirements vary from state to state. A recent study questions the scientific validity of mandating annual influenza vaccinations for hospital workers. Hundreds of health care workers in Massachusetts, including those in nursing homes and kidney […]

What to Do When Vaccines Go Wrong

Every year, millions of people receive vaccines. These vaccinations are designed to keep people healthy. But sometimes things go wrong, and when that happens patients can only seek recourse at what’s known as Vaccine Court—a government program run by the Department of Health that compensates the injured. … If you’ve never heard of Vaccine Court, […]

Fluzone Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Approved by FDA for Elderly

Fluzone Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine Approved by FDA for Elderly

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a supplemental Biologics License Application (BLA) for the Fluzone high-dose quadrivalent influenza vaccine for use by adults 65 years of age and older. Fluzone is manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur, Inc. of France.1 2 The Fluzone high-dose influenza vaccine was approved by the FDA in 2009 as […]

Flu Shots May Be Even Less Effective This Year

Flu Shots May Be Even Less Effective This Year

Just as publicity about the need for everyone to get a flu shot ramps up, there are signs that the influenza vaccine for this “flu season” (2019-2020) may be even less effective this year than last year. The strains of the influenza virus selected by the World Health Organization (WHO) and U.S. health officials for […]