Mumps-like Parotitis Strikes Crew of U.S. Navy Ship
The U.S. Navy’s amphibious warship the U.S.S. Fort McHenry (LSD-43) has been quarantined at sea for more than two months due to an outbreak of a mumps-like disease known as parotitis among its crew.1 CNN has reported that 25 sailors and Marines aboard the ship have been diagnosed with parotitis, which is characterized by inflammation […]
Equine Flu Shuts Down British Racing World
Story Highlights When three fully vaccinated horses tested positive for equine flu earlier in February, the British racing world was shut down for a week. After canceling all racing for six days and testing thousands of horses at hundreds of horse stables in England and Ireland, three more cases were identified at the original yard […]
All Homeless People to Get Hepatitis A Vaccine
Story Highlights In October 2018, the CDC’s vaccine policymaking committee, ACIP, voted to recommend the hepatitis A vaccine to be routinely given to homeless persons. Hepatitis A infections are associated with poor sanitation and living conditions and the decision was made because outbreaks have occurred among homeless populations in the last few years. Hepatitis A […]
CDC Approves Adult and Childhood Vaccine Schedules for 2019
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) have approved new adult and childhood vaccine schedules effective February 2019.1 The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) have all endorsed the new schedules.2 […]
Listening vs Coercion on ‘Vaccine Hesitancy’
Story Highlights Public shaming of vaccine-hesitant parents has reached new heights. Those who question mainstream vaccine policy tend to be among the most educated, well-informed parents. Respectful conversations about vaccination between health care professionals and their patients is more effective than coercive tactics. The rhetoric surrounding vaccination has long been dismissive of anyone who questions […]
Infant in Nepal Dies Hours After Getting DPT Vaccine
Six-month-old Binod Ale Magar died on Feb. 3, 2019 within hours after receiving the DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus) vaccine at a health care station in the Kailali district of Nepal.1 The baby’s uncle said the child was in normal health when he was administered the vaccination around noon. “The child was crying after the vaccination. We […]