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 […]
FDA Expands the Market for Gardasil Vaccine Use
Story Highlights Merck’s new Gardasil 9 human papillomavirus vaccine has now been approved for use in men and women to age 45. Expanded routine administration of Gardasil 9 in older people may raise cervical cancer risks for some adult women who are actively infected with HPV. The American Cancer Society does not expect Gardasil 9 […]
Mass HPV Vaccination Plan for the U.S.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) has set an aggressive goal to achieve an 80 percent uptake rate among American children with two doses human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine by 2026. To gain that coverage, 14 million more preteen children would need to complete the two-dose series, for a total of 57.62 million doses above and beyond the number […]
Vote & Vax Pushes Flu Shots at Election Day Polling Stations
In a stepped up effort to promote vaccination against influenza during the 2018-2019 “flu season,” the non-profit organization SPARC (Sickness Prevention Achieved through Regional Collaboration) of Lakeville, Connecticut sponsored a “Vote & Vax” campaign throughout the United States to offer free influenza vaccinations at polling stations on Election Day earlier this week.1 2 3 4 […]
CDC Advisory Committee Flip Flops on FluMist
On June, 22, 2016, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended against using the live nasal spray version of the influenza vaccine known as FluMist during the 2016-2017 influenza season. After reviewing data for 2013-2016, ACIP…
FDA Approves Four-Strain Flu Vaccine for Children
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently expanded the age indication for Seqirus’ Afluria Quadrivalent influenza vaccine to include patients aged five years or older. The FDA first approved Afluria in August 2016 for patients aged 18 years or older. The vaccine is…