Tag: Vaccines
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H5N1 Nasal Vaccine: Breakthrough in Flu Prevention
Overview: A potential game-changer in bird flu prevention Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine (WashU Medicine) have developed a nasal spray vaccine aiming to protect against the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus. This strain, known for jumping from wild birds to livestock and humans, has long been a major public health concern. In…
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Nasal vaccine for H5N1 bird flu: breakthrough spray
New nasal spray vaccine targets H5N1 bird flu Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have developed a nasal vaccine designed to block infection from the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus, commonly known as bird flu. The vaccine is administered as a spray into the nose, with the aim of activating immune defenses at…
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Parents Navigate a Fracturing Vaccine Landscape: Choices, Delays, and Early Immunizations
Growing Uncertainty Clouds Pediatric Vaccination Across the United States, families are recalibrating how they approach vaccines, driven by shifting medical guidance, political rhetoric, and personal experiences with the healthcare system. From a father in North Carolina delaying a trip to visit grandparents with his infant son, to a mother in Washington state switching pediatricians, parents…
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Parents Navigate a Fracturing Vaccine Landscape
Introduction: A shifting landscape for vaccines Across the United States, a growing cadre of parents is navigating a fractured vaccine landscape. From delaying visits to see grandparents to switching pediatricians and deciding whether to vaccinate infants earlier than standard schedules, families are weighing risks, benefits, and trust in evolving public health guidance. The result is…
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Shingles Vaccine Linked to Lower Biologic Age, May Boost Healthy Aging
New insight into shingles vaccination and aging A recent study published in The Journals of Gerontology has drawn attention to a surprising potential benefit of the shingles vaccine beyond preventing the painful rash. Researchers report that adults who receive the two-dose shingles vaccine after age 50 may exhibit a lower biologic age compared with their…
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Rare Autoantibody Reactions Behind Brain Inflammation Linked to Live-Virus Vaccines: What This Means for Chikungunya and Yellow Fever Vaccines
Understanding the Findings: Autoantibodies and Brain Inflammation A recent study highlighted in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) identifies rare cases where brain inflammation occurred after administration of live-attenuated vaccines, specifically those for Chikungunya and yellow fever. In these cases, autoantibodies—proteins produced by the immune system that mistakenly target the body’s own…
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Autoantibodies Tied to Rare Brain Inflammation After Live Vaccines
What the new findings show In recent years, rare neurological reactions have surfaced as a reminder that vaccines, while overwhelmingly safe, can interact with unique immune profiles in a small subset of people. A study published in PNAS points to autoantibodies — immune proteins that mistakenly attack the body’s own tissues — as a potential…
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How ‘Shared Decision Making’ on Kids’ Vaccines Could Limit Access
What changes are happening in vaccine policy? In a notable shift in public health policy, the prior consensus that all children should receive six standard vaccines is being re-evaluated. A new framework labels some pediatric immunizations as part of shared clinical decision-making, suggesting that whether a child should receive certain vaccines could depend on conversations…
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How shared decision making for kids’ vaccines could limit access
Overview News that the federal policy for routine childhood immunizations has shifted toward a category called “shared clinical decision-making” has sparked concern among parents, clinicians, and public health researchers. In theory, shared decision making invites families to discuss the benefits, risks, and uncertainties of vaccines with their healthcare providers. In practice, however, critics warn that…
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Shared Decision Making for Vaccines Could Limit Access
Introduction: A policy shift with real-world consequences In a notable shift of American vaccine policy, a move toward “shared clinical decision-making” (SCDM) for childhood immunizations has sparked concern among public health experts and families alike. Under SCDM, clinicians and parents discuss vaccines as an option rather than applying a blanket, routine schedule. While the intent…