Why was this study done?

After the FDA licenses or authorizes a vaccine and the CDC recommends it for use, a number of systems work together to help scientists monitor the safety of vaccines. These systems monitor for any rare side effects that may not have been found in clinical trials. Our systems and scientists are constantly collecting data and following up on potential safety concerns. As a part of this process, CDC funded research to see if there was any connection between aluminum in vaccines and asthma. 

As a reminder, researchers have been investigating the safety of vaccines for decades. They have found that vaccine ingredients are safe and that the recommended doses are non-toxic. You can review the abundance of research on vaccine safety here. 

What does this study show?

Honestly? Not much. The study does NOT show that the aluminum in vaccines causes asthma, or that this particular source of aluminum is toxic or causing harm to children.

The authors of the study are upfront about the fact that they weren’t able to include many factors that influence both the amount of aluminum in our bodies and the likelihood of developing asthma. For example, the study did not factor in environmental exposures that are also known to cause or be correlated with asthma, such as air pollution or exposure to tobacco smoke. Nor was the study able to look at how many children were breastfed – and scientists know breastfeeding can help protect children from developing asthma. The study also did not account for how much aluminum children were exposed to in other ways, such as through their food or baby formula.  

Have you read:

• The Vaccine Mom Explains: Is the Aluminum Used in Some Vaccines Safe?
• Listing Vaccine Ingredients and Understanding Them. There’s a Difference.
• 3 Things I’ve Learned Since Losing My Son to Flu

Why is there aluminum in vaccines?

For over 75 years, scientists have included very small amounts of aluminum gels or aluminum salts in some vaccines as “adjuvants.” Adjuvants help boost the body’s immune response. Without the use of these aluminum gels/salts in these vaccines, healthcare providers would need to give more doses of the vaccine or there would be less immunity provided by the vaccine, and therefore less protection from the disease.

Remember: aluminum is everywhere. It is commonly found in food, health- and food-related products, water, infant formula, and even breast milk. Learn more about the ingredients in vaccines here. 

The Bottom Line

Vaccinate Your Family is reassured by studies like these that our nation’s medical experts take vaccine safety very seriously. Vaccines are life-saving: this study does not change that. Healthcare professionals, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend vaccines because the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks.

You do not have to change the timing of your children’s vaccines or deviate from the recommended schedule. The recommended vaccine schedule is specifically designed and tested to provide the best protection when kids need it the most. 

We know that some people will use this study to prey on parents who may be worried about vaccines or the recommended schedule. Get the facts to keep yourself and your loved ones safe and informed. 

The routine vaccines our children have received over the last 25 years will prevent:

Learn more about vaccine benefits. 

The post Aluminum in Vaccines: Is it Harmful? appeared first on Shot of Prevention.

By 2022, literally billions of doses of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines have been given around the world, and extensive data exists from many monitoring systems, suggesting that while they have risks, those risks are relatively rare and far outweighed by the vaccines’ benefits.

Anti-vaccine activists desperate to create fear, uncertainty, and doubt about this data are working in multiple ways to do that, including misrepresenting unverified reports as showing such harms and seeking evidence that public health agencies around the world are engaged in a conspiracy to hide the real and actual harms they think exist.

This is hardly a new tactic: those of us following anti-vaccine efforts saw it play out with efforts of anti-vaccine activists to claim there’s a conspiracy to hide a link between vaccines and autism. Very similar to this effort, in the early 2000s anti-vaccine activists misrepresented selected quotes from a conference to discuss a preliminary draft of a paper, the Simpsonwood conference, and created a baseless conspiracy theory. This was also the theme of the CDC Whistleblower conspiracy theory in 2014, where anti-vaccine activists mined recorded conversations with a CDC scientist to claim a conspiracy. Anything suggesting such a conspiracy – however weak – is picked up and amplified by vaccine deniers and outlets that specialize in sensational misinformation, like Epoch Times. This is another example of that behavior.

In September 2022, Israeli Journalist Yaffa Shir-Raz, who has a history of making inaccurate claims about vaccines, claimed she discovered a conspiracy to hide COVID-19 vaccine harms. She released snippets of a discussion from a presentation about a new report regarding adverse events in Israel. A series of short videos published on Rumble elaborated on the conspiracy theory. Then, anti-vaccine activist Steve Kirsch picked up the claim in an article, and – potentially unrelated – Epoch Times amplified it, too. This kind of conspiracy theory is especially easy to market outside Israel because the evidence to counter it is mostly in Hebrew, so outsiders are at the mercy of their sources… and their sources here are not reliable.

The problem for Shir-Raz and her amplifiers is that their claims are wrong. Israel had multi-pronged monitoring of vaccine adverse events from the start, and multiple studies were published off it, showing high safety. Further, the report they are basing their conspiracy theory off is a report of voluntarily reported events – like the VAERS database – that do not show causation and did not suggest a serious problem.

Israel’s Monitoring of Vaccine Adverse Events

Israel started giving people COVID-19 vaccines on December 20, 2020. It engaged in surveillance pretty much from the start. On January 12, 2021, the first meeting of the Ministry of Health’s  “Committee for Surveillance of the Vaccination Operation” (I think the official Hebrew name, from the site links, is “The COVID-19 Vaccine Efficacy and Safety Follow Up Committee”, but I think my translation is more accurate) took place, and in that meeting data about the vaccines, subsequent noted side effects, and any hospitalizations after the vaccines was presented. Meetings continued monthly or more often, and in each, data was presented about side effects after the vaccines. Here, for example, is the presentation on vaccine side effects from January 27, 2021.

These presentations drew on two main sources, as summarized in the report the current conspiracy theory misrepresents. Reporting was done via:

1. Reporting of events that arise close in time to receiving the vaccine by the medical team
2. An option for the public to report vaccine adverse events on the ministry [of health’s] site – “a mechanism created especially for the current vaccination effort”. (p. 3 to the report, my translation).  [This option is no longer available]

This was not the only monitoring. Unlike the United States, in Israel, people get their health insurance through one of only four HMOs. These HMOs engaged in their own active monitoring in a variety of ways, and the results of many of these efforts were published. For example, Maccabi Health Care Services, serving 2.5 million out of Israel’s less than 9 million people, sent out surveys to people who got the vaccines Multiple times. Here is a study that received over 300,000 surveys from the HMO’s members, looking at side effects between December 2020 and March 2021 – very early after the rollout. Here is a narrower study looking at the safety of booster in seniors and immunocompromised individuals during July to August 2021. Both these studies combined surveys with checking medical records, allowing researchers to verify the evidence.

Here is a study actively analyzing the data of the largest HMO in Israel, Clalit Health Services, covering over 50% of Israel’s population (4.7 million people), looking at data from December 2020 to May 2021.

In other words, Israel had abundant data on vaccine side effects. Even if the reporting systems could be improved, it’s incorrect to claim there was no information on this. Israel caught problems like myocarditis after the vaccines early, and as I will discuss, the new report did not really show anything new. And this is in addition to other monitoring systems from other countries – like the United States and Europe. The data on COVID-19 vaccines come from all around the world.

The New Report

You can find the new report here. Essentially, what the Ministry of Health (MOH) did is create a new form for voluntary reporting – like the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System in the United States, which allows voluntary reporting and is both very good for detecting signals fast and very vulnerable to abuse by anti-vaccine activists.

Since MOH already had a system for voluntary reporting, why did it need a new one? Well, in the words of the report, MOH was concerned because the anonymous free-text reporting made it hard to check if the entries were credible, analyze the entries, and draw conclusions. MOH also thought there might be value in capturing milder events that did not involve seeing a doctor (P. 3). In the words of the report:

מטרות המעקב”

1. איתור וניטור תופעות שבעטין לא בהכרח פונים לקבלת טיפול רפואי.
2. הגברת הרגישות של ניטור ארועים בסמיכות לקבלת החיסון ע”י שיתוף הציבור
3. תרומה להבנת ההיבטים השונים של בטיחות החיסון .”

“Goals of surveillance:

1. Finding and monitoring things that do not necessarily lead to medical treatment.
2. Increasing sensitivity of monitoring events close in proximity to getting the vaccine by involving the public.
3. Contributing to understanding the different aspects of vaccine safety.” (p. 3)

The report also reminded us that these are spontaneous reports by the public that do not necessarily show a link between the vaccines and any events. In other words, like VAERS, anyone can submit anything into the form, and the form may show something that happened after the vaccine (“may” because the events are not – and if there was no medical treatment likely cannot – be verified) but that event may or may not be connected.

There’s also no time limit – someone who had an event happen a year ago can report it today. Here is what the reporting form looks like:

Screenshot of Reporting Form

It asks for personal information, the date of the vaccination, whether you had any event after the vaccine, which type of event, and leaves room for commentary.

According to the report, the system received 8,054 reports, out of them 6259 which were “identifiable, non-duplicate, with information about the event.” As a reminder, Israel gave over 18 million vaccine doses at this point. Although it’s more likely people recently vaccinated – a smaller group, since the report’s launch in December 2021 – would file a report than people vaccinated earlier in the vaccination campaign, there’s nothing to prevent people from filing a retroactive report.

Out of the reports, 70-90% were general, (p.4) (defined as general weakness, fatigue fever, or headache (p. 10) or local reactions (redness, swelling, or pain at the site of injection, p. 10) – both well-known phenomena and usually short-lived. Other categories included menstrual changes, heart issues, digestion issues, and neurological issues, though the number of reports for these was small, especially given the large number of vaccines given (see p. 4). The most commonly reported event after general and local reactions for children – both the 5-11 group and the 12-17 – was digestive problems (p.4), which means stomach aches, vomiting or nausea, and diarrhea (p.5). The most common for adults was menstrual changes, and heart and blood issues. As a reminder, these are voluntary reports that – A. Have not been verified, B. Cannot by themselves show causation (though there’s evidence of causation from elsewhere), and C. are pretty small numbers, given the large number of vaccines given in Israel.

The Ministry concluded – reasonably, based on these findings – that the reported events are known in the literature, already reported on in previous ministry reports, and there was no new signal.

The Conspiracy Claims

The conspiracy theory was based on a leaked recording of a presentation of the report’s findings to the Ministry of Health’s Committee that Yaffa Shir-Raz used in a series of tweets and an article. The full presentation can be found here.

Most of the videos include snippets of the discussion. And it’s in Hebrew, making it very easy to misuse against an American audience. Further, the nature of such a presentation is that people may well say – in passing – things that can be made to sound bad, and the results have not yet been examined and subject to quality control.

What are the anti-vaccine activists claiming? Shir-Raz’s article is titled “Breaking: Leaked Video Reveals Serious Side-Effects Related to the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Covered Up by the Israeli MOH.” In it, she makes a number of claims that are either straight out wrong or problematic.

1. Shir-Raz claims that the “Israeli MOH had no adverse events reporting system for the entire year of 2021. They commissioned a research team to analyze the reports from a new system implemented on December 2021.” As demonstrated above, that’s simply untrue. They had multiple reporting mechanisms. They were looking to improve them, and there were criticisms that the reporting system is not good enough, but that does not mean there was no data. There was a reporting system, and there were multiple other sources of information – including active surveillance. Nor is the new system a radical departure. It’s another system for voluntary, unverified reporting, only better than before.
2. Shir-Raz claims that the system can show causation. She is aided in that by a snippet of comment from the video “Israeleak Part 4 – No new signals?” on Rumble, which includes a claim by one of the presenters that the system can show a causal connection. This is incorrect: the presenter seems to have misspoken – and the report corrects that. Showing causation based on a small number of unverified reports in a voluntary reporting system just does not work (it’s easy for anyone to put in a report). The same is true for VAERS, even with a larger number of reports. It feels as if the speaker wanted to emphasize the value of her system, but making such an inaccurate statement is very unhelpful.
3. Shir-Raz claims that the presenters found new signals: that’s even more problematic. The main mentioned events such as “hypoesthesia, paresthesia, tinnitus, and dizziness; back pain; and Digestive System symptoms in children.” But just having reports of something is not a signal, and at least for some of these, the claims are not new. For example, the question of tinnitus was subject to several studies, though the evidence is still, I think, inconclusive. Digestive symptoms are known. Back pain is known. Menstrual irregularities are known. None of these are new.
4. Shir-Raz claimed the presentation showed events are long-lasting. The duration of events is an important question, but it, too, is studied. Here is another study about the duration of menstrual irregularities. A prospective study followed over 3,000 women (actually for over 10 years, but for COVID-19 vaccines for over a year) and found the duration was six months after vaccination. The new system of voluntary reporting cannot tell us more than actual controlled studies. This needs to be studied, but it’s not a new question or issue, and the presentation does not add to it (or suggest a conspiracy to hide anything).
5. Shir-Raz makes much of a snippet of a video in which a man is heard saying – and I’ll include both a Hebrew transliteration and translation because anti-vaccine activists have been sharing their own translation – כאן צריך לחשוב גם מדיקו-לגאלי, למה מדיקו-לגאלי? כי לא מעט תופעות שהיו אמרנו אוקיי, זה קיים, יש דיווח אבל בכל זאת תתחסנו. זאת אומרת שצריך לחשוב איך כותבים את זה ואיך מציגים את זה בצורה נכונה ולא שיהיו אחרי זה תביעות משפטיות רגע, רגע, רגע, אתם אמרתם שהכל יחלוף ואפשר להתחסן״. Translated, this means “here we need to think also medical-legal, why medical legal? Because there were quite a few events we said okay, it exists, there is reporting, but get the vaccine anyway. So we need to think how to write it and how to present it in the right way so there won’t be afterward legal lawsuit, wait, wait, wait, you said all will pass and we can get the vaccine.” She puts this video on top of her Twitter thread, apparently thinking it’s a gotcha.

This quote can certainly be misused, but in essence, it’s reminding us that these are not new things – it tells us they were already reported – and wants the ministry to think about presentation, apparently, to prevent triggering unfounded lawsuits. Note, again, that it’s talking about already known issues, and a recommendation to vaccinate in spite of them. It is exactly the job of the experts to recommend based on a risk-benefit analysis, including known risks, and that’s not by itself an issue.

Conclusion

Israel engaged in extensive monitoring of vaccine safety, providing options for voluntary reporting and working on active surveillance. In June 2022, the Ministry of Health saw a presentation regarding an improved reporting form for voluntary, unverified claims of adverse events. The system was designed, among other things, to catch less severe problems that did not lead to medical treatment. There are bound to be statements in such a presentation that can be misrepresented – but the reality is that the report found no real new problems, and careless statements in a presentation do not negate the extensive data from multiple sources in Israel that gives us a clear view of the (rare) risks and benefits of COVID-19 vaccines.

The post Guest Post! Everything is a Conspiracy in Anti-vaccine Land, Even when it Isn’t, Take #3125: The Israeli Version appeared first on Shot of Prevention.

Experts are predicting that the 2022-23 flu season could be severe. While masking and social distancing resulted in the last two flu seasons being milder than usual, the forecast for the 2022-23 season predicts that the spread of influenza viruses could bounce back to pre-pandemic levels.

We’ve been coexisting with flu for a long time now – but that doesn’t mean it isn’t dangerous. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some have (falsely) called it “just the flu”, minimizing both COVID and flu severity in the same breath.

Flu isn’t “just the flu” at all. During a typical flu season in the U.S., flu causes millions of illnesses, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, and tens of thousands of deaths. Everyone is at risk from flu – even healthy children and adults. While certain factors make flu infection riskier for some people, ANYONE can get seriously ill, and we can’t always predict who that might be.

On Tuesday October 4, our partners at the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) held a press conference where leading infectious disease experts presented data on vaccination rates from the 2021-2022 U.S. flu season and discussed the importance of vaccination against flu and pneumococcal disease, particularly among older adults and those with chronic health conditions who are at higher risk for related complications. NFID also shared data from a new national survey of U.S. adults on vaccination attitudes and behaviors.

One of our advocates, Dr. Jeb Teichman, spoke at the news conference and shared the story of his son Brent who lost his life to flu. Recently, we interviewed Dr. Teichman and he told us more about Brent’s life and why he advocates for vaccination (especially annual flu vaccination) in his memory:

Have you read:

• Why We Celebrate “Flu Shot Day” in Our Home
• 3 Things I’ve Learned Since Losing My Son to Flu
• A Pastor’s Perspective: The Moral Case for Getting a Flu Vaccine

For the hundreds of thousands of people hospitalized each flu season, it isn’t “JUST” the flu.

For parents who have lost children to flu, it isn’t “JUST” the flu.

For people living with chronic health conditions that put them at higher risk, it isn’t “JUST” the flu.

In reality, it isn’t “JUST” the flu for anyone, as any influenza illness can turn severe without warning. 

You need both a COVID booster AND a flu vaccine to be protected this fall and winter season.

While COVID and flu have many similar symptoms, they are caused by two different viruses. In order to be protected from both, you need two vaccines: a seasonal flu shot and your COVID vaccine series. Many people are due for an updated COVID booster now. While the updated COVID boosters are “bivalent”, they do not provide protection against flu – they provide protection against two different COVID strains. Learn more about COVID vaccination here and read up on the top ten most important things to know as we head into flu season.

The post Don’t Call It “Just” The Flu appeared first on Shot of Prevention.

Even as stories about vaccine hesitancy and declining vaccination rates appear across news headlines, there is reason to hope for an increase in U.S. vaccination rates, and specifically for the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rate, Erica DeWald, Chief Communication Officer at Vaccinate Your Family, said during an Infectious Diseases Network meeting hosted by the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR).  

“People in the United States still believe in public health,” DeWald said, citing the Lessons from the Covid-19 Pandemic for Future Public Health Communications report, in which 50% of respondents said they will follow public health guidance on vaccines, testing, and other risk mitigation guidance. COVID-19 vaccine uptake, she added, is generally in line with historical reception of the polio and measles vaccines.  

DeWald shared that, despite HPV vaccination uptake consistently being an uphill climb in the United States, the data around current HPV vaccine rates are hopeful in that they did not see as much of a drop as many other adolescent vaccine rates did during the pandemic. From a public health perspective, DeWald reminded participants that questions about vaccinations should not be considered as vaccine hesitancy; people should feel empowered to ask questions.  

Additionally, DeWald noted it will be important to follow the conversation surrounding the monkeypox vaccine, its rates in children (currently low), and its public association with sexually transmitted diseases – “even though it’s not, let’s be clear,” DeWald said – as it appears similar to the conversations often had about HPV. 

Following DeWald’s presentation, members of SWHR’s Infectious Disease Network spent time discussing challenges and opportunities in HPV vaccine education. Some of the recommendations made by Network members included the following:  

• ​Streamlining the overlapping recommendations for adult vaccines (e.g., COVID-19 and its boosters across age groups, HPV for young adults, monkeypox for some populations, and influenza vaccines across age groups) and hosting the recommendations on an easy-to-understand communications platform, which could help combat the feeling of there being too many vaccines to take at once.  
• Sharing more positive stories around vaccine protection to counteract the negative anecdotes that rise the top of new streams. 
• Focusing on access to information, particularly evidence-based information related to vaccine safety and efficacy, as a social determinant of health. 
• Employing shared clinical decision-making. It’s not the choice of clinicians as to whether or not to have the conversation with each patient about vaccines; clinicians should always engage their patients in vaccination conversations. The process of shared decision-making comes in when clinicians help patients determine how to proceed after thoughtful discussion. This type of shared conversation is essential for catch-up HPV vaccinations in people 26-45 years old. 

SWHR closed the meeting by sharing some of its recent efforts related to vaccine education and infectious diseases resources, including the Crucial Vaccination Conversations Roadmap, the Maternal Immunization Quick Guide, and highlights from a cervical cancer prevention conversation hosted earlier this year. Also highlighted was the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act of 2021 (H.R.1550), which aims to advance funding for HPV-related treatment and research through 2026.  

Looking ahead, SWHR will be engaged in a Vaccine Program that will include additional resources about HPV vaccine education, hesitancy, and uptake. Please continue to check the SWHR website, our social media platforms, and sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on SWHR’s latest educational materials.  

Have you read:

• The Vaccine Mom Explains: Is the Aluminum Used in Some Vaccines Safe?
• Listing Vaccine Ingredients and Understanding Them. There’s a Difference.
• 3 Things I’ve Learned Since Losing My Son to Flu

About SWHR’s Infectious Diseases Network  

SWHR’s Infectious Diseases Network focuses on HPV and related diseases and vaccines. SWHR Science Networks comprise interdisciplinary groups of researchers, clinicians, patient advocates, and other health care leaders with expertise related to a specific disease, condition, or health topic. These Network members engage in scientific, policy, outreach, and education projects focused on identifying and eliminating barriers in women’s health research and care.  

The post Vaccinate Your Family and the Society for Women’s Health Research Work Together to Promote Vaccine Uptake appeared first on Shot of Prevention.

Routinely Recommended Vaccines are Covered by the Vaccines for Children Program

Whenever ACIP votes to recommend a vaccine, they also vote on whether it should be included in the Vaccines for Children program (VFC). VFC covers vaccines free of charge to uninsured, underinsured, and indigenous children.

Currently, the federal government has been paying for everyone to receive a COVID-19 vaccine at no cost to patients. This is because we are under a Public Health Emergency declaration that provides money to do so. When that declaration ends, which we expect will happen in early 2023, the vaccines will be covered under our current private and public insurance system. ACIP’s vote means all children will have access to COVID-19 vaccines, no matter their or their families’ insurance status.

Routinely Recommended Vaccines for Children are Covered under the VICP

Congress developed VICP, or the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, to compensate people with rare vaccine injuries quickly. The burden of proof is lower than in traditional civil courts to lessen the pressure on those who have been injured. In order for the government to add a vaccine to VICP, it must be routinely recommended for children or pregnant people.

The ACIP’s decision to add COVID-19 vaccines to the routine childhood schedule starts the process to move all injury claims to VICP. Anyone who has gotten the vaccine in good faith to protect themselves and their communities but suffered a rare injury will soon be more quickly compensated.

Have you read:

• Rights of the Unvaccinated Child: The Role of School Immunization Requirements
• Facts About the VICP Program
• 3 Things I’ve Learned Since Losing My Son to Flu

Routinely Recommended Vaccines Increase Access

When ACIP routinely recommends a vaccine, they are increasing access to it. ACIP is saying that there is enough evidence that the vaccine is safe and effective for the vast majority of children. Its recommendation increases funding to cover the cost of the vaccine so that all children can receive the vaccine if their parents want to vaccinate them. The recommendation also unlocks compensation for the rare injuries that may occur.

Only states can decide which vaccines to require for school entry. A routine recommendation does not guarantee it will become a required vaccine for school children. For example, no state requires a flu vaccine for school entry despite ACIP’s recommendation that all school-aged children receive one. You can learn more about the school entry requirement process from Professor Dorit Reiss.

So, is getting the COVID-19 vaccine for school a good idea? Yes! But is it automatically required? No.

The post Do Kids Have to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine for School? appeared first on Shot of Prevention.

The post We’re Worried About This Flu Season: Here’s Why appeared first on Shot of Prevention.

You probably know someone who has gotten sick with RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) given the number of cases in the U.S. this fall and winter season. While the recent RSV surge has made headlines, this common respiratory virus has been a threat to infants and young children, older adults, and adults with chronic medical conditions for years.

Learn more about the virus, its symptoms, and how to best protect your family from RSV.

What is RSV?

RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually spreads seasonally. In infants and young children, RSV is very common – in fact, it is the most common cause of acute lower respiratory infection in young children. Almost all children will get an RSV infection by the time they are 2 years old. RSV can be very serious for some babies and young children, especially premature infants, infants younger than 6 months, and young children with pre-existing health conditions. In one analysis that looked at available data through 2019, researchers found that (globally) one in every 28 deaths in children between 1 month and 6 months old is attributable to RSV. Here in the U.S., RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization in children younger than one year old. Approximately 75% of infants hospitalized for RSV are not born prematurely and don’t have underlying medical conditions.  

In older adults – especially those age 65 years and older – RSV causes upwards of 120,000 hospitalizations and 10,000 deaths every year in the U.S. Those at highest risk of severe outcomes related to RSV include older adults with chronic heart or lung disease, and/or weakened immune systems. Learn more about older adults at the highest risk for RSV here.   

People of any age can be infected with RSV. In healthy adults, RSV often looks like a common cold. – but RSV can be transmitted to others just like flu, COVID, or other infectious diseases. It can spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, as well as through contact with contaminated surfaces. 

RSV disproportionately affects infants & children of color. Learn more about the health disparities impacting infants with RSV from Dr. Whitley-Williams:

How do I know if I or my child has RSV?

Common symptoms of RSV include:  

• Fever  
• Runny or stuffy nose  
• Cough  
• Shortness of breath  
• Wheezing  

If someone is sick and having difficulty breathing, seek medical attention right away. Additional warning signs include blue lips or face, irritability, decreased activity, decreased appetite, and apnea (temporary stopping of breathing). RSV can lead to bronchiolitis (inflammation in the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection in the lung).  

Have you read:

• We’re Worried About This Flu Season: Here’s Why
• 3 Things I’ve Learned Since Losing My Son to Flu
• A Pastor’s Perspective: The Moral Case for Getting a Flu Vaccine

Why are there so many cases of RSV this season?

Prevention measures that we used during the COVID pandemic, like wearing a mask, staying home, and keeping six feet apart, worked well to reduce the spread of many other viruses . But with the relaxation of these precautions, viruses have come back in full force.  

In the U.S., RSV typically circulates during the fall and winter months. This season, RSV has hit the U.S. hard, circulating with flu and COVID-19 and causing what some medical experts have referred to as a “tripledemic.” As a result, many children’s hospitals have been overwhelmed.  

Can RSV be prevented?

The first-ever vaccines to protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are now available for older adults. The CDC & its independent Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) have recommended new RSV vaccines for adults ages 60 and up – one of the groups most at risk for serious illness from RSV infection. Adults 60+ may get an RSV vaccine based on a conversation with their health care provider about their health risk factors.

A new prevention tool for babies will also be available soon. At an August 3 meeting, a monoclonal antibody called nirsevimab was recommended by CDC experts for use in infants in their first RSV season and in high-risk  young children during their second RSV season. Monoclonal antibodies are antibodies administered through an external source which allow you to fight off infections for a certain period of time (a process called “passive immunity”). Monoclonal antibodies do not teach your body to make its own antibodies. Nirsevimab can provide strong protection in infants and young children for at least a year.  

The vaccines and monoclonal antibodies have been tested in clinical trials and data has been carefully reviewed by independent experts on ACIP to ensure that they’re safe and effective and that the benefits outweigh any potential risks. Like all recommended vaccines, safety monitoring will continue after they are widely available for use. 

Other vaccines against RSV are also under review by the FDA – one of which is being studied for use in pregnant people to provide protection to babies, with positive results so far.  

While we wait for vaccines and mAbs to be widely available, you can take steps to protect yourself, your family, and your community. You can stop the spread of RSV by wearing masks, keeping your distance from people who are sick, washing your hands often, and disinfecting surfaces regularly.

Bookmark this page as we will update it as treatments and vaccines become available! 

The post What is RSV? appeared first on Shot of Prevention.

Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, up to 90% of the people close to them will also become infected if they aren’t vaccinated. 

Getting sick with measles is bad, especially for kids under 5. It can cause fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash that can cover your body. A measles infection can lead to complications, hospitalization, and even death. About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. who get measles will be hospitalized, and 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 children with measles will die, even with the best care.  

Babies and children are recommended to get two doses of a vaccine that provides protection against measles, mumps, and rubella – the MMR vaccine. The vaccine is super effective – one dose is about 93% effective at preventing measles and two doses are about 97% effective. The first dose is recommended between 12 and 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old, though it can be given sooner if it is at least 28 days after the first dose.  

When at least 95% of the people in a community are fully vaccinated with two doses of this vaccine, it creates community immunity which is what can eliminate measles entirely. In other words, when more than 95% of a community is vaccinated, we can keep measles out and protect those children and adults who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.  

Maintaining community immunity is easier said than done. According to the Ohio Department of Health, measles vaccination rates have fallen from about 94% in 2010 to 88% in 2017.  More recently, national rates of MMR vaccination have fallen from 95.2% (2019-20 school year) to 93.9% (2020-21 school year) for kindergarteners entering school. We’re seeing what happens when vaccination rates dip even slightly: measles outbreaks among the vulnerable in our communities, like in daycares.  

Have you read:

• Why We Celebrate “Flu Shot Day” in Our Home
• 3 Things I’ve Learned Since Losing My Son to Flu
• A Pastor’s Perspective: The Moral Case for Getting a Flu Vaccine

Nearly 40 million children around the world are dangerously susceptible to a growing measles threat, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) jointly warned us in November.  

“The paradox of the pandemic is that while vaccines against COVID-19 were developed in record time and deployed in the largest vaccination campaign in history, routine immunization programs were badly disrupted, and millions of kids missed out on life-saving vaccinations against deadly diseases like measles,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Getting immunization programs back on track is absolutely critical. Behind every statistic in this report is a child at risk of a preventable disease.” 

The outbreak in Ohio this year shows us that measles is not just a problem of the past nor is it a threat only in faraway places – the only thing protecting children in our communities from measles are high vaccination rates. And we cannot take our high vaccination rates for granted – our health depends on all of us getting the recommended vaccines. We can stay well by creating a culture of immunization, where vaccines are a normal part of preventive health and wellness.  

What can you do to keep your loved ones safe?

First, make sure your kids are up to date on their MMR vaccines & other recommended routine vaccinations. Then: talk about why you vaccinate your family with your loved ones. Ask if their kids are up to date. Remind them that a measles vaccination could be the difference between a hospital visit and a healthy baby.  

The post Measles Outbreak in Ohio Shows Importance of Routine Immunizations appeared first on Shot of Prevention.

Are you more likely to get sick during the winter? Yep – more viruses are circulating this time of year. Give your immune system a boost.

With the winter months comes flu season, and in recent years COVID-19 has also surged during the wintertime. This year is looking particularly severe — flu hospitalizations are the highest they’ve been at this point in the season in the last 10 years. The good news is, there are some immune-boosting things you can do right now to help keep your family healthy through cold and flu season.

If you only do one thing, get vaccinated against flu and COVID-19, and stay up to date on routine immunizations. Recommended vaccines will give your immune system the best protection against circulating viruses.

Give your body a boost by following as many of these immune-boosting tips as you can:

Eat lots of fruits and vegetables

This probably won’t come as a surprise — fruits and vegetables are good for your health. While there isn’t one cure-all “superfood” to make you an immune superhuman, fruits and vegetables do provide nutrients (including beta-carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E) that can boost immune system function.

Don’t smoke

Did you know that smoking can harm your immune system? This makes it harder for your body to fight off infection if you catch a virus or bacterial illness. People who smoke are also at higher risk for some immune and autoimmune diseases.

Exercise regularly

Scientists have found compelling links between regular exercise and the health of your immune system. While we still have a lot to learn about exactly how exercise might boost your immune system, it is clear that it promotes overall health, is very good for your heart, and can make you feel more energetic.

Stay up to date on all recommended vaccines

It is recommended that everyone 6 months and older get a flu vaccine every year.If you haven’t gotten a flu shot yet this year, it’s not too late. Make sure you’re up to date on your COVID-19 vaccination, too — including getting an updated bivalent booster.

We have more evidence regarding how vaccines help your immune system fight off infection than for any other tip on this list. Vaccines boost your immune system by stimulating the production of immune cells called antibodies. When and if you come into contact with a virus or bacterium that you have been vaccinated against, your body has the information it needs to defend against this known invader. There’s data that show that for some illnesses, including COVID-19, the immunity from the vaccine is as strong or stronger than the natural immunity of having been infected, without the risk that comes with getting sick.

Have you read:

• We’re Worried About This Flu Season: Here’s Why
• 3 Things I’ve Learned Since Losing My Son to Flu
• A Pastor’s Perspective: The Moral Case for Getting a Flu Vaccine

A well-rounded approach to staying healthy will give your body its best chance at fighting off viruses and bacteria. While getting sick is not always preventable, adopting these immune-boosting wellness habits can help you enjoy a safe and healthy winter season with your loved ones.

The post Immune-Boosting Tips to Stay Well This Winter appeared first on Shot of Prevention.

There are some important things to know about the end of the PHE:  

• An estimated 10 to 15 million people could lose Medicaid coverage. As part of the PHE ending, states are “unwinding” Medicaid coverage. The PHE made it so that no one lost Medicaid coverage during the emergency, but now that it’s over, many who are no longer eligible could lose coverage, so we’re likely to see an increase in the number of people who are uninsured. This is a concern for access to all vaccines – not just COVID. 
• COVID vaccines are expected to continue to be available for free until the “commercialization” of COVID vaccines in fall 2023, when they will become available in the same ways as other recommended vaccines through the insurance market. However, we do not know exactly how long the supply of free vaccines for adults will last before commercialization. We also do not know for how long the expanded access to vaccines – through pharmacists, pop-up clinics, and other programs – will last. 
• We know that the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program will continue to cover COVID-19 vaccines at no cost to children through age 18, and that children and adults with insurance (private or through Medicaid or Medicare) should have no-cost access to COVID vaccines, including after commercialization. After commercialization of the COVID vaccines in the fall, we are most concerned about the cost of COVID vaccines for uninsured adults. There will be an HHS “Bridge Program” designed to make sure uninsured adults still have access to free vaccines at pharmacies and through public health systems, but a lot of uncertainty remains.

Because of the uncertainties that lie ahead with the Public Health Emergency ending, we encourage anyone who needs a COVID vaccine or booster to seek one out soon.

Vaccinate Your Family is responding by advocating for increased vaccine access through full funding of Section 317, which supports state immunization programs. Write to your legislators here. 

Our partners at the National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants and Migrants (NRC-RIM) have developed toolkit materials in nearly 20 languages to help communities understand the impacts of the PHE end. Find useful resources here.

Have you read:

• Are Vaccines Safe For My Baby? Get Answers from Trusted Nurses
• 3 Things I’ve Learned Since Losing My Son to Flu
• I’m a Doctor and Mom of Two. Here’s Why I Vaccinated My Kids Against COVID

The post The Public Health Emergency is Ending, but COVID Remains a Threat appeared first on Shot of Prevention.