Adolescent

The independent and multi-layered vaccine review process can be complicated but is in place to ensure that vaccines are held to the highest standards of safety. Moreover, continuous monitoring of health problems after vaccination ensures that the US has a safe and effective vaccine supply.

An app a day keeps vaccine-preventable diseases away…

The following list of immunization apps can be valuable tools to help you and your family stay aware and up-to-date with recommended immunizations. The list of free apps below was developed with patients and parents as end-users in mind and are available for download at no charge from iTunes and/or the Google Play Store.

Special thanks to Allison Kempe, MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics at University of Colorado School of Medicine and Director of the Children’s Outcomes Research (COR) Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado for summarizing results from a recent study, Physician Response to Parental Requests to Spread Out the Recommended Vaccine Schedule. The study found that virtually all healthcare providers encounter requests to spread out vaccines and, despite concerns, most agree to do so.

You may know Kristen Bell from her role as Veronica Mars, or more recently, her role as the voice of Anna in Frozen. But, Kristen is also becoming well-known as she is the latest celebrity to publicly announce her pro-vaccine stance.

Colds, flu, most sore throats, and bronchitis are caused by viruses. Antibiotics do not help fight viruses — they only cure bacterial infections, such as strep throat or whooping cough. Using antibiotics to treat a virus may actually do more harm than good. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment, otherwise…

Invisible Threat is an eye-opening 40-minute documentary produced by California high school students that explores the science of vaccination and how fears and misperceptions have led some parents to make dangerous decisions.  In recognition of the national launch of the Invisible Threat movement on May 1, 2014, we are participating in a blog relay to raise awareness of this important…

NFID hosted a successful inaugural Twitter chat on 2/20/14 to discuss the new National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) Standards for Adult Immunization Practice. With 50 tweets from nearly 20 contributors, the estimated reach of the chat was approximately 5,000 accounts and 29,000 impressions. Highlights of the discussions follow. Topic 1 focused on how healthcare professionals (HCPs) could best ASSESS the immunization status of adult…

There is still much work to be done to increase adult vaccination rates in the United States to reach public health goals. William Schaffner, MD, NFID immediate past-president, wrote the post below for Infectious Disease News on the importance of every patient medical visit representing an opportunity to vaccinate. Despite well-documented evidence regarding effectiveness and safety, overall adult vaccination rates in the…

A new report issued by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) and Pfizer Inc. brings attention to the fact that adolescents are often overlooked in the US healthcare system, which may lead to short- and long-term health consequences and contribute to the economic burden on the healthcare system. The report, titled The Case for Improving Adolescent Health: Helping prepare adolescents for a healthy…

Special thanks to Thomas A. Clark, MD, MPH acting branch chief in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch for this guest blog post on the importance of vaccination in preventing pertussis (whooping cough). The holidays usually mean time surrounded by family and friends. As you prepare to enjoy the upcoming season with your loved…

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has designated November 18-24, 2013 as “Get Smart About Antibiotics Week.” Did you know? 1. Antibiotic resistance is one of the world’s most pressing public health threats. 2. Antibiotics are the most important tool we have to combat life‐threatening bacterial diseases, but antibiotics can have side effects. 3. Antibiotic overuse increases…

In February 2013, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) updated the Tdap vaccine recommendations for pregnant women. NFID had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Mark H. Sawyer from the University of California San Diego about the updated recommendations. He discusses the importance of the vaccine, a strategy to communicate with vaccine-hesitant pregnant women, and the need for those surrounding newborns to also be…