Flu (Influenza)
Maternal Immunization: Protecting Pregnant Women…and Babies
Most pregnant women get lots of advice to ensure that both they and their baby are healthy. One of the most important pieces of advice should be to get vaccinated against preventable diseases which are more dangerous for them and their newborns than other individuals…
Vaccination Nation
From the moment we become parents, we work to keep our children’s environment safe. We child-proof our homes and make sure poisons and dangerous objects are secured wherever our kids spend time. But we aren’t always as diligent about making sure the community spaces where our children learn and play are protected from threats we can’t see, like infectious diseases…
ID News Round-Up
Recent items of interest from the world of infectious diseases including increased risk of stroke and heart attack from shingles, needle-free flu vaccines, and measles in Europe and Minnesota…
Fathers for Vaccination!
This Father’s Day, take a minute to ponder how important you are to your family. One day you’re preventing little ones from bumping into sharp edges and then next thing you know, you’re teaching your teen how drive safely. We childproof our houses, install car seats that would rival Formula One roll cages, and buy the safest (and slowest) cars for our teens. We do all of this to help keep them safe. Vaccination is one of the easiest ways to keep them safe when they are young and sometimes, for life…
Flu Vaccination is Important Each & Every Year…Even for Healthy Children
Caroline had been vaccinated against the flu every year except this particular year. The vaccine wasn’t readily available prior to the beginning of school and once the busy school year began, it fell off the “radar.” Caroline’s mother admits, “The fact that we neglected to make it a priority was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made as a parent. That mistake and lack of judgment nearly stole my child’s life and has changed our entire family’s lives forever…”
Influenza Vaccination for Adults Age 65 Years and Older: Frequently Asked Questions
In the US, adults age 65 years and older are disproportionately impacted by influenza (flu) every year. There are far more flu-related deaths and hospitalizations in adults age 65 years and older than any other age group…
Top 10 Must Read 2016 NFID Blog Posts
As 2016 comes to a close, NFID would like to wish all readers a safe and happy holiday season. As we reflect on the past year, we are pleased to share this recap of the top 10 most read blog posts in 2016…
Experts Answer Questions About Flu
Special thanks to Vaccinate Your Family for co-sponsoring the Flu Facebook Forum during National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), as well as those who took time to ask flu-related questions and the NFID experts (William Schaffner, MD; Walter A. Orenstein, MD; Patricia A. Stinchfield, RN, MS, CPNP, CIC; Lisa S. Ipp, MD; and Kathleen M. Neuzil, MD, MPH) who provided detailed responses.
Threat of H1N1 Virus Makes Flu Shots a Must
CDC estimates that flu vaccine prevented nearly 744,000 illnesses, 320,000 doctor’s visits, and about 8,000 hospitalizations among people age 50 years to 64 years last season. But, if just 5 percent more people in the 50 to 64 age group had been vaccinated last season, CDC estimates that an additional 82,000 illnesses and 900 hospitalizations could have been prevented.
Influenza Vaccines for All Ages
It seems not everyone has gotten the message about influenza vaccines, so once again: everyone age six months and older needs an annual influenza vaccine. We have more than enough vaccine supply and many types of influenza vaccines available. There is at least one, and usually multiple options, available for every one of us. Vaccination is the key to influenza prevention for everyone.