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The Long and Winding Road to Meningococcal Serogroup B Vaccine Recommendations
The permissive (Category B) recommendation for meningococcal serogroup B vaccination reflects the science of the disease, takes into account many practical issues in vaccine delivery, and offers the widest range of solutions for patients and their families, healthcare providers, and the healthcare system.
Boys Need HPV Vaccines, Too!
Despite availability of safe and effective HPV vaccines, completion of the 3-dose vaccine series remains low and completion rates are much higher in girls (37.6%) than boys (13.9%) although HPV vaccination has been recommended for both boys and girls 11-12 years of age since December, 2011.
The History of NFID
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) was founded in 1973 and is dedicated to educating the public and healthcare professionals about the causes, prevention, and treatment of infectious diseases across the lifespan. The following history of NFID (Part I) was shared by Richard J. Duma, MD, PhD upon accepting the 2015 John P. Utz Leadership Award at the NFID Awards Gala on May 5, 2015 in Bethesda, MD.
An App a Day Helps Keeps Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Away
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.
Pharmacist Challenges in Providing Immunizations
While 44 states currently allow pharmacists to administer vaccines recommended by the Advisory Council on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and all 50 states allow influenza vaccines to be given, many states place barriers between patients and pharmacists as immunizers, primarily by age and/or prescription restrictions.
The Oscars of Infectious Diseases
Last week, the stars came out to celebrate and honor three outstanding leaders at the “Oscars of Infectious Diseases” also known as the 2015 NFID Awards Dinner. Samuel L. Katz, MD was presented with the 2015 Maxwell Finland Award for Scientific Achievement, F. Marc LaForce, MD with the 2015 Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian Award, and Richard J. Duma, MD, PhD with the 2015 John P. Utz Leadership Award.
2015 Annual Conference on Vaccine Research: News Round-Up
Top news coverage from the NFID 18th Annual Conference on Vaccine Research, held on April 13-15, 2015 in Bethesda, MD: 3 key lessons industry leaders have…
Meningitis B Vaccine: Part of the Routine Vaccine Schedule?
Adding a vaccine to the recommended schedule is not without controversy. All vaccines cost money—the meningococcal B vaccine costs around $130 a dose and currently the two vaccines available are part of a 2- or 3-dose series. However, the benefits of vaccination far out weigh the cost of vaccination.
Do You Know Which Vaccines are Recommended Before, During, and After Pregnancy?
Vaccines are recommended for women before, during and after pregnancy. Some vaccines, such as the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, should be given a month or more before pregnancy. Other vaccines, like Tdap (to protect against whooping cough) and influenza, are given during pregnancy.
Presidential Order Pushes Mandatory Antimicrobial Stewardship: Is Your Hospital Prepared?
If everyone — healthcare providers, hospital administrators, policy makers, and patients — works together to employ effective Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs, we can improve patient care, more effectively combat antibiotic resistance, and ultimately save lives.