Blog
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.
Addressing Parental Requests to Spread Out Vaccines
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.
Tools at Your Fingertips: Immunization Apps
Immunization apps can be a valuable tool to ensure you are referencing the most up-to-date immunization recommendations to patients.
2014-15 Influenza Season: A Year to Remember
Like most children’s hospitals, Children’s of MN received a high number of infectious diseases cases this flu season and sadly, four children died in our hospital of influenza this year, also a new record…They were toddlers to teens, healthy and with chronic conditions, and mostly unvaccinated.
New ACIP Recommendations for Meningococcal, Influenza, and HPV Vaccines
At the February 2015 ACIP meeting held last month, recommendations were made for meningococcal, influenza, and HPV vaccines. The updated recommendations for meningococcal and HPV vaccines…
Protect Family and Friends: Get Vaccinated!
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.
Why Are Measles Making a Comeback?
Measles infection is one of the most contagious infectious diseases, and may be associated with severe side effects including major neurologic damage and death. As the number of unvaccinated, susceptible children increase, the risk of an epidemic grows rapidly and is a true threat to all at-risk groups.
Stay Heart Healthy: Vaccines for Adults with Heart Disease
The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) encourages you to use American Health Month to promote heart healthy behaviors and remind patients with heart disease about the importance of staying up-to-date with recommended vaccines – especially flu and pneumococcal vaccines – due to their increased risk of becoming ill with serious complications.