Year-round flu vaccinations promote healthier infants in subtropics

May 15, 2017 – Vaccinating pregnant mothers year-round against flu in the resource-challenged region of subtropical Nepal reduced infant flu virus infection rates by an average of 30 percent, increased birth weights by 15 percent and resulted in babies having less influenza, according to a study. An international research team reports expanding year-round flu vaccinations during pregnancy would also benefit children in other tropical and subtropical parts of the world.  Read more HERE.

Cholera Vaccine Safe for Pregnant Women?

Pregnancy increases the risk of harmful effects from cholera for both mothers and their fetuses. A killed oral cholera vaccine, Shanchol (Shantha Biotechnics, Hydrabad, India), can protect against the disease for up to 5 years. However, cholera vaccination campaigns have often excluded pregnant women because of insufficient safety data for use during pregnancy. READ MORE about an observational cohort study to assess the safety of Shanchol during pregnancy.

Spotting the vaccine-preventable diseases that are back in the waiting room.

From rashes to puffy cheeks and persistent coughs, infectious diseases are a complex, everyday threat to human health. The introduction of vaccines was a revolutionary step in combating epidemic viruses and bacteria. However, during an age in which herd immunity is slipping and multidrug-resistant pathogens are on the rise, spotting infectious diseases can feel similar to detective work for many primary care physicians. More from Medical News Today.

72 Pediatric Flu Deaths Reported This Season

According to the FluView report for the week ending April 8, 2017 (week 14), flu activity decreased but remained elevated in the United States. While the 2016-2017 flu season has peaked, 18 states continue to report widespread flu activity and additional four flu-related pediatric deaths were reported that occurred this season. This bring the total number of flu deaths in children reported to CDC this season to 72. Significant flu activity is likely to continue for a number of weeks. See the CDC Report HERE. See FluView HERE.

Why it’s a bad idea to space out your child’s vaccination shots

“With so many vaccines being required for young children today, some parents are asking their doctors whether they can space out or delay the vaccine schedule. They’re concerned that too many vaccines might overwhelm their child’s immune system. Parents also worry that getting more than one shot at a time increases the pain and stress. Debate about childhood vaccinations has intensified in recent years because of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease that have been fueled in part by parents who decline to get their children vaccinated at all or according to the recommended schedule. After a 2014-2015 outbreak of measles that Read More …

National Influenza Vaccination Webinar

Learn about successful national and regional flu vaccination outreach programs from experts in the field. On April 20, the NIVDP will host a webinar: “Lessons from the Field: Immunization Leaders Sharing Strategies to Protect Underserved Populations.” Hear from immunization leaders who will share their best practices for developing resources, engaging partners, and promoting flu vaccination activities. This is a webinar for NIVDP partners and community stakeholders interested in promoting annual flu vaccination. Register here.