Should your baby get a Vitamin K shot?

Families/Kids

Yes! Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend the vitamin K shot for every newborn. Vitamin K is extremely important for blood clotting and we aren’t born with any, so it’s necessary to give babies an extra boost of Vitamin K to make sure they don’t bleed too much. What Read more…

Additional COVID vaccines approved for everyone ages 65+

COVID Variants Infectious Diseases Vaccines

Additional COVID vaccines approved for everyone ages 65+ Last week the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend additional doses of the 2024-2025 COVID vaccine for certain groups: • Everyone 65 years and older and anyone with a moderately or severely weakened immune system should receive a second dose of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine 6 Read more…

What’s the latest on Bird Flu?

Infectious Diseases

(This information is up to date as of October 27, 2024, 9am EDT) The risk to humans remains low. Although bird flu infections continue to be found on cattle and poultry farms and have infected some people working there, there are no signs that human-to-human transmission is happening yet. Public health scientists are keeping a Read more…

Nerdy Girls Live 10/25/24 – Your COVID Vaccine Questions Answered

Vaccines Videos

Those Nerdy Girls answer your questions about COVID vaccines including Novavax, side effects, timing, and more. Hosted by: – Chana Davis, PhD @thosenerdygirls x @fueledbyscience – Andrea Harmony NP-C, PMHS @thosenerdygirls – Gayle Mendoza, MPH, BSN, RN @thosenerdygirls Always seek the advice of your health care provider with questions about your medical care. ➡️ 0:00 Read more…

Why does global vaccine equity matter?

Infectious Diseases Social and Racial Justice Vaccines

Q: Why does ensuring people all over the world have access to vaccines matter? Are there ways we can help ensure global vaccine access? A:  Vaccine access is a global issue that saves lives and reduces the spread of pathogens worldwide. We can contribute by advocating for funding global vaccine initiatives and supporting organizations dedicated Read more…

How does intimate partner violence impact pregnancy?

Reproductive Health

How does intimate partner violence impact pregnancy? TL;DR: Survivors of intimate partner violence during pregnancy, both parents and infants, experience long-term emotional trauma and chronic health problems, and timely support can help prevent it. *If you or anyone you know needs help, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). Read more…

On October 11, 2024, we celebrated the 12th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl

Social and Racial Justice

This year’s theme is “Girls’ vision for the future.” The theme represents “the need for urgent action and persistent hope, driven by the power of girls’ voices and vision for the future.” As we noted last week, this celebration was started by the United Nations to “recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face Read more…

How can I navigate election misinformation in the coming weeks?

Social and Racial Justice Uncertainty and Misinformation

Use the new Misinformation Dashboard from The News Literacy Project! TL;DR: The Misinformation Dashboard catalogs and categorizes viral election-related misinformation by theme and method used to spread it. Being aware of these themes and ways misinformation is spread can help us better recognize it and pause before sharing it. Check it out here: https://misinfodashboard.newslit.org/! As Read more…

Should I check my hormones in perimenopause with an at-home test?

Aging Reproductive Health

Should I check my hormones in perimenopause with an at-home test? TL;DR No. Routine “hormone testing” in perimenopause and menopause is not recommended. At-home urine and saliva tests are not helpful in determining “stage” of perimenopause or need for treatment. Menopause transition Menopause is the normal process that occurs when the ovaries stop working. It Read more…

Do You Really Have “Cortisol Face?”

General Health

Social media has been obsessed with “Cortisol Face,” but you probably don’t have it. While chronically elevated levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) may contribute to weight gain, “cortisol face” isn’t a real thing unless you have a condition called Cushing’s Syndrome. You might have seen TikTok videos about “cortisol face” or “cortisol pooch” that Read more…