Q and A on shingles

Infectious Diseases Vaccines Videos

Shingles is an extremely painful disease caused by the reawakening of the Varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Fortunately, there is a shingles vaccine that significantly reduces your chance of getting shingles. The vaccine is recommended for all adults over 50. This includes people who had chickenpox, the chickenpox vaccine, an older Zostavax Read more…

I’ve been hearing a lot about organ donation — should I worry, and how can I make my wishes known?

General Health Health Policy

Organ donation is a complicated medical and legal topic, and some are calling for more transparency and regulation. Learning about the process can help you know how to communicate your wishes ahead of time. We don’t typically think of organ donation as a controversial topic. When I applied for my first driver’s license I checked Read more…

There is so much information about who can and can’t get the COVID vaccine this fall. Can you clear things up?

Hot Health Topics Infectious Diseases Vaccines

The fall COVID vaccines received FDA approval recently, but had significant changes to who can get them. These changes mean that the COVID-19 vaccines may be harder to access this year than in the past. But their importance has not changed, nor has the science that supports their effectiveness. If you have the ability, you Read more…

I asked a bunch of kids what a “healthy neighborhood” looks like to them.

Families/Kids Health Policy Nerdy Notes

This is another in our new series Nerdy Notes: Science in Story & Verse. In these posts, our Nerdy Girl scientists and clinicians will share personal stories, insights, poetry, and more. While these posts may be lighter in terms of numbers and figures, they will still be rooted in our tradition and commitment to providing Read more…

Why do we give newborn babies the Hepatitis B vaccine?

Families/Kids Vaccines Videos

🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️Parents often wonder why we recommend giving the hepatitis B vaccine to brand-new babies before they even go home from the hospital. They may think, “Isn’t hepatitis B a sexually transmitted infection? Why would my baby need that?” Great question! 💡 The hepatitis B vaccine is an important tool to protect infants and children from Read more…

Busting Flu Shot Myths!

Vaccines

There are tons of myths and misconceptions out there about the flu shot. Time to break some of them down and set the record straight! Note: This post was updated by Those Nerdy Girls from the original written on September 29, 2022. Myth: The flu vaccine causes the flu. Fact: Nope! There are multiple formulations Read more…

Is there an Autism Epidemic?

General Health Videos

Autism diagnosis rates have risen over the past two decades.A rise in cases signals an epidemic; however, more diagnoses without more cases? That’s not an epidemic. MK Haber and Andrea Harmony from Those Nerdy Girls explain what’s behind the increase.   Information sourced from Episode 894 of Public Health On Call in conjunction with the Read more…

September is Sepsis Awareness Month

Infection and Spread Reproductive Health Videos

Q: What does sepsis awareness have to do with reproductive health? A: Tons, actually! From natural processes such as menstruation to medical procedures such as abortions, the goings-on of our reproductive systems – particularly in those of us assigned female at birth – may make us more susceptible to infections. And when reproductive healthcare systems Read more…

My kid recently had a rash on his hands, and my doctor told me it was hand foot and mouth disease. Can you tell us about it?

Clinical Symptoms Families/Kids Infectious Diseases

Hand foot and mouth disease is another one of those pesky viral rashes. While it is extremely common and is highly contagious, fortunately it usually causes only mild disease. ✋🦶🏽👄 What causes hand foot and mouth disease? Hand foot and mouth, or HFM is a disease caused by a virus that is very common among Read more…