Can I get shingles over and over again?
Biology/Immunity Infectious Diseases
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Although not very common, getting shingles more than once is possible. The shingles vaccine can reduce the chance of recurrence. If you have had shingles, there is a small chance that you will get it again. This is called recurrent shingles. This is really understudied, and not a lot is known about why or how Read more…
What are the side effects of the RSV vaccines for older adults?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Side effects for both RSV vaccinations include the usual injection site pain, feeling tired and achy, and headache. The are nearly always so mild that they do not interfere with usual activities. Side effects for both RSV vaccinations (Arexvy and Abrysvo) are nearly always so mild they do not interfere with usual activities. Rates of Read more…
What are the side effects of the updated COVID vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
The most common side effects are the same as earlier versions of the vaccine–rash and soreness at the injection site, headache, fever, and fatigue. Symptoms are typically mild and last 1-3 days. The most common side effects of the updated COVID-19 vaccine are rash and soreness at the injection site, headache, fever, and fatigue. Symptoms Read more…
Who is eligible for the shingles vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Everyone ages 50+ and 19+ with a weakened immune system is eligible for the Shingrix vaccine, including people who previously received the one-dose shingles vaccine, Zostavax. Shingrix is a two-dose vaccine that reduces the risk of shingles by more than 90%. Who should get Shingrix? People ages 50+ should get two doses of Shingrix. People ages 19 Read more…
You can now “test to treat” at home in the US!!
Infectious Diseases Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
TLDR: Home Test To Treat is a new program that provides telehealth and antiviral home delivery for people testing positive for Flu or Covid-19. The U.S. The Test To Treat Program aimed to make it quicker and easier for people at risk for severe Covid-19 to get the antivirals they need. Not only were pharmacists Read more…
Do we know if the new RSV vaccines are safe?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Possible safety signals were very, very rare in the RSV vaccine trials, and no surprises have emerged with roughly 12 million Americans having received them so far. There are two new vaccines available to prevent RSV and serious outcomes from RSV, both available in the US for adults aged 60 and up. Both were FDA-approved Read more…
Will I have to pay for my COVID-19 vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
No, in the U.S., COVID-19 vaccines are still free for everyone. They are either covered by your health insurance or by a government program if you are uninsured. With the end of the government’s official pandemic emergency response last Spring, the U.S. government no longer directly purchases COVID-19 vaccines to provide free to the public. Read more…
How common are side effects from the shingles vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
4 in 5 people get a sore arm, and 1 in 6 people has a reaction severe enough to send them to bed–like headache, fatigue, muscle pain, or fever. Side effects usually last 1-3 days. One of the reasons people put off getting the shingles vaccine is that they’ve heard the side effects are nasty. Read more…
How effective is the new RSV vaccine for older people?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Both new RSV vaccines are highly effective (over 80%) at preventing RSV disease. As we’ve recently covered, RSV can be a nasty illness for older adults, landing hundreds of thousands in the hospital each year and causing around ten thousand deaths annually in the US. The good news is that there are two new RSV vaccines approved Read more…
December 1st is World HIV/AIDS Day.
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
It’s World HIV/AIDS Day. Where do things stand with HIV? Before we drop some knowledge, let’s take a moment to remember and honor those we have lost to HIV/AIDS. This Nerd lost Stuart and Bob, uncle figures and mentors in my childhood and young adulthood. I credit them for my love and passion for public Read more…
What COVID-19 shot am I supposed to get this Fall?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Most people just need one dose of the 2023 updated COVID-19 shot. The specific recommendations for various ages, previous vaccine status, and brands are in the tables in this post! Back in September 2023, the CDC recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older get the latest COVID-19 vaccine. People aged 5+ years just need one Read more…
Is ‘Immunity Debt’ Behind China’s Rising Childhood Pneumonia Cases?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
TL;DR: There is no “immunity debt” for individuals. But *populations* can experience a “catch-up” period after a period of low virus transmission, which is what seems to be happening in China right now. Recent reports of a high number of cases of childhood pneumonia in China definitely made epidemiologists a tad nervous. But so far, Read more…
Why does the flu vaccine have to be updated every year?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Three reasons: 1. Influenza viruses mutate over time, 2. the virus strains circulating can vary year to year, and 3. our immunity wanes over time. That’s why the flu vaccine formula needs to be updated yearly, and we need to get a flu shot each season to be well-protected. Influenza viruses have proteins on their surface: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Read more…
Q: Why can’t I get antibiotics for a cough?
Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
A: Taking an antibiotic when it’s not needed contributes to antimicrobial resistance and can put you and others at risk of more severe infections. TLDR: Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses mutate in ways that make common treatments ineffective. More and more antibiotics are losing their effectiveness due to antimicrobial resistance, so Read more…
Why should older adults be concerned about RSV?
Infectious Diseases
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Adults 60 years and older are at a higher risk for severe RSV and complications like pneumonia and hospitalization because our immune systems get weaker as we age. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (usually called RSV) is typically thought of as an infection that is bad for infants and children. But you can get RSV at any age. Read more…
Why are there special flu shots for older adults?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
People who are at least 65 years old can get a flu shot specially developed for their age group, and it offers better protection from the flu. Influenza vaccines have been around for nearly 80 years, and have undergone a number of changes during that long history. One of the more recent changes is the emergence Read more…
How many people die of the flu anyway?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
It’s not “just a flu.” The flu is much more dangerous than a regular cold, especially for young kids, older people, and during pregnancy. The flu can kill over 50,000 people a year in the US in a bad year. “It’s just a bad flu.” We often heard this as a way to minimize the Read more…
Should I get a flu shot if I already had the flu this season?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes. The flu shot covers FOUR strains – you don’t want to catch it again! TL;DR: It’s hard to know which flu strain you got or which one will be dominant in the next few months. Go ahead and get that shot even if you had confirmed or suspected influenza. The current flu vaccine Read more…
The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
Although not very common, getting shingles more than once is possible. The shingles vaccine can reduce the chance of recurrence. If you have had shingles, there is a small chance that you will get it again. This is called recurrent shingles. This is really understudied, and not a lot is known about why or how Read more…
What are the side effects of the RSV vaccines for older adults?
Infectious Diseases VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
Side effects for both RSV vaccinations include the usual injection site pain, feeling tired and achy, and headache. The are nearly always so mild that they do not interfere with usual activities. Side effects for both RSV vaccinations (Arexvy and Abrysvo) are nearly always so mild they do not interfere with usual activities. Rates of Read more…
What are the side effects of the updated COVID vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
The most common side effects are the same as earlier versions of the vaccine–rash and soreness at the injection site, headache, fever, and fatigue. Symptoms are typically mild and last 1-3 days. The most common side effects of the updated COVID-19 vaccine are rash and soreness at the injection site, headache, fever, and fatigue. Symptoms Read more…
Who is eligible for the shingles vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Everyone ages 50+ and 19+ with a weakened immune system is eligible for the Shingrix vaccine, including people who previously received the one-dose shingles vaccine, Zostavax. Shingrix is a two-dose vaccine that reduces the risk of shingles by more than 90%. Who should get Shingrix? People ages 50+ should get two doses of Shingrix. People ages 19 Read more…
You can now “test to treat” at home in the US!!
Infectious Diseases Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
TLDR: Home Test To Treat is a new program that provides telehealth and antiviral home delivery for people testing positive for Flu or Covid-19. The U.S. The Test To Treat Program aimed to make it quicker and easier for people at risk for severe Covid-19 to get the antivirals they need. Not only were pharmacists Read more…
Do we know if the new RSV vaccines are safe?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Possible safety signals were very, very rare in the RSV vaccine trials, and no surprises have emerged with roughly 12 million Americans having received them so far. There are two new vaccines available to prevent RSV and serious outcomes from RSV, both available in the US for adults aged 60 and up. Both were FDA-approved Read more…
Will I have to pay for my COVID-19 vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
No, in the U.S., COVID-19 vaccines are still free for everyone. They are either covered by your health insurance or by a government program if you are uninsured. With the end of the government’s official pandemic emergency response last Spring, the U.S. government no longer directly purchases COVID-19 vaccines to provide free to the public. Read more…
How common are side effects from the shingles vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
4 in 5 people get a sore arm, and 1 in 6 people has a reaction severe enough to send them to bed–like headache, fatigue, muscle pain, or fever. Side effects usually last 1-3 days. One of the reasons people put off getting the shingles vaccine is that they’ve heard the side effects are nasty. Read more…
How effective is the new RSV vaccine for older people?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Both new RSV vaccines are highly effective (over 80%) at preventing RSV disease. As we’ve recently covered, RSV can be a nasty illness for older adults, landing hundreds of thousands in the hospital each year and causing around ten thousand deaths annually in the US. The good news is that there are two new RSV vaccines approved Read more…
December 1st is World HIV/AIDS Day.
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
It’s World HIV/AIDS Day. Where do things stand with HIV? Before we drop some knowledge, let’s take a moment to remember and honor those we have lost to HIV/AIDS. This Nerd lost Stuart and Bob, uncle figures and mentors in my childhood and young adulthood. I credit them for my love and passion for public Read more…
What COVID-19 shot am I supposed to get this Fall?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Most people just need one dose of the 2023 updated COVID-19 shot. The specific recommendations for various ages, previous vaccine status, and brands are in the tables in this post! Back in September 2023, the CDC recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older get the latest COVID-19 vaccine. People aged 5+ years just need one Read more…
Is ‘Immunity Debt’ Behind China’s Rising Childhood Pneumonia Cases?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
TL;DR: There is no “immunity debt” for individuals. But *populations* can experience a “catch-up” period after a period of low virus transmission, which is what seems to be happening in China right now. Recent reports of a high number of cases of childhood pneumonia in China definitely made epidemiologists a tad nervous. But so far, Read more…
Why does the flu vaccine have to be updated every year?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Three reasons: 1. Influenza viruses mutate over time, 2. the virus strains circulating can vary year to year, and 3. our immunity wanes over time. That’s why the flu vaccine formula needs to be updated yearly, and we need to get a flu shot each season to be well-protected. Influenza viruses have proteins on their surface: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Read more…
Q: Why can’t I get antibiotics for a cough?
Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
A: Taking an antibiotic when it’s not needed contributes to antimicrobial resistance and can put you and others at risk of more severe infections. TLDR: Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses mutate in ways that make common treatments ineffective. More and more antibiotics are losing their effectiveness due to antimicrobial resistance, so Read more…
Why should older adults be concerned about RSV?
Infectious Diseases
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Adults 60 years and older are at a higher risk for severe RSV and complications like pneumonia and hospitalization because our immune systems get weaker as we age. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (usually called RSV) is typically thought of as an infection that is bad for infants and children. But you can get RSV at any age. Read more…
Why are there special flu shots for older adults?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
People who are at least 65 years old can get a flu shot specially developed for their age group, and it offers better protection from the flu. Influenza vaccines have been around for nearly 80 years, and have undergone a number of changes during that long history. One of the more recent changes is the emergence Read more…
How many people die of the flu anyway?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
It’s not “just a flu.” The flu is much more dangerous than a regular cold, especially for young kids, older people, and during pregnancy. The flu can kill over 50,000 people a year in the US in a bad year. “It’s just a bad flu.” We often heard this as a way to minimize the Read more…
Should I get a flu shot if I already had the flu this season?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes. The flu shot covers FOUR strains – you don’t want to catch it again! TL;DR: It’s hard to know which flu strain you got or which one will be dominant in the next few months. Go ahead and get that shot even if you had confirmed or suspected influenza. The current flu vaccine Read more…
The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
Side effects for both RSV vaccinations include the usual injection site pain, feeling tired and achy, and headache. The are nearly always so mild that they do not interfere with usual activities. Side effects for both RSV vaccinations (Arexvy and Abrysvo) are nearly always so mild they do not interfere with usual activities. Rates of Read more…
What are the side effects of the updated COVID vaccine?
Infectious Diseases VaccinesRoopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
The most common side effects are the same as earlier versions of the vaccine–rash and soreness at the injection site, headache, fever, and fatigue. Symptoms are typically mild and last 1-3 days. The most common side effects of the updated COVID-19 vaccine are rash and soreness at the injection site, headache, fever, and fatigue. Symptoms Read more…
Who is eligible for the shingles vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Everyone ages 50+ and 19+ with a weakened immune system is eligible for the Shingrix vaccine, including people who previously received the one-dose shingles vaccine, Zostavax. Shingrix is a two-dose vaccine that reduces the risk of shingles by more than 90%. Who should get Shingrix? People ages 50+ should get two doses of Shingrix. People ages 19 Read more…
You can now “test to treat” at home in the US!!
Infectious Diseases Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
TLDR: Home Test To Treat is a new program that provides telehealth and antiviral home delivery for people testing positive for Flu or Covid-19. The U.S. The Test To Treat Program aimed to make it quicker and easier for people at risk for severe Covid-19 to get the antivirals they need. Not only were pharmacists Read more…
Do we know if the new RSV vaccines are safe?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Possible safety signals were very, very rare in the RSV vaccine trials, and no surprises have emerged with roughly 12 million Americans having received them so far. There are two new vaccines available to prevent RSV and serious outcomes from RSV, both available in the US for adults aged 60 and up. Both were FDA-approved Read more…
Will I have to pay for my COVID-19 vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
No, in the U.S., COVID-19 vaccines are still free for everyone. They are either covered by your health insurance or by a government program if you are uninsured. With the end of the government’s official pandemic emergency response last Spring, the U.S. government no longer directly purchases COVID-19 vaccines to provide free to the public. Read more…
How common are side effects from the shingles vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
4 in 5 people get a sore arm, and 1 in 6 people has a reaction severe enough to send them to bed–like headache, fatigue, muscle pain, or fever. Side effects usually last 1-3 days. One of the reasons people put off getting the shingles vaccine is that they’ve heard the side effects are nasty. Read more…
How effective is the new RSV vaccine for older people?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Both new RSV vaccines are highly effective (over 80%) at preventing RSV disease. As we’ve recently covered, RSV can be a nasty illness for older adults, landing hundreds of thousands in the hospital each year and causing around ten thousand deaths annually in the US. The good news is that there are two new RSV vaccines approved Read more…
December 1st is World HIV/AIDS Day.
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
It’s World HIV/AIDS Day. Where do things stand with HIV? Before we drop some knowledge, let’s take a moment to remember and honor those we have lost to HIV/AIDS. This Nerd lost Stuart and Bob, uncle figures and mentors in my childhood and young adulthood. I credit them for my love and passion for public Read more…
What COVID-19 shot am I supposed to get this Fall?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Most people just need one dose of the 2023 updated COVID-19 shot. The specific recommendations for various ages, previous vaccine status, and brands are in the tables in this post! Back in September 2023, the CDC recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older get the latest COVID-19 vaccine. People aged 5+ years just need one Read more…
Is ‘Immunity Debt’ Behind China’s Rising Childhood Pneumonia Cases?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
TL;DR: There is no “immunity debt” for individuals. But *populations* can experience a “catch-up” period after a period of low virus transmission, which is what seems to be happening in China right now. Recent reports of a high number of cases of childhood pneumonia in China definitely made epidemiologists a tad nervous. But so far, Read more…
Why does the flu vaccine have to be updated every year?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Three reasons: 1. Influenza viruses mutate over time, 2. the virus strains circulating can vary year to year, and 3. our immunity wanes over time. That’s why the flu vaccine formula needs to be updated yearly, and we need to get a flu shot each season to be well-protected. Influenza viruses have proteins on their surface: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Read more…
Q: Why can’t I get antibiotics for a cough?
Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
A: Taking an antibiotic when it’s not needed contributes to antimicrobial resistance and can put you and others at risk of more severe infections. TLDR: Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses mutate in ways that make common treatments ineffective. More and more antibiotics are losing their effectiveness due to antimicrobial resistance, so Read more…
Why should older adults be concerned about RSV?
Infectious Diseases
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Adults 60 years and older are at a higher risk for severe RSV and complications like pneumonia and hospitalization because our immune systems get weaker as we age. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (usually called RSV) is typically thought of as an infection that is bad for infants and children. But you can get RSV at any age. Read more…
Why are there special flu shots for older adults?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
People who are at least 65 years old can get a flu shot specially developed for their age group, and it offers better protection from the flu. Influenza vaccines have been around for nearly 80 years, and have undergone a number of changes during that long history. One of the more recent changes is the emergence Read more…
How many people die of the flu anyway?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
It’s not “just a flu.” The flu is much more dangerous than a regular cold, especially for young kids, older people, and during pregnancy. The flu can kill over 50,000 people a year in the US in a bad year. “It’s just a bad flu.” We often heard this as a way to minimize the Read more…
Should I get a flu shot if I already had the flu this season?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes. The flu shot covers FOUR strains – you don’t want to catch it again! TL;DR: It’s hard to know which flu strain you got or which one will be dominant in the next few months. Go ahead and get that shot even if you had confirmed or suspected influenza. The current flu vaccine Read more…
The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
The most common side effects are the same as earlier versions of the vaccine–rash and soreness at the injection site, headache, fever, and fatigue. Symptoms are typically mild and last 1-3 days. The most common side effects of the updated COVID-19 vaccine are rash and soreness at the injection site, headache, fever, and fatigue. Symptoms Read more…
Who is eligible for the shingles vaccine?
Infectious Diseases VaccinesRoopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Everyone ages 50+ and 19+ with a weakened immune system is eligible for the Shingrix vaccine, including people who previously received the one-dose shingles vaccine, Zostavax. Shingrix is a two-dose vaccine that reduces the risk of shingles by more than 90%. Who should get Shingrix? People ages 50+ should get two doses of Shingrix. People ages 19 Read more…
You can now “test to treat” at home in the US!!
Infectious Diseases Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
TLDR: Home Test To Treat is a new program that provides telehealth and antiviral home delivery for people testing positive for Flu or Covid-19. The U.S. The Test To Treat Program aimed to make it quicker and easier for people at risk for severe Covid-19 to get the antivirals they need. Not only were pharmacists Read more…
Do we know if the new RSV vaccines are safe?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Possible safety signals were very, very rare in the RSV vaccine trials, and no surprises have emerged with roughly 12 million Americans having received them so far. There are two new vaccines available to prevent RSV and serious outcomes from RSV, both available in the US for adults aged 60 and up. Both were FDA-approved Read more…
Will I have to pay for my COVID-19 vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
No, in the U.S., COVID-19 vaccines are still free for everyone. They are either covered by your health insurance or by a government program if you are uninsured. With the end of the government’s official pandemic emergency response last Spring, the U.S. government no longer directly purchases COVID-19 vaccines to provide free to the public. Read more…
How common are side effects from the shingles vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
4 in 5 people get a sore arm, and 1 in 6 people has a reaction severe enough to send them to bed–like headache, fatigue, muscle pain, or fever. Side effects usually last 1-3 days. One of the reasons people put off getting the shingles vaccine is that they’ve heard the side effects are nasty. Read more…
How effective is the new RSV vaccine for older people?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Both new RSV vaccines are highly effective (over 80%) at preventing RSV disease. As we’ve recently covered, RSV can be a nasty illness for older adults, landing hundreds of thousands in the hospital each year and causing around ten thousand deaths annually in the US. The good news is that there are two new RSV vaccines approved Read more…
December 1st is World HIV/AIDS Day.
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
It’s World HIV/AIDS Day. Where do things stand with HIV? Before we drop some knowledge, let’s take a moment to remember and honor those we have lost to HIV/AIDS. This Nerd lost Stuart and Bob, uncle figures and mentors in my childhood and young adulthood. I credit them for my love and passion for public Read more…
What COVID-19 shot am I supposed to get this Fall?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Most people just need one dose of the 2023 updated COVID-19 shot. The specific recommendations for various ages, previous vaccine status, and brands are in the tables in this post! Back in September 2023, the CDC recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older get the latest COVID-19 vaccine. People aged 5+ years just need one Read more…
Is ‘Immunity Debt’ Behind China’s Rising Childhood Pneumonia Cases?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
TL;DR: There is no “immunity debt” for individuals. But *populations* can experience a “catch-up” period after a period of low virus transmission, which is what seems to be happening in China right now. Recent reports of a high number of cases of childhood pneumonia in China definitely made epidemiologists a tad nervous. But so far, Read more…
Why does the flu vaccine have to be updated every year?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Three reasons: 1. Influenza viruses mutate over time, 2. the virus strains circulating can vary year to year, and 3. our immunity wanes over time. That’s why the flu vaccine formula needs to be updated yearly, and we need to get a flu shot each season to be well-protected. Influenza viruses have proteins on their surface: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Read more…
Q: Why can’t I get antibiotics for a cough?
Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
A: Taking an antibiotic when it’s not needed contributes to antimicrobial resistance and can put you and others at risk of more severe infections. TLDR: Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses mutate in ways that make common treatments ineffective. More and more antibiotics are losing their effectiveness due to antimicrobial resistance, so Read more…
Why should older adults be concerned about RSV?
Infectious Diseases
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Adults 60 years and older are at a higher risk for severe RSV and complications like pneumonia and hospitalization because our immune systems get weaker as we age. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (usually called RSV) is typically thought of as an infection that is bad for infants and children. But you can get RSV at any age. Read more…
Why are there special flu shots for older adults?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
People who are at least 65 years old can get a flu shot specially developed for their age group, and it offers better protection from the flu. Influenza vaccines have been around for nearly 80 years, and have undergone a number of changes during that long history. One of the more recent changes is the emergence Read more…
How many people die of the flu anyway?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
It’s not “just a flu.” The flu is much more dangerous than a regular cold, especially for young kids, older people, and during pregnancy. The flu can kill over 50,000 people a year in the US in a bad year. “It’s just a bad flu.” We often heard this as a way to minimize the Read more…
Should I get a flu shot if I already had the flu this season?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes. The flu shot covers FOUR strains – you don’t want to catch it again! TL;DR: It’s hard to know which flu strain you got or which one will be dominant in the next few months. Go ahead and get that shot even if you had confirmed or suspected influenza. The current flu vaccine Read more…
The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
Everyone ages 50+ and 19+ with a weakened immune system is eligible for the Shingrix vaccine, including people who previously received the one-dose shingles vaccine, Zostavax. Shingrix is a two-dose vaccine that reduces the risk of shingles by more than 90%. Who should get Shingrix? People ages 50+ should get two doses of Shingrix. People ages 19 Read more…
You can now “test to treat” at home in the US!!
Infectious Diseases Testing and Contact Tracing TreatmentsAndrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
TLDR: Home Test To Treat is a new program that provides telehealth and antiviral home delivery for people testing positive for Flu or Covid-19. The U.S. The Test To Treat Program aimed to make it quicker and easier for people at risk for severe Covid-19 to get the antivirals they need. Not only were pharmacists Read more…
Do we know if the new RSV vaccines are safe?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Possible safety signals were very, very rare in the RSV vaccine trials, and no surprises have emerged with roughly 12 million Americans having received them so far. There are two new vaccines available to prevent RSV and serious outcomes from RSV, both available in the US for adults aged 60 and up. Both were FDA-approved Read more…
Will I have to pay for my COVID-19 vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
No, in the U.S., COVID-19 vaccines are still free for everyone. They are either covered by your health insurance or by a government program if you are uninsured. With the end of the government’s official pandemic emergency response last Spring, the U.S. government no longer directly purchases COVID-19 vaccines to provide free to the public. Read more…
How common are side effects from the shingles vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
4 in 5 people get a sore arm, and 1 in 6 people has a reaction severe enough to send them to bed–like headache, fatigue, muscle pain, or fever. Side effects usually last 1-3 days. One of the reasons people put off getting the shingles vaccine is that they’ve heard the side effects are nasty. Read more…
How effective is the new RSV vaccine for older people?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Both new RSV vaccines are highly effective (over 80%) at preventing RSV disease. As we’ve recently covered, RSV can be a nasty illness for older adults, landing hundreds of thousands in the hospital each year and causing around ten thousand deaths annually in the US. The good news is that there are two new RSV vaccines approved Read more…
December 1st is World HIV/AIDS Day.
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
It’s World HIV/AIDS Day. Where do things stand with HIV? Before we drop some knowledge, let’s take a moment to remember and honor those we have lost to HIV/AIDS. This Nerd lost Stuart and Bob, uncle figures and mentors in my childhood and young adulthood. I credit them for my love and passion for public Read more…
What COVID-19 shot am I supposed to get this Fall?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Most people just need one dose of the 2023 updated COVID-19 shot. The specific recommendations for various ages, previous vaccine status, and brands are in the tables in this post! Back in September 2023, the CDC recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older get the latest COVID-19 vaccine. People aged 5+ years just need one Read more…
Is ‘Immunity Debt’ Behind China’s Rising Childhood Pneumonia Cases?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
TL;DR: There is no “immunity debt” for individuals. But *populations* can experience a “catch-up” period after a period of low virus transmission, which is what seems to be happening in China right now. Recent reports of a high number of cases of childhood pneumonia in China definitely made epidemiologists a tad nervous. But so far, Read more…
Why does the flu vaccine have to be updated every year?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Three reasons: 1. Influenza viruses mutate over time, 2. the virus strains circulating can vary year to year, and 3. our immunity wanes over time. That’s why the flu vaccine formula needs to be updated yearly, and we need to get a flu shot each season to be well-protected. Influenza viruses have proteins on their surface: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Read more…
Q: Why can’t I get antibiotics for a cough?
Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
A: Taking an antibiotic when it’s not needed contributes to antimicrobial resistance and can put you and others at risk of more severe infections. TLDR: Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses mutate in ways that make common treatments ineffective. More and more antibiotics are losing their effectiveness due to antimicrobial resistance, so Read more…
Why should older adults be concerned about RSV?
Infectious Diseases
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Adults 60 years and older are at a higher risk for severe RSV and complications like pneumonia and hospitalization because our immune systems get weaker as we age. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (usually called RSV) is typically thought of as an infection that is bad for infants and children. But you can get RSV at any age. Read more…
Why are there special flu shots for older adults?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
People who are at least 65 years old can get a flu shot specially developed for their age group, and it offers better protection from the flu. Influenza vaccines have been around for nearly 80 years, and have undergone a number of changes during that long history. One of the more recent changes is the emergence Read more…
How many people die of the flu anyway?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
It’s not “just a flu.” The flu is much more dangerous than a regular cold, especially for young kids, older people, and during pregnancy. The flu can kill over 50,000 people a year in the US in a bad year. “It’s just a bad flu.” We often heard this as a way to minimize the Read more…
Should I get a flu shot if I already had the flu this season?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes. The flu shot covers FOUR strains – you don’t want to catch it again! TL;DR: It’s hard to know which flu strain you got or which one will be dominant in the next few months. Go ahead and get that shot even if you had confirmed or suspected influenza. The current flu vaccine Read more…
The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
TLDR: Home Test To Treat is a new program that provides telehealth and antiviral home delivery for people testing positive for Flu or Covid-19. The U.S. The Test To Treat Program aimed to make it quicker and easier for people at risk for severe Covid-19 to get the antivirals they need. Not only were pharmacists Read more…
Do we know if the new RSV vaccines are safe?
Infectious Diseases VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
Possible safety signals were very, very rare in the RSV vaccine trials, and no surprises have emerged with roughly 12 million Americans having received them so far. There are two new vaccines available to prevent RSV and serious outcomes from RSV, both available in the US for adults aged 60 and up. Both were FDA-approved Read more…
Will I have to pay for my COVID-19 vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
No, in the U.S., COVID-19 vaccines are still free for everyone. They are either covered by your health insurance or by a government program if you are uninsured. With the end of the government’s official pandemic emergency response last Spring, the U.S. government no longer directly purchases COVID-19 vaccines to provide free to the public. Read more…
How common are side effects from the shingles vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
4 in 5 people get a sore arm, and 1 in 6 people has a reaction severe enough to send them to bed–like headache, fatigue, muscle pain, or fever. Side effects usually last 1-3 days. One of the reasons people put off getting the shingles vaccine is that they’ve heard the side effects are nasty. Read more…
How effective is the new RSV vaccine for older people?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Both new RSV vaccines are highly effective (over 80%) at preventing RSV disease. As we’ve recently covered, RSV can be a nasty illness for older adults, landing hundreds of thousands in the hospital each year and causing around ten thousand deaths annually in the US. The good news is that there are two new RSV vaccines approved Read more…
December 1st is World HIV/AIDS Day.
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
It’s World HIV/AIDS Day. Where do things stand with HIV? Before we drop some knowledge, let’s take a moment to remember and honor those we have lost to HIV/AIDS. This Nerd lost Stuart and Bob, uncle figures and mentors in my childhood and young adulthood. I credit them for my love and passion for public Read more…
What COVID-19 shot am I supposed to get this Fall?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Most people just need one dose of the 2023 updated COVID-19 shot. The specific recommendations for various ages, previous vaccine status, and brands are in the tables in this post! Back in September 2023, the CDC recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older get the latest COVID-19 vaccine. People aged 5+ years just need one Read more…
Is ‘Immunity Debt’ Behind China’s Rising Childhood Pneumonia Cases?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
TL;DR: There is no “immunity debt” for individuals. But *populations* can experience a “catch-up” period after a period of low virus transmission, which is what seems to be happening in China right now. Recent reports of a high number of cases of childhood pneumonia in China definitely made epidemiologists a tad nervous. But so far, Read more…
Why does the flu vaccine have to be updated every year?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Three reasons: 1. Influenza viruses mutate over time, 2. the virus strains circulating can vary year to year, and 3. our immunity wanes over time. That’s why the flu vaccine formula needs to be updated yearly, and we need to get a flu shot each season to be well-protected. Influenza viruses have proteins on their surface: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Read more…
Q: Why can’t I get antibiotics for a cough?
Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
A: Taking an antibiotic when it’s not needed contributes to antimicrobial resistance and can put you and others at risk of more severe infections. TLDR: Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses mutate in ways that make common treatments ineffective. More and more antibiotics are losing their effectiveness due to antimicrobial resistance, so Read more…
Why should older adults be concerned about RSV?
Infectious Diseases
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Adults 60 years and older are at a higher risk for severe RSV and complications like pneumonia and hospitalization because our immune systems get weaker as we age. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (usually called RSV) is typically thought of as an infection that is bad for infants and children. But you can get RSV at any age. Read more…
Why are there special flu shots for older adults?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
People who are at least 65 years old can get a flu shot specially developed for their age group, and it offers better protection from the flu. Influenza vaccines have been around for nearly 80 years, and have undergone a number of changes during that long history. One of the more recent changes is the emergence Read more…
How many people die of the flu anyway?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
It’s not “just a flu.” The flu is much more dangerous than a regular cold, especially for young kids, older people, and during pregnancy. The flu can kill over 50,000 people a year in the US in a bad year. “It’s just a bad flu.” We often heard this as a way to minimize the Read more…
Should I get a flu shot if I already had the flu this season?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes. The flu shot covers FOUR strains – you don’t want to catch it again! TL;DR: It’s hard to know which flu strain you got or which one will be dominant in the next few months. Go ahead and get that shot even if you had confirmed or suspected influenza. The current flu vaccine Read more…
The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
Possible safety signals were very, very rare in the RSV vaccine trials, and no surprises have emerged with roughly 12 million Americans having received them so far. There are two new vaccines available to prevent RSV and serious outcomes from RSV, both available in the US for adults aged 60 and up. Both were FDA-approved Read more…
Will I have to pay for my COVID-19 vaccine?
Infectious Diseases VaccinesAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
No, in the U.S., COVID-19 vaccines are still free for everyone. They are either covered by your health insurance or by a government program if you are uninsured. With the end of the government’s official pandemic emergency response last Spring, the U.S. government no longer directly purchases COVID-19 vaccines to provide free to the public. Read more…
How common are side effects from the shingles vaccine?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
4 in 5 people get a sore arm, and 1 in 6 people has a reaction severe enough to send them to bed–like headache, fatigue, muscle pain, or fever. Side effects usually last 1-3 days. One of the reasons people put off getting the shingles vaccine is that they’ve heard the side effects are nasty. Read more…
How effective is the new RSV vaccine for older people?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Both new RSV vaccines are highly effective (over 80%) at preventing RSV disease. As we’ve recently covered, RSV can be a nasty illness for older adults, landing hundreds of thousands in the hospital each year and causing around ten thousand deaths annually in the US. The good news is that there are two new RSV vaccines approved Read more…
December 1st is World HIV/AIDS Day.
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
It’s World HIV/AIDS Day. Where do things stand with HIV? Before we drop some knowledge, let’s take a moment to remember and honor those we have lost to HIV/AIDS. This Nerd lost Stuart and Bob, uncle figures and mentors in my childhood and young adulthood. I credit them for my love and passion for public Read more…
What COVID-19 shot am I supposed to get this Fall?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Most people just need one dose of the 2023 updated COVID-19 shot. The specific recommendations for various ages, previous vaccine status, and brands are in the tables in this post! Back in September 2023, the CDC recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older get the latest COVID-19 vaccine. People aged 5+ years just need one Read more…
Is ‘Immunity Debt’ Behind China’s Rising Childhood Pneumonia Cases?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
TL;DR: There is no “immunity debt” for individuals. But *populations* can experience a “catch-up” period after a period of low virus transmission, which is what seems to be happening in China right now. Recent reports of a high number of cases of childhood pneumonia in China definitely made epidemiologists a tad nervous. But so far, Read more…
Why does the flu vaccine have to be updated every year?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Three reasons: 1. Influenza viruses mutate over time, 2. the virus strains circulating can vary year to year, and 3. our immunity wanes over time. That’s why the flu vaccine formula needs to be updated yearly, and we need to get a flu shot each season to be well-protected. Influenza viruses have proteins on their surface: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Read more…
Q: Why can’t I get antibiotics for a cough?
Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
A: Taking an antibiotic when it’s not needed contributes to antimicrobial resistance and can put you and others at risk of more severe infections. TLDR: Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses mutate in ways that make common treatments ineffective. More and more antibiotics are losing their effectiveness due to antimicrobial resistance, so Read more…
Why should older adults be concerned about RSV?
Infectious Diseases
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Adults 60 years and older are at a higher risk for severe RSV and complications like pneumonia and hospitalization because our immune systems get weaker as we age. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (usually called RSV) is typically thought of as an infection that is bad for infants and children. But you can get RSV at any age. Read more…
Why are there special flu shots for older adults?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
People who are at least 65 years old can get a flu shot specially developed for their age group, and it offers better protection from the flu. Influenza vaccines have been around for nearly 80 years, and have undergone a number of changes during that long history. One of the more recent changes is the emergence Read more…
How many people die of the flu anyway?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
It’s not “just a flu.” The flu is much more dangerous than a regular cold, especially for young kids, older people, and during pregnancy. The flu can kill over 50,000 people a year in the US in a bad year. “It’s just a bad flu.” We often heard this as a way to minimize the Read more…
Should I get a flu shot if I already had the flu this season?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes. The flu shot covers FOUR strains – you don’t want to catch it again! TL;DR: It’s hard to know which flu strain you got or which one will be dominant in the next few months. Go ahead and get that shot even if you had confirmed or suspected influenza. The current flu vaccine Read more…
The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
No, in the U.S., COVID-19 vaccines are still free for everyone. They are either covered by your health insurance or by a government program if you are uninsured. With the end of the government’s official pandemic emergency response last Spring, the U.S. government no longer directly purchases COVID-19 vaccines to provide free to the public. Read more…
How common are side effects from the shingles vaccine?
Infectious Diseases VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
4 in 5 people get a sore arm, and 1 in 6 people has a reaction severe enough to send them to bed–like headache, fatigue, muscle pain, or fever. Side effects usually last 1-3 days. One of the reasons people put off getting the shingles vaccine is that they’ve heard the side effects are nasty. Read more…
How effective is the new RSV vaccine for older people?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Both new RSV vaccines are highly effective (over 80%) at preventing RSV disease. As we’ve recently covered, RSV can be a nasty illness for older adults, landing hundreds of thousands in the hospital each year and causing around ten thousand deaths annually in the US. The good news is that there are two new RSV vaccines approved Read more…
December 1st is World HIV/AIDS Day.
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
It’s World HIV/AIDS Day. Where do things stand with HIV? Before we drop some knowledge, let’s take a moment to remember and honor those we have lost to HIV/AIDS. This Nerd lost Stuart and Bob, uncle figures and mentors in my childhood and young adulthood. I credit them for my love and passion for public Read more…
What COVID-19 shot am I supposed to get this Fall?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Most people just need one dose of the 2023 updated COVID-19 shot. The specific recommendations for various ages, previous vaccine status, and brands are in the tables in this post! Back in September 2023, the CDC recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older get the latest COVID-19 vaccine. People aged 5+ years just need one Read more…
Is ‘Immunity Debt’ Behind China’s Rising Childhood Pneumonia Cases?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
TL;DR: There is no “immunity debt” for individuals. But *populations* can experience a “catch-up” period after a period of low virus transmission, which is what seems to be happening in China right now. Recent reports of a high number of cases of childhood pneumonia in China definitely made epidemiologists a tad nervous. But so far, Read more…
Why does the flu vaccine have to be updated every year?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Three reasons: 1. Influenza viruses mutate over time, 2. the virus strains circulating can vary year to year, and 3. our immunity wanes over time. That’s why the flu vaccine formula needs to be updated yearly, and we need to get a flu shot each season to be well-protected. Influenza viruses have proteins on their surface: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Read more…
Q: Why can’t I get antibiotics for a cough?
Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
A: Taking an antibiotic when it’s not needed contributes to antimicrobial resistance and can put you and others at risk of more severe infections. TLDR: Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses mutate in ways that make common treatments ineffective. More and more antibiotics are losing their effectiveness due to antimicrobial resistance, so Read more…
Why should older adults be concerned about RSV?
Infectious Diseases
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Adults 60 years and older are at a higher risk for severe RSV and complications like pneumonia and hospitalization because our immune systems get weaker as we age. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (usually called RSV) is typically thought of as an infection that is bad for infants and children. But you can get RSV at any age. Read more…
Why are there special flu shots for older adults?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
People who are at least 65 years old can get a flu shot specially developed for their age group, and it offers better protection from the flu. Influenza vaccines have been around for nearly 80 years, and have undergone a number of changes during that long history. One of the more recent changes is the emergence Read more…
How many people die of the flu anyway?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
It’s not “just a flu.” The flu is much more dangerous than a regular cold, especially for young kids, older people, and during pregnancy. The flu can kill over 50,000 people a year in the US in a bad year. “It’s just a bad flu.” We often heard this as a way to minimize the Read more…
Should I get a flu shot if I already had the flu this season?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes. The flu shot covers FOUR strains – you don’t want to catch it again! TL;DR: It’s hard to know which flu strain you got or which one will be dominant in the next few months. Go ahead and get that shot even if you had confirmed or suspected influenza. The current flu vaccine Read more…
The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
4 in 5 people get a sore arm, and 1 in 6 people has a reaction severe enough to send them to bed–like headache, fatigue, muscle pain, or fever. Side effects usually last 1-3 days. One of the reasons people put off getting the shingles vaccine is that they’ve heard the side effects are nasty. Read more…
How effective is the new RSV vaccine for older people?
Infectious Diseases VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Both new RSV vaccines are highly effective (over 80%) at preventing RSV disease. As we’ve recently covered, RSV can be a nasty illness for older adults, landing hundreds of thousands in the hospital each year and causing around ten thousand deaths annually in the US. The good news is that there are two new RSV vaccines approved Read more…
December 1st is World HIV/AIDS Day.
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
It’s World HIV/AIDS Day. Where do things stand with HIV? Before we drop some knowledge, let’s take a moment to remember and honor those we have lost to HIV/AIDS. This Nerd lost Stuart and Bob, uncle figures and mentors in my childhood and young adulthood. I credit them for my love and passion for public Read more…
What COVID-19 shot am I supposed to get this Fall?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Most people just need one dose of the 2023 updated COVID-19 shot. The specific recommendations for various ages, previous vaccine status, and brands are in the tables in this post! Back in September 2023, the CDC recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older get the latest COVID-19 vaccine. People aged 5+ years just need one Read more…
Is ‘Immunity Debt’ Behind China’s Rising Childhood Pneumonia Cases?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
TL;DR: There is no “immunity debt” for individuals. But *populations* can experience a “catch-up” period after a period of low virus transmission, which is what seems to be happening in China right now. Recent reports of a high number of cases of childhood pneumonia in China definitely made epidemiologists a tad nervous. But so far, Read more…
Why does the flu vaccine have to be updated every year?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Three reasons: 1. Influenza viruses mutate over time, 2. the virus strains circulating can vary year to year, and 3. our immunity wanes over time. That’s why the flu vaccine formula needs to be updated yearly, and we need to get a flu shot each season to be well-protected. Influenza viruses have proteins on their surface: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Read more…
Q: Why can’t I get antibiotics for a cough?
Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
A: Taking an antibiotic when it’s not needed contributes to antimicrobial resistance and can put you and others at risk of more severe infections. TLDR: Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses mutate in ways that make common treatments ineffective. More and more antibiotics are losing their effectiveness due to antimicrobial resistance, so Read more…
Why should older adults be concerned about RSV?
Infectious Diseases
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Adults 60 years and older are at a higher risk for severe RSV and complications like pneumonia and hospitalization because our immune systems get weaker as we age. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (usually called RSV) is typically thought of as an infection that is bad for infants and children. But you can get RSV at any age. Read more…
Why are there special flu shots for older adults?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
People who are at least 65 years old can get a flu shot specially developed for their age group, and it offers better protection from the flu. Influenza vaccines have been around for nearly 80 years, and have undergone a number of changes during that long history. One of the more recent changes is the emergence Read more…
How many people die of the flu anyway?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
It’s not “just a flu.” The flu is much more dangerous than a regular cold, especially for young kids, older people, and during pregnancy. The flu can kill over 50,000 people a year in the US in a bad year. “It’s just a bad flu.” We often heard this as a way to minimize the Read more…
Should I get a flu shot if I already had the flu this season?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes. The flu shot covers FOUR strains – you don’t want to catch it again! TL;DR: It’s hard to know which flu strain you got or which one will be dominant in the next few months. Go ahead and get that shot even if you had confirmed or suspected influenza. The current flu vaccine Read more…
The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
Both new RSV vaccines are highly effective (over 80%) at preventing RSV disease. As we’ve recently covered, RSV can be a nasty illness for older adults, landing hundreds of thousands in the hospital each year and causing around ten thousand deaths annually in the US. The good news is that there are two new RSV vaccines approved Read more…
December 1st is World HIV/AIDS Day.
Infectious Diseases Reproductive HealthIt’s World HIV/AIDS Day. Where do things stand with HIV? Before we drop some knowledge, let’s take a moment to remember and honor those we have lost to HIV/AIDS. This Nerd lost Stuart and Bob, uncle figures and mentors in my childhood and young adulthood. I credit them for my love and passion for public Read more…
What COVID-19 shot am I supposed to get this Fall?
Infectious Diseases VaccinesAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Most people just need one dose of the 2023 updated COVID-19 shot. The specific recommendations for various ages, previous vaccine status, and brands are in the tables in this post! Back in September 2023, the CDC recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older get the latest COVID-19 vaccine. People aged 5+ years just need one Read more…
Is ‘Immunity Debt’ Behind China’s Rising Childhood Pneumonia Cases?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
TL;DR: There is no “immunity debt” for individuals. But *populations* can experience a “catch-up” period after a period of low virus transmission, which is what seems to be happening in China right now. Recent reports of a high number of cases of childhood pneumonia in China definitely made epidemiologists a tad nervous. But so far, Read more…
Why does the flu vaccine have to be updated every year?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Three reasons: 1. Influenza viruses mutate over time, 2. the virus strains circulating can vary year to year, and 3. our immunity wanes over time. That’s why the flu vaccine formula needs to be updated yearly, and we need to get a flu shot each season to be well-protected. Influenza viruses have proteins on their surface: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Read more…
Q: Why can’t I get antibiotics for a cough?
Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
A: Taking an antibiotic when it’s not needed contributes to antimicrobial resistance and can put you and others at risk of more severe infections. TLDR: Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses mutate in ways that make common treatments ineffective. More and more antibiotics are losing their effectiveness due to antimicrobial resistance, so Read more…
Why should older adults be concerned about RSV?
Infectious Diseases
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Adults 60 years and older are at a higher risk for severe RSV and complications like pneumonia and hospitalization because our immune systems get weaker as we age. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (usually called RSV) is typically thought of as an infection that is bad for infants and children. But you can get RSV at any age. Read more…
Why are there special flu shots for older adults?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
People who are at least 65 years old can get a flu shot specially developed for their age group, and it offers better protection from the flu. Influenza vaccines have been around for nearly 80 years, and have undergone a number of changes during that long history. One of the more recent changes is the emergence Read more…
How many people die of the flu anyway?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
It’s not “just a flu.” The flu is much more dangerous than a regular cold, especially for young kids, older people, and during pregnancy. The flu can kill over 50,000 people a year in the US in a bad year. “It’s just a bad flu.” We often heard this as a way to minimize the Read more…
Should I get a flu shot if I already had the flu this season?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes. The flu shot covers FOUR strains – you don’t want to catch it again! TL;DR: It’s hard to know which flu strain you got or which one will be dominant in the next few months. Go ahead and get that shot even if you had confirmed or suspected influenza. The current flu vaccine Read more…
The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
Most people just need one dose of the 2023 updated COVID-19 shot. The specific recommendations for various ages, previous vaccine status, and brands are in the tables in this post! Back in September 2023, the CDC recommended that everyone aged 6 months and older get the latest COVID-19 vaccine. People aged 5+ years just need one Read more…
Is ‘Immunity Debt’ Behind China’s Rising Childhood Pneumonia Cases?
Data and Metrics Infectious DiseasesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
TL;DR: There is no “immunity debt” for individuals. But *populations* can experience a “catch-up” period after a period of low virus transmission, which is what seems to be happening in China right now. Recent reports of a high number of cases of childhood pneumonia in China definitely made epidemiologists a tad nervous. But so far, Read more…
Why does the flu vaccine have to be updated every year?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Three reasons: 1. Influenza viruses mutate over time, 2. the virus strains circulating can vary year to year, and 3. our immunity wanes over time. That’s why the flu vaccine formula needs to be updated yearly, and we need to get a flu shot each season to be well-protected. Influenza viruses have proteins on their surface: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Read more…
Q: Why can’t I get antibiotics for a cough?
Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
A: Taking an antibiotic when it’s not needed contributes to antimicrobial resistance and can put you and others at risk of more severe infections. TLDR: Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses mutate in ways that make common treatments ineffective. More and more antibiotics are losing their effectiveness due to antimicrobial resistance, so Read more…
Why should older adults be concerned about RSV?
Infectious Diseases
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Adults 60 years and older are at a higher risk for severe RSV and complications like pneumonia and hospitalization because our immune systems get weaker as we age. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (usually called RSV) is typically thought of as an infection that is bad for infants and children. But you can get RSV at any age. Read more…
Why are there special flu shots for older adults?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
People who are at least 65 years old can get a flu shot specially developed for their age group, and it offers better protection from the flu. Influenza vaccines have been around for nearly 80 years, and have undergone a number of changes during that long history. One of the more recent changes is the emergence Read more…
How many people die of the flu anyway?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
It’s not “just a flu.” The flu is much more dangerous than a regular cold, especially for young kids, older people, and during pregnancy. The flu can kill over 50,000 people a year in the US in a bad year. “It’s just a bad flu.” We often heard this as a way to minimize the Read more…
Should I get a flu shot if I already had the flu this season?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes. The flu shot covers FOUR strains – you don’t want to catch it again! TL;DR: It’s hard to know which flu strain you got or which one will be dominant in the next few months. Go ahead and get that shot even if you had confirmed or suspected influenza. The current flu vaccine Read more…
The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
TL;DR: There is no “immunity debt” for individuals. But *populations* can experience a “catch-up” period after a period of low virus transmission, which is what seems to be happening in China right now. Recent reports of a high number of cases of childhood pneumonia in China definitely made epidemiologists a tad nervous. But so far, Read more…
Why does the flu vaccine have to be updated every year?
Infectious Diseases VaccinesAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
Three reasons: 1. Influenza viruses mutate over time, 2. the virus strains circulating can vary year to year, and 3. our immunity wanes over time. That’s why the flu vaccine formula needs to be updated yearly, and we need to get a flu shot each season to be well-protected. Influenza viruses have proteins on their surface: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Read more…
Q: Why can’t I get antibiotics for a cough?
Infectious Diseases
Andrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
A: Taking an antibiotic when it’s not needed contributes to antimicrobial resistance and can put you and others at risk of more severe infections. TLDR: Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses mutate in ways that make common treatments ineffective. More and more antibiotics are losing their effectiveness due to antimicrobial resistance, so Read more…
Why should older adults be concerned about RSV?
Infectious Diseases
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Adults 60 years and older are at a higher risk for severe RSV and complications like pneumonia and hospitalization because our immune systems get weaker as we age. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (usually called RSV) is typically thought of as an infection that is bad for infants and children. But you can get RSV at any age. Read more…
Why are there special flu shots for older adults?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
People who are at least 65 years old can get a flu shot specially developed for their age group, and it offers better protection from the flu. Influenza vaccines have been around for nearly 80 years, and have undergone a number of changes during that long history. One of the more recent changes is the emergence Read more…
How many people die of the flu anyway?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
It’s not “just a flu.” The flu is much more dangerous than a regular cold, especially for young kids, older people, and during pregnancy. The flu can kill over 50,000 people a year in the US in a bad year. “It’s just a bad flu.” We often heard this as a way to minimize the Read more…
Should I get a flu shot if I already had the flu this season?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes. The flu shot covers FOUR strains – you don’t want to catch it again! TL;DR: It’s hard to know which flu strain you got or which one will be dominant in the next few months. Go ahead and get that shot even if you had confirmed or suspected influenza. The current flu vaccine Read more…
The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
Three reasons: 1. Influenza viruses mutate over time, 2. the virus strains circulating can vary year to year, and 3. our immunity wanes over time. That’s why the flu vaccine formula needs to be updated yearly, and we need to get a flu shot each season to be well-protected. Influenza viruses have proteins on their surface: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Read more…
Q: Why can’t I get antibiotics for a cough?
Infectious DiseasesAndrea Harmony, NP-C, PMHS
A: Taking an antibiotic when it’s not needed contributes to antimicrobial resistance and can put you and others at risk of more severe infections. TLDR: Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses mutate in ways that make common treatments ineffective. More and more antibiotics are losing their effectiveness due to antimicrobial resistance, so Read more…
Why should older adults be concerned about RSV?
Infectious Diseases
Roopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Adults 60 years and older are at a higher risk for severe RSV and complications like pneumonia and hospitalization because our immune systems get weaker as we age. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (usually called RSV) is typically thought of as an infection that is bad for infants and children. But you can get RSV at any age. Read more…
Why are there special flu shots for older adults?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
People who are at least 65 years old can get a flu shot specially developed for their age group, and it offers better protection from the flu. Influenza vaccines have been around for nearly 80 years, and have undergone a number of changes during that long history. One of the more recent changes is the emergence Read more…
How many people die of the flu anyway?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
It’s not “just a flu.” The flu is much more dangerous than a regular cold, especially for young kids, older people, and during pregnancy. The flu can kill over 50,000 people a year in the US in a bad year. “It’s just a bad flu.” We often heard this as a way to minimize the Read more…
Should I get a flu shot if I already had the flu this season?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes. The flu shot covers FOUR strains – you don’t want to catch it again! TL;DR: It’s hard to know which flu strain you got or which one will be dominant in the next few months. Go ahead and get that shot even if you had confirmed or suspected influenza. The current flu vaccine Read more…
The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
A: Taking an antibiotic when it’s not needed contributes to antimicrobial resistance and can put you and others at risk of more severe infections. TLDR: Antimicrobial resistance occurs when bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses mutate in ways that make common treatments ineffective. More and more antibiotics are losing their effectiveness due to antimicrobial resistance, so Read more…
Why should older adults be concerned about RSV?
Infectious DiseasesRoopa Seshadri, PhD, AM
Adults 60 years and older are at a higher risk for severe RSV and complications like pneumonia and hospitalization because our immune systems get weaker as we age. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (usually called RSV) is typically thought of as an infection that is bad for infants and children. But you can get RSV at any age. Read more…
Why are there special flu shots for older adults?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
People who are at least 65 years old can get a flu shot specially developed for their age group, and it offers better protection from the flu. Influenza vaccines have been around for nearly 80 years, and have undergone a number of changes during that long history. One of the more recent changes is the emergence Read more…
How many people die of the flu anyway?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
It’s not “just a flu.” The flu is much more dangerous than a regular cold, especially for young kids, older people, and during pregnancy. The flu can kill over 50,000 people a year in the US in a bad year. “It’s just a bad flu.” We often heard this as a way to minimize the Read more…
Should I get a flu shot if I already had the flu this season?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes. The flu shot covers FOUR strains – you don’t want to catch it again! TL;DR: It’s hard to know which flu strain you got or which one will be dominant in the next few months. Go ahead and get that shot even if you had confirmed or suspected influenza. The current flu vaccine Read more…
The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
Adults 60 years and older are at a higher risk for severe RSV and complications like pneumonia and hospitalization because our immune systems get weaker as we age. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (usually called RSV) is typically thought of as an infection that is bad for infants and children. But you can get RSV at any age. Read more…
Why are there special flu shots for older adults?
Infectious Diseases VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
People who are at least 65 years old can get a flu shot specially developed for their age group, and it offers better protection from the flu. Influenza vaccines have been around for nearly 80 years, and have undergone a number of changes during that long history. One of the more recent changes is the emergence Read more…
How many people die of the flu anyway?
Data and Metrics Infectious Diseases
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
It’s not “just a flu.” The flu is much more dangerous than a regular cold, especially for young kids, older people, and during pregnancy. The flu can kill over 50,000 people a year in the US in a bad year. “It’s just a bad flu.” We often heard this as a way to minimize the Read more…
Should I get a flu shot if I already had the flu this season?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes. The flu shot covers FOUR strains – you don’t want to catch it again! TL;DR: It’s hard to know which flu strain you got or which one will be dominant in the next few months. Go ahead and get that shot even if you had confirmed or suspected influenza. The current flu vaccine Read more…
The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
People who are at least 65 years old can get a flu shot specially developed for their age group, and it offers better protection from the flu. Influenza vaccines have been around for nearly 80 years, and have undergone a number of changes during that long history. One of the more recent changes is the emergence Read more…
How many people die of the flu anyway?
Data and Metrics Infectious DiseasesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
It’s not “just a flu.” The flu is much more dangerous than a regular cold, especially for young kids, older people, and during pregnancy. The flu can kill over 50,000 people a year in the US in a bad year. “It’s just a bad flu.” We often heard this as a way to minimize the Read more…
Should I get a flu shot if I already had the flu this season?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes. The flu shot covers FOUR strains – you don’t want to catch it again! TL;DR: It’s hard to know which flu strain you got or which one will be dominant in the next few months. Go ahead and get that shot even if you had confirmed or suspected influenza. The current flu vaccine Read more…
The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
It’s not “just a flu.” The flu is much more dangerous than a regular cold, especially for young kids, older people, and during pregnancy. The flu can kill over 50,000 people a year in the US in a bad year. “It’s just a bad flu.” We often heard this as a way to minimize the Read more…
Should I get a flu shot if I already had the flu this season?
Infectious Diseases VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Yes. The flu shot covers FOUR strains – you don’t want to catch it again! TL;DR: It’s hard to know which flu strain you got or which one will be dominant in the next few months. Go ahead and get that shot even if you had confirmed or suspected influenza. The current flu vaccine Read more…
The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
A: Yes. The flu shot covers FOUR strains – you don’t want to catch it again! TL;DR: It’s hard to know which flu strain you got or which one will be dominant in the next few months. Go ahead and get that shot even if you had confirmed or suspected influenza. The current flu vaccine Read more…
The number of babies born with syphilis has risen dramatically over the last 10 years. What’s going on?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive HealthSarah Whitley Coles, MD
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
Tl;dr: Congenital syphilis is a disease that occurs when a pregnant person passes the infection on to their baby during pregnancy and can be very serious. Rates of congenital syphilis have significantly increased in the last decade. Congenital syphilis can be prevented by finding and treating syphilis in pregnancy. Unfortunately, lack of access to pregnancy Read more…
How long do flu shots last?
Infectious Diseases VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
In general, you can count on 6 months of meaningful protection starting two weeks after you get your annual flu vaccine. Protection may wane earlier in older adults. Getting vaccinated in advance of flu season’s start ensures that you have good coverage when the season begins, and in most adults, your protection will stick around Read more…
