Measles cases continue to rise – this is worrying. The good news is that there is a super effective vaccine that protects you and your loved ones. Note – we use data from both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Brown University Pandemic Center’s weekly tracking report. While the CDC tracks Read more…
Researchers have found that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines prime certain cancers to a cancer treatment known as immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) immunotherapy! Within 100 days of starting immunotherapy, people with advanced cancer who received mRNA COVID-19 vaccines survived nearly twice as long as those who did not receive the shot (approximately 37 months versus 21 months). Read more…
The U.S. federal government recently announced big changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. It is reducing the number of vaccines “routinely” recommended for all kids and moving several vaccines into an “optional/shared decision” category instead. This means they’re only routinely recommending protection against 11 diseases, instead of 17. Those Nerdy Girls and many other public Read more…
Hepatitis B (HepB) is an infection of the liver that can lead to chronic disease requiring lifelong treatment and an increased risk of cancer and death. The HepB vaccine has minimal risks and many benefits. Skipping the birth dose leaves infants vulnerable to a lifelong risk of chronic liver disease and cancer. This is why Read more…
TL:DR: The flu season can linger through May, so it’s not too late to get your vaccine. If you already had the flu, the shot can still reduce your risk of catching one of the other strains (the “tri-valent” vaccine covers three). This year’s flu vaccine reduces risk of severe disease, even against the new Read more…
Ethics are a set of principles that help us figure out what’s right and wrong. In medical research, they help to keep the people taking part safe, make sure the research does more good than harm, and ensure the results can be trusted. Note: This post was updated by Those Nerdy Girls from the original Read more…
Flu vaccines are recommended for everyone 6 months and older (with very few exceptions). To learn more, head to our latest flu shot posts 👇: https://thosenerdygirls.org/flu-shot-25/ https://thosenerdygirls.org/busting-flu-shot-myths-2/ Big picture: Getting the flu shot is an effective way to keep people from getting the flu as well as reduce illness severity, hospitalization, and death. If you Read more…
Community immunity (aka “herd immunity”) is a really important factor in preventing the spread of infectious diseases… and just like an umbrella can protect you and the person standing next to you from the rain, vaccination can do the same. Did you know? The term herd immunity was first used when British scientists back in Read more…
Part 2 of “Answers to Some of Your Nerdy Questions on the Shingles Vaccine.” Shingles is an extremely painful disease caused by the reawakening of the Varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Fortunately, there is a shingles vaccine that significantly reduces your chance of getting shingles. The vaccine is recommended for all adults Read more…
Shingles is an extremely painful disease caused by the reawakening of the Varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Fortunately, there is a shingles vaccine that significantly reduces your chance of getting shingles. The vaccine is recommended for all adults over 50. This includes people who had chickenpox, the chickenpox vaccine, an older Zostavax Read more…
The fall COVID vaccines received FDA approval recently, but had significant changes to who can get them. These changes mean that the COVID-19 vaccines may be harder to access this year than in the past. But their importance has not changed, nor has the science that supports their effectiveness. If you have the ability, you Read more…
🙋♀️🙋♂️Parents often wonder why we recommend giving the hepatitis B vaccine to brand-new babies before they even go home from the hospital. They may think, “Isn’t hepatitis B a sexually transmitted infection? Why would my baby need that?” Great question! 💡 The hepatitis B vaccine is an important tool to protect infants and children from Read more…
There are tons of myths and misconceptions out there about the flu shot. Time to break some of them down and set the record straight! Note: This post was updated by Those Nerdy Girls from the original written on September 29, 2022. Myth: The flu vaccine causes the flu. Fact: Nope! There are multiple formulations Read more…
Tl;Dr: Yes! Except for a very few exceptions, flu vaccines are recommended for everyone 6 months and older. Read on for information about what to expect for this year’s flu season, updates about the flu vaccine, when to get the shot, and why getting the flu vaccine is so important! NOTE: This post was updated Read more…
Those Nerdy Girls trust vaccines and are taking a moment to celebrate them in August, since it is National Immunization Awareness Month. [Based on an original post by Nerdy Girl Megan Madsen written in August 2023.] At Those Nerdy Girls, we argue that no breakthrough has been more important in keeping us healthy than the Read more…
Parents often wonder why we recommend giving the hepatitis B vaccine to brand-new babies before they even go home from the hospital. They may think, “Isn’t hepatitis B a sexually transmitted infection? Why would my baby need that?” Great question! Hepatitis B [archived link] is a dangerous virus that can cause long-term health consequences such Read more…
Nerdy Girl Dr. Cindy Leifer (@immunominutes) talks about the current COVID recommendations and how they have changed for fall 2025. Read the full post here: https://thosenerdygirls.substack.com/p/covid-vaccine-recommendations-for This is a collaborative video between @thosenerdygirls & @immunominutes 🤓 Those Nerdy Girls want to help you stay on the frontline of science and health information. ✨ Follow us Read more…
Nerdy Girl Dr. Cindy Leifer (@immunominutes) updates us on what COVID vaccines will be available in the fall of 2025. Read the full post here This is a collaborative video between @thosenerdygirls & @immunominutes 🤓 Those Nerdy Girls want to help you stay on the frontline of science and health information. ✨ Follow us on Read more…
TL;DR: Tdap is a booster vaccine for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. A booster shot is an extra shot that keeps your immunity up. Guidelines suggest getting a booster every ten years. Getting a booster while pregnant can help protect your baby from pertussis, commonly called whooping cough, which can be deadly to babies. Tdap is Read more…
With a new COVID variant spreading and changing vaccine recommendations, many people want to know if they can, or should, get a COVID booster. Talk to your clinician or pharmacist today about what you can do to protect you and your loved ones. At the end of May, the current HHS secretary announced, on a Read more…
