Is there an easy way to figure out if I am eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Yes, there is a handy on-line tool that can tell you whether you are eligible for a booster based on your age, doses you’ve already received, and whether you are immunocompromised. TL: DR: Visit https://bit.ly/3Ebthkt, answer a few questions, and find out if you are eligible for the new bivalent COVID-19 booster (which targets Read more…
Should I get the flu vaccine while I’m pregnant?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health Vaccines
Katherine Cartwright, DO, MPH
A: YES! The flu vaccine protects against the higher risk of severe flu disease during pregnancy AND protects the newborn from flu during the first few months of life. TL;DR: Flu season looks especially bad this year. Influenza (“the flu”) vaccination is strongly recommended in pregnancy. Because the virus is seasonal, vaccination is recommended as Read more…
If you haven’t already… GO get your flu shot NOW!
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Flu is hitting early and fiercely this year. Hospitals, especially pediatric hospitals, are filling up with a mix of RSV, COVID, and flu. We have vaccines for 2 of those 3 infections…let’s use them! Source: CDC Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report Link to Original FB Post
Can I take a flu vaccine if I have an egg allergy? 🥚🥚🥚
Vaccines
Megan Madsen, DO
A: Yes, you can! TL;DR: Even for people who have severe egg allergies, flu vaccines are safe and effective. The amount of egg protein is so tiny that it is very unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. There are also 2 available flu vaccines that contain no egg protein at all. Egg allergy occurs in Read more…
NOW is the time….Go get your flu shot!
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Flu season is starting about a month early this year and cases are rising fast in both the US and UK. With a two-week lag between vaccination and full protection, the time for your flu shot is NOW! And the vaccine is a good match to circulating strains this year. Flu transmission dropped dramatically due Read more…
Do kids need COVID-19 vaccines?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. Kids need COVID-19 vaccines. It is safe. It is necessary. When we compare kids who get COVID-19 to kids who do not get COVID-19, we see quite clearly that kids CAN and DO get really sick, and it is worth protecting them. And when we compare vaccinated kids to unvaccinated kids, the results Read more…
Is the nasal spray flu vaccine as good as the flu shot?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: The flu shot and flu nasal spray vaccines are about equally effective at preventing influenza illness and complications. There are many flu vaccine options, but the best thing is for all people age 6 months and up to get vaccinated. The best flu vaccine is the one you can (and are willing) to get! Read more…
💥 Updated boosters approved for kids down to age 5 in the US
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
For those anxiously waiting, your 5-11 year-old can now get an Omicron-updated bivalent booster. (Everyone ages 12+ is already eligible). ❓ What are the options for bivalent boosters? ➡️ Moderna: Ages 6 and up ➡️ Pfizer: Ages 5 and up The booster is available to anyone *at least* two months since their last shot (whether Read more…
Can the COVID-19 vaccine or booster cause me to get a false positive COVID-19 test result?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: No. Totally impossible. TL; DR: COVID-19 tests detect presence of the actual virus, which is not contained in any COVID-19 vaccine, and the vaccines cannot cause a false positive result on these tests. COVID-19 vaccines *do not* contain any SARS-CoV-2 virus, they just teach our immune system to make antibodies against the *spike protein* Read more…
Is it still important for my kids to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
YES! For kids all the way down to 6 months, it’s never too late to give your child the gift of protection against an infectious disease that has killed more than 1,400 children in the U.S. and hospitalized many more. New real world data show that the COVID-19 vaccine protects against infection and *dramatically* lowers Read more…
Do I *really* need a COVID-19 booster? Does it matter?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. The boosters are an essential part of the COVID-19 vaccine series. They are not optional or extra. When the COVID-19 vaccine trails began, the main goal was to make a safe, effective vaccine that could be tested as fast as possible. The two doses in the primary series (for Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, AstraZeneca, Read more…
A: Yes, there is a handy on-line tool that can tell you whether you are eligible for a booster based on your age, doses you’ve already received, and whether you are immunocompromised. TL: DR: Visit https://bit.ly/3Ebthkt, answer a few questions, and find out if you are eligible for the new bivalent COVID-19 booster (which targets Read more…
Should I get the flu vaccine while I’m pregnant?
Infectious Diseases Reproductive Health VaccinesKatherine Cartwright, DO, MPH
A: YES! The flu vaccine protects against the higher risk of severe flu disease during pregnancy AND protects the newborn from flu during the first few months of life. TL;DR: Flu season looks especially bad this year. Influenza (“the flu”) vaccination is strongly recommended in pregnancy. Because the virus is seasonal, vaccination is recommended as Read more…
If you haven’t already… GO get your flu shot NOW!
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Flu is hitting early and fiercely this year. Hospitals, especially pediatric hospitals, are filling up with a mix of RSV, COVID, and flu. We have vaccines for 2 of those 3 infections…let’s use them! Source: CDC Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report Link to Original FB Post
Can I take a flu vaccine if I have an egg allergy? 🥚🥚🥚
Vaccines
Megan Madsen, DO
A: Yes, you can! TL;DR: Even for people who have severe egg allergies, flu vaccines are safe and effective. The amount of egg protein is so tiny that it is very unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. There are also 2 available flu vaccines that contain no egg protein at all. Egg allergy occurs in Read more…
NOW is the time….Go get your flu shot!
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Flu season is starting about a month early this year and cases are rising fast in both the US and UK. With a two-week lag between vaccination and full protection, the time for your flu shot is NOW! And the vaccine is a good match to circulating strains this year. Flu transmission dropped dramatically due Read more…
Do kids need COVID-19 vaccines?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. Kids need COVID-19 vaccines. It is safe. It is necessary. When we compare kids who get COVID-19 to kids who do not get COVID-19, we see quite clearly that kids CAN and DO get really sick, and it is worth protecting them. And when we compare vaccinated kids to unvaccinated kids, the results Read more…
Is the nasal spray flu vaccine as good as the flu shot?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: The flu shot and flu nasal spray vaccines are about equally effective at preventing influenza illness and complications. There are many flu vaccine options, but the best thing is for all people age 6 months and up to get vaccinated. The best flu vaccine is the one you can (and are willing) to get! Read more…
💥 Updated boosters approved for kids down to age 5 in the US
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
For those anxiously waiting, your 5-11 year-old can now get an Omicron-updated bivalent booster. (Everyone ages 12+ is already eligible). ❓ What are the options for bivalent boosters? ➡️ Moderna: Ages 6 and up ➡️ Pfizer: Ages 5 and up The booster is available to anyone *at least* two months since their last shot (whether Read more…
Can the COVID-19 vaccine or booster cause me to get a false positive COVID-19 test result?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: No. Totally impossible. TL; DR: COVID-19 tests detect presence of the actual virus, which is not contained in any COVID-19 vaccine, and the vaccines cannot cause a false positive result on these tests. COVID-19 vaccines *do not* contain any SARS-CoV-2 virus, they just teach our immune system to make antibodies against the *spike protein* Read more…
Is it still important for my kids to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
YES! For kids all the way down to 6 months, it’s never too late to give your child the gift of protection against an infectious disease that has killed more than 1,400 children in the U.S. and hospitalized many more. New real world data show that the COVID-19 vaccine protects against infection and *dramatically* lowers Read more…
Do I *really* need a COVID-19 booster? Does it matter?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. The boosters are an essential part of the COVID-19 vaccine series. They are not optional or extra. When the COVID-19 vaccine trails began, the main goal was to make a safe, effective vaccine that could be tested as fast as possible. The two doses in the primary series (for Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, AstraZeneca, Read more…
A: YES! The flu vaccine protects against the higher risk of severe flu disease during pregnancy AND protects the newborn from flu during the first few months of life. TL;DR: Flu season looks especially bad this year. Influenza (“the flu”) vaccination is strongly recommended in pregnancy. Because the virus is seasonal, vaccination is recommended as Read more…
If you haven’t already… GO get your flu shot NOW!
Infectious Diseases VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Flu is hitting early and fiercely this year. Hospitals, especially pediatric hospitals, are filling up with a mix of RSV, COVID, and flu. We have vaccines for 2 of those 3 infections…let’s use them! Source: CDC Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report Link to Original FB Post
Can I take a flu vaccine if I have an egg allergy? 🥚🥚🥚
Vaccines
Megan Madsen, DO
A: Yes, you can! TL;DR: Even for people who have severe egg allergies, flu vaccines are safe and effective. The amount of egg protein is so tiny that it is very unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. There are also 2 available flu vaccines that contain no egg protein at all. Egg allergy occurs in Read more…
NOW is the time….Go get your flu shot!
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Flu season is starting about a month early this year and cases are rising fast in both the US and UK. With a two-week lag between vaccination and full protection, the time for your flu shot is NOW! And the vaccine is a good match to circulating strains this year. Flu transmission dropped dramatically due Read more…
Do kids need COVID-19 vaccines?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. Kids need COVID-19 vaccines. It is safe. It is necessary. When we compare kids who get COVID-19 to kids who do not get COVID-19, we see quite clearly that kids CAN and DO get really sick, and it is worth protecting them. And when we compare vaccinated kids to unvaccinated kids, the results Read more…
Is the nasal spray flu vaccine as good as the flu shot?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: The flu shot and flu nasal spray vaccines are about equally effective at preventing influenza illness and complications. There are many flu vaccine options, but the best thing is for all people age 6 months and up to get vaccinated. The best flu vaccine is the one you can (and are willing) to get! Read more…
💥 Updated boosters approved for kids down to age 5 in the US
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
For those anxiously waiting, your 5-11 year-old can now get an Omicron-updated bivalent booster. (Everyone ages 12+ is already eligible). ❓ What are the options for bivalent boosters? ➡️ Moderna: Ages 6 and up ➡️ Pfizer: Ages 5 and up The booster is available to anyone *at least* two months since their last shot (whether Read more…
Can the COVID-19 vaccine or booster cause me to get a false positive COVID-19 test result?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: No. Totally impossible. TL; DR: COVID-19 tests detect presence of the actual virus, which is not contained in any COVID-19 vaccine, and the vaccines cannot cause a false positive result on these tests. COVID-19 vaccines *do not* contain any SARS-CoV-2 virus, they just teach our immune system to make antibodies against the *spike protein* Read more…
Is it still important for my kids to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
YES! For kids all the way down to 6 months, it’s never too late to give your child the gift of protection against an infectious disease that has killed more than 1,400 children in the U.S. and hospitalized many more. New real world data show that the COVID-19 vaccine protects against infection and *dramatically* lowers Read more…
Do I *really* need a COVID-19 booster? Does it matter?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. The boosters are an essential part of the COVID-19 vaccine series. They are not optional or extra. When the COVID-19 vaccine trails began, the main goal was to make a safe, effective vaccine that could be tested as fast as possible. The two doses in the primary series (for Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, AstraZeneca, Read more…
Flu is hitting early and fiercely this year. Hospitals, especially pediatric hospitals, are filling up with a mix of RSV, COVID, and flu. We have vaccines for 2 of those 3 infections…let’s use them! Source: CDC Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report Link to Original FB Post
Can I take a flu vaccine if I have an egg allergy? 🥚🥚🥚
VaccinesMegan Madsen, DO
A: Yes, you can! TL;DR: Even for people who have severe egg allergies, flu vaccines are safe and effective. The amount of egg protein is so tiny that it is very unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. There are also 2 available flu vaccines that contain no egg protein at all. Egg allergy occurs in Read more…
NOW is the time….Go get your flu shot!
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Flu season is starting about a month early this year and cases are rising fast in both the US and UK. With a two-week lag between vaccination and full protection, the time for your flu shot is NOW! And the vaccine is a good match to circulating strains this year. Flu transmission dropped dramatically due Read more…
Do kids need COVID-19 vaccines?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. Kids need COVID-19 vaccines. It is safe. It is necessary. When we compare kids who get COVID-19 to kids who do not get COVID-19, we see quite clearly that kids CAN and DO get really sick, and it is worth protecting them. And when we compare vaccinated kids to unvaccinated kids, the results Read more…
Is the nasal spray flu vaccine as good as the flu shot?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: The flu shot and flu nasal spray vaccines are about equally effective at preventing influenza illness and complications. There are many flu vaccine options, but the best thing is for all people age 6 months and up to get vaccinated. The best flu vaccine is the one you can (and are willing) to get! Read more…
💥 Updated boosters approved for kids down to age 5 in the US
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
For those anxiously waiting, your 5-11 year-old can now get an Omicron-updated bivalent booster. (Everyone ages 12+ is already eligible). ❓ What are the options for bivalent boosters? ➡️ Moderna: Ages 6 and up ➡️ Pfizer: Ages 5 and up The booster is available to anyone *at least* two months since their last shot (whether Read more…
Can the COVID-19 vaccine or booster cause me to get a false positive COVID-19 test result?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: No. Totally impossible. TL; DR: COVID-19 tests detect presence of the actual virus, which is not contained in any COVID-19 vaccine, and the vaccines cannot cause a false positive result on these tests. COVID-19 vaccines *do not* contain any SARS-CoV-2 virus, they just teach our immune system to make antibodies against the *spike protein* Read more…
Is it still important for my kids to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
YES! For kids all the way down to 6 months, it’s never too late to give your child the gift of protection against an infectious disease that has killed more than 1,400 children in the U.S. and hospitalized many more. New real world data show that the COVID-19 vaccine protects against infection and *dramatically* lowers Read more…
Do I *really* need a COVID-19 booster? Does it matter?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. The boosters are an essential part of the COVID-19 vaccine series. They are not optional or extra. When the COVID-19 vaccine trails began, the main goal was to make a safe, effective vaccine that could be tested as fast as possible. The two doses in the primary series (for Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, AstraZeneca, Read more…
A: Yes, you can! TL;DR: Even for people who have severe egg allergies, flu vaccines are safe and effective. The amount of egg protein is so tiny that it is very unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. There are also 2 available flu vaccines that contain no egg protein at all. Egg allergy occurs in Read more…
NOW is the time….Go get your flu shot!
Infectious Diseases VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Flu season is starting about a month early this year and cases are rising fast in both the US and UK. With a two-week lag between vaccination and full protection, the time for your flu shot is NOW! And the vaccine is a good match to circulating strains this year. Flu transmission dropped dramatically due Read more…
Do kids need COVID-19 vaccines?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. Kids need COVID-19 vaccines. It is safe. It is necessary. When we compare kids who get COVID-19 to kids who do not get COVID-19, we see quite clearly that kids CAN and DO get really sick, and it is worth protecting them. And when we compare vaccinated kids to unvaccinated kids, the results Read more…
Is the nasal spray flu vaccine as good as the flu shot?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: The flu shot and flu nasal spray vaccines are about equally effective at preventing influenza illness and complications. There are many flu vaccine options, but the best thing is for all people age 6 months and up to get vaccinated. The best flu vaccine is the one you can (and are willing) to get! Read more…
💥 Updated boosters approved for kids down to age 5 in the US
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
For those anxiously waiting, your 5-11 year-old can now get an Omicron-updated bivalent booster. (Everyone ages 12+ is already eligible). ❓ What are the options for bivalent boosters? ➡️ Moderna: Ages 6 and up ➡️ Pfizer: Ages 5 and up The booster is available to anyone *at least* two months since their last shot (whether Read more…
Can the COVID-19 vaccine or booster cause me to get a false positive COVID-19 test result?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: No. Totally impossible. TL; DR: COVID-19 tests detect presence of the actual virus, which is not contained in any COVID-19 vaccine, and the vaccines cannot cause a false positive result on these tests. COVID-19 vaccines *do not* contain any SARS-CoV-2 virus, they just teach our immune system to make antibodies against the *spike protein* Read more…
Is it still important for my kids to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
YES! For kids all the way down to 6 months, it’s never too late to give your child the gift of protection against an infectious disease that has killed more than 1,400 children in the U.S. and hospitalized many more. New real world data show that the COVID-19 vaccine protects against infection and *dramatically* lowers Read more…
Do I *really* need a COVID-19 booster? Does it matter?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. The boosters are an essential part of the COVID-19 vaccine series. They are not optional or extra. When the COVID-19 vaccine trails began, the main goal was to make a safe, effective vaccine that could be tested as fast as possible. The two doses in the primary series (for Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, AstraZeneca, Read more…
Flu season is starting about a month early this year and cases are rising fast in both the US and UK. With a two-week lag between vaccination and full protection, the time for your flu shot is NOW! And the vaccine is a good match to circulating strains this year. Flu transmission dropped dramatically due Read more…
Do kids need COVID-19 vaccines?
Families/Kids VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. Kids need COVID-19 vaccines. It is safe. It is necessary. When we compare kids who get COVID-19 to kids who do not get COVID-19, we see quite clearly that kids CAN and DO get really sick, and it is worth protecting them. And when we compare vaccinated kids to unvaccinated kids, the results Read more…
Is the nasal spray flu vaccine as good as the flu shot?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: The flu shot and flu nasal spray vaccines are about equally effective at preventing influenza illness and complications. There are many flu vaccine options, but the best thing is for all people age 6 months and up to get vaccinated. The best flu vaccine is the one you can (and are willing) to get! Read more…
💥 Updated boosters approved for kids down to age 5 in the US
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
For those anxiously waiting, your 5-11 year-old can now get an Omicron-updated bivalent booster. (Everyone ages 12+ is already eligible). ❓ What are the options for bivalent boosters? ➡️ Moderna: Ages 6 and up ➡️ Pfizer: Ages 5 and up The booster is available to anyone *at least* two months since their last shot (whether Read more…
Can the COVID-19 vaccine or booster cause me to get a false positive COVID-19 test result?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: No. Totally impossible. TL; DR: COVID-19 tests detect presence of the actual virus, which is not contained in any COVID-19 vaccine, and the vaccines cannot cause a false positive result on these tests. COVID-19 vaccines *do not* contain any SARS-CoV-2 virus, they just teach our immune system to make antibodies against the *spike protein* Read more…
Is it still important for my kids to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
YES! For kids all the way down to 6 months, it’s never too late to give your child the gift of protection against an infectious disease that has killed more than 1,400 children in the U.S. and hospitalized many more. New real world data show that the COVID-19 vaccine protects against infection and *dramatically* lowers Read more…
Do I *really* need a COVID-19 booster? Does it matter?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. The boosters are an essential part of the COVID-19 vaccine series. They are not optional or extra. When the COVID-19 vaccine trails began, the main goal was to make a safe, effective vaccine that could be tested as fast as possible. The two doses in the primary series (for Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, AstraZeneca, Read more…
A: Yes. Kids need COVID-19 vaccines. It is safe. It is necessary. When we compare kids who get COVID-19 to kids who do not get COVID-19, we see quite clearly that kids CAN and DO get really sick, and it is worth protecting them. And when we compare vaccinated kids to unvaccinated kids, the results Read more…
Is the nasal spray flu vaccine as good as the flu shot?
VaccinesSarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: The flu shot and flu nasal spray vaccines are about equally effective at preventing influenza illness and complications. There are many flu vaccine options, but the best thing is for all people age 6 months and up to get vaccinated. The best flu vaccine is the one you can (and are willing) to get! Read more…
💥 Updated boosters approved for kids down to age 5 in the US
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
For those anxiously waiting, your 5-11 year-old can now get an Omicron-updated bivalent booster. (Everyone ages 12+ is already eligible). ❓ What are the options for bivalent boosters? ➡️ Moderna: Ages 6 and up ➡️ Pfizer: Ages 5 and up The booster is available to anyone *at least* two months since their last shot (whether Read more…
Can the COVID-19 vaccine or booster cause me to get a false positive COVID-19 test result?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: No. Totally impossible. TL; DR: COVID-19 tests detect presence of the actual virus, which is not contained in any COVID-19 vaccine, and the vaccines cannot cause a false positive result on these tests. COVID-19 vaccines *do not* contain any SARS-CoV-2 virus, they just teach our immune system to make antibodies against the *spike protein* Read more…
Is it still important for my kids to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
YES! For kids all the way down to 6 months, it’s never too late to give your child the gift of protection against an infectious disease that has killed more than 1,400 children in the U.S. and hospitalized many more. New real world data show that the COVID-19 vaccine protects against infection and *dramatically* lowers Read more…
Do I *really* need a COVID-19 booster? Does it matter?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. The boosters are an essential part of the COVID-19 vaccine series. They are not optional or extra. When the COVID-19 vaccine trails began, the main goal was to make a safe, effective vaccine that could be tested as fast as possible. The two doses in the primary series (for Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, AstraZeneca, Read more…
A: The flu shot and flu nasal spray vaccines are about equally effective at preventing influenza illness and complications. There are many flu vaccine options, but the best thing is for all people age 6 months and up to get vaccinated. The best flu vaccine is the one you can (and are willing) to get! Read more…
💥 Updated boosters approved for kids down to age 5 in the US
Families/Kids VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
For those anxiously waiting, your 5-11 year-old can now get an Omicron-updated bivalent booster. (Everyone ages 12+ is already eligible). ❓ What are the options for bivalent boosters? ➡️ Moderna: Ages 6 and up ➡️ Pfizer: Ages 5 and up The booster is available to anyone *at least* two months since their last shot (whether Read more…
Can the COVID-19 vaccine or booster cause me to get a false positive COVID-19 test result?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: No. Totally impossible. TL; DR: COVID-19 tests detect presence of the actual virus, which is not contained in any COVID-19 vaccine, and the vaccines cannot cause a false positive result on these tests. COVID-19 vaccines *do not* contain any SARS-CoV-2 virus, they just teach our immune system to make antibodies against the *spike protein* Read more…
Is it still important for my kids to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
YES! For kids all the way down to 6 months, it’s never too late to give your child the gift of protection against an infectious disease that has killed more than 1,400 children in the U.S. and hospitalized many more. New real world data show that the COVID-19 vaccine protects against infection and *dramatically* lowers Read more…
Do I *really* need a COVID-19 booster? Does it matter?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. The boosters are an essential part of the COVID-19 vaccine series. They are not optional or extra. When the COVID-19 vaccine trails began, the main goal was to make a safe, effective vaccine that could be tested as fast as possible. The two doses in the primary series (for Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, AstraZeneca, Read more…
For those anxiously waiting, your 5-11 year-old can now get an Omicron-updated bivalent booster. (Everyone ages 12+ is already eligible). ❓ What are the options for bivalent boosters? ➡️ Moderna: Ages 6 and up ➡️ Pfizer: Ages 5 and up The booster is available to anyone *at least* two months since their last shot (whether Read more…
Can the COVID-19 vaccine or booster cause me to get a false positive COVID-19 test result?
Testing and Contact Tracing VaccinesAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: No. Totally impossible. TL; DR: COVID-19 tests detect presence of the actual virus, which is not contained in any COVID-19 vaccine, and the vaccines cannot cause a false positive result on these tests. COVID-19 vaccines *do not* contain any SARS-CoV-2 virus, they just teach our immune system to make antibodies against the *spike protein* Read more…
Is it still important for my kids to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
YES! For kids all the way down to 6 months, it’s never too late to give your child the gift of protection against an infectious disease that has killed more than 1,400 children in the U.S. and hospitalized many more. New real world data show that the COVID-19 vaccine protects against infection and *dramatically* lowers Read more…
Do I *really* need a COVID-19 booster? Does it matter?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. The boosters are an essential part of the COVID-19 vaccine series. They are not optional or extra. When the COVID-19 vaccine trails began, the main goal was to make a safe, effective vaccine that could be tested as fast as possible. The two doses in the primary series (for Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, AstraZeneca, Read more…
A: No. Totally impossible. TL; DR: COVID-19 tests detect presence of the actual virus, which is not contained in any COVID-19 vaccine, and the vaccines cannot cause a false positive result on these tests. COVID-19 vaccines *do not* contain any SARS-CoV-2 virus, they just teach our immune system to make antibodies against the *spike protein* Read more…
Is it still important for my kids to get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Families/Kids VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
YES! For kids all the way down to 6 months, it’s never too late to give your child the gift of protection against an infectious disease that has killed more than 1,400 children in the U.S. and hospitalized many more. New real world data show that the COVID-19 vaccine protects against infection and *dramatically* lowers Read more…
Do I *really* need a COVID-19 booster? Does it matter?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. The boosters are an essential part of the COVID-19 vaccine series. They are not optional or extra. When the COVID-19 vaccine trails began, the main goal was to make a safe, effective vaccine that could be tested as fast as possible. The two doses in the primary series (for Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, AstraZeneca, Read more…
YES! For kids all the way down to 6 months, it’s never too late to give your child the gift of protection against an infectious disease that has killed more than 1,400 children in the U.S. and hospitalized many more. New real world data show that the COVID-19 vaccine protects against infection and *dramatically* lowers Read more…
Do I *really* need a COVID-19 booster? Does it matter?
VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Yes. The boosters are an essential part of the COVID-19 vaccine series. They are not optional or extra. When the COVID-19 vaccine trails began, the main goal was to make a safe, effective vaccine that could be tested as fast as possible. The two doses in the primary series (for Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, AstraZeneca, Read more…
A: Yes. The boosters are an essential part of the COVID-19 vaccine series. They are not optional or extra. When the COVID-19 vaccine trails began, the main goal was to make a safe, effective vaccine that could be tested as fast as possible. The two doses in the primary series (for Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, AstraZeneca, Read more…
