Vaccines News
In yet another large study, investigators examined birth data to determine if there was any association with Tdap vaccine given during pregnancy and any birth defects, including microcephaly... Read more
The CDC has published flu vaccine recommendations for the 2015-2016 flu season. This year there are again two very different types of flu vaccines, one with three strains and one with four.... Read more
Newborns, who are too young to receive pertussis vaccine until 2 months of age, also have the greatest risk of severe or fatal whooping cough disease. Most newborns catch pertussis from fami... Read more
In a large population-based British study, there was no increase in adverse pregnancy outcomes due to giving pertussis vaccine during pregnancy. In order to protect newborn infants from pert... Read more
For many years, flu vaccines have contained three strains of influenza virus, two type A strains and one type B strain (TIV vaccine). Every year, the circulating strains vary, and scientists... Read more
“In the face of dramatic and persistent increases in pertussis disease in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has... Read more
Pertussis (whooping cough) continues to be a problem in infants, children, and adults. It is often a life-threatening disease in infants. Over the past few years, there has been a progressiv... Read more
According to a press release from the Georgia Department of Public Health: “Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, has recently increased in the eight-county metropolitan Atlanta area of:... Read more
The human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, also known as the cervical cancer vaccine, has been recommended for all pre-teen and teenage girls and young women since 2006. The virus causes genit... Read more
The CDC has changed its whooping cough (pertussis) booster vaccine recommendations for pregnant women. It is now recommended that pregnant women receive the Tdap vaccine while pregnant, if t... Read more
The FDA has approved the MCV4 meningococcal vaccine (Menactra) for use in children as young as 9 months of age. It was already approved for use in children as young as 2 years old. It is giv... Read more
The CDC has published the 2011 recommended vaccine schedules for infants, children and teenagers. There are several minor changes and updates to the schedule, most of which went into effect... Read more
The meningococcal vaccine has been recommended for children at 11-12 years of age since 2005 and has been very effective at preventing this serious and often deadly disease. Although the vac... Read more
The CDC has now officially recommended that the new 13-strain pneumococcal vaccine (PCV13; Prevnar-13) replace the 7-strain vaccine which has been in use since 2000. The 7-strain vaccine has... Read more
The FDA has approved a new pneumococcal vaccine that protects against 13 strains of the bacterium. The current vaccine, Prevnar, in use since 2000, protects against what were once the 7 most... Read more
Now that the first doses of the H1N1 (“swine”) flu vaccine are available, many patients are asking us if we recommend the vaccine. It is a confusing issue, particularly given all the media... Read more
Merck announced at a meeting last week that it will no longer manufacture separate measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines. These vaccines became unavailable over the past few years, but it wa... Read more
Fall is here, which means that cold and flu season is right around the corner. While there are some things people can do to prevent these viral infections, like hand washing, almost everyone... Read more
In a case being reported by the Associated Press, a child has been awarded compensation from the federal vaccine injury fund because the vaccines she received may have worsened the symptoms... Read more
Meningococcal disease, caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, is a devastating and often fatal infection that can strike quickly and without warning. The highest rates of disease ar... Read more
Pneumococcus is one of the most common causes of serious, invasive disease including pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis in children. It is also the most common bacterial cause of middle ear i... Read more
The FDA has approved the meningococcal conjugate vaccine MCV4 (Menactra) for use in children as young as 2 years of age. It was previously approved for ages 11-55 years old. An effective vac... Read more
In a new study published last week, researchers performed neuropsychological tests on 1,047 children between the ages of 7 and 10 years old and examined their exposure to thimerosal, a prese... Read more
In an analysis published today by the CDC, the rotavirus vaccine does not appear to be associated with any increase in the rate of intussusception, a form of intestinal obstruction, in infan... Read more
Georgia law states that the Department of Human Resources shall decide which immunizations are required for school and daycare entry in Georgia. Last week, the board approved new requirement... Read more
The FDA has notified physicians and patients that some cases of intussusception, a form of intestinal obstruction, have been reported after receiving the new rotavirus vaccine. This has been... Read more
A recent Associated Press article discussed the roadblocks faced by the new cervical cancer (HPV) vaccine. Specifically, many patients cannot find the vaccine because few pediatricians and e... Read more
In a surprise move, the governor of Texas has bypassed the legislature and the public health officials and signed an order making the new HPV (cervical cancer) vaccine mandatory for all girl... Read more
A study published this month in Pediatrics may finally put to rest the hypothesis that MMR, and specifically measles vaccine, may be linked to autism. Starting in 1998, several laboratory re... Read more