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Showing posts from April, 2021

Vaccines for Infants and Toddlers: What you need to know

The first months and years of your child’s life are an important time to protect them against various diseases. Infants and toddlers are especially vulnerable to infections that can be life threatening. Vaccines help your child’s immune system create protection against these infections. Immunity from the vaccine is just as good as immunity from the infection itself, but without causing any illness. It’s also a lot safer! Your CPCMG pediatrician will discuss with you the following vaccines and how they will protect your baby: Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine Flu vaccine Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine Hepatitis A vaccine Hepatitis B vaccine Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine Pneumoccal (PCV13) vaccine Polio (IPV) vaccine Rotavirus (RV) vaccine This vaccination schedule provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention will explain what vaccines your child needs and when. It also describes the disease th

Vaccines for Preschool and Elementary School Kids: Ongoing Protection

As your child grows up, booster doses of some vaccines are important to help strengthen their immune system. These vaccines prevent infections that can still be harmful in older children. They also spread very easily in the classroom setting. The flu shot is required annually because the flu virus changes every year.   Chickenpox (varicella) vaccine Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP) vaccine Flu vaccine Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine Polio (IPV) vaccine This vaccination schedule provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention will explain what vaccines your child needs and which diseases they prevent. It will also show you the schedule for each vaccine to ensure the best protection for your child. In addition, the state of California has vaccination requirements for children in public schools. The web site Shots for School will outline exactly what your child needs in order to attend school. Keep in mind that these vaccines are all given in a series. T

Vaccines for Teens: What they need for protection

Immunizations are not just for infants and children. Preteens and teens also need protection against infectious diseases, specifically those that can affect young people and their chances for a healthy future. Some of these will be new for your teen. The TdaP however, is a booster to the previous DtaP series they should already have completed. This is necessary to boost immunity to whooping cough. Flu vaccine (annual) Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Meningococcal conjugate vaccine Serogroup B meningoccal vaccine Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine The vaccines on this list are especially important for this age group because of how the infections spread. It is strongly recommended that your child get the HPV vaccine which protects against human papillomavirus, which can cause cervical, throat, and other types of cancer. While your teen may not engage in activity that can lead to HPV spread now, the vaccine is intended to protect them into adulthood. Why do we gi

Pressure To Change Vaccine Allocation To Target Areas Seeing COVID-19 Surges

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The Biden administration is under pressure to change the way it allocates COVID-19 vaccines to states to make sure that areas seeing surges in cases get more doses.

The Vaccine Passport Debate Actually Began In 1897 Over A Plague Vaccine

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That's when a vaccine for plague was invented — and authorities began to consider requiring proof of vaccination before visiting pilgrimage sites in India. The debate has raged ever since. (Image credit: Michele Abercrombie/NPR)

The History Of Trans Children In Medicine

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NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with historian Jules Gill-Peterson about the history of trans children in medicine and why the current slate of local anti-trans legislation is focused on minors.

COVID-19 Vaccines Vs. COVID-19 Variants

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It's one of the hottest areas of COVID-19 research: How well do the various vaccines work against the variants? New findings are coming out daily. Here's what's known so far, and what's pending.

CDC Director Declares Racism A 'Serious Public Health Threat'

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"The pandemic illuminated inequities that have existed for generations and revealed for all of America a known, but often unaddressed, epidemic impacting public health: racism," Walensky said. (Image credit: Erin Clark/Getty Images)

Brazil Top Court Orders Probe Of Bolsonaro's Pandemic Steps

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Bolsonaro has downplayed the threat of the coronavirus while arguing that the economic and emotional impacts of shutdowns would harm more Brazilians than the pandemic. (Image credit: Andre Penner/AP)

Vaccine Refusal May Put Herd Immunity At Risk, Researchers Warn

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One in four Americans say they won't get a coronavirus vaccine. Researchers say it could keep the nation from reaching a critical tipping point. (Image credit: John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

EU Regulator: AstraZeneca Vaccine Effective, Blood Clots May Be A Rare Side Effect

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The European Medicines Agency said Wednesday that blood clots should be listed as possible but rare side effect of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, stressing the shot's benefits outweigh the risks. (Image credit: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

CDC Says More Virulent British Strain Of Coronavirus Now Dominant In U.S.

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The variant known as B.1.1.7, which is more easily spread, was first identified in England last fall. Since then, it has spread quickly in the U.S. (Image credit: Jacob King/AP)

EU Sees Possible Link Between AstraZeneca Vaccine and Blood Clots

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The European Medicines Agency says there is a possible link between the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine and rare blood clots.

Bills Restricting Treatment For Transgender Youth Could Have Unintended Consequences

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NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Dr. Joshua Safer, the executive director at Mount Sinai's Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery, about how puberty blockers go beyond transgender care.

Virginia 16th State To Legalize Recreational Pot, Latest To Emphasize 'Social Equity'

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By July 1, Virginians will be able to legally possess small amounts of cannabis. It's the third state this year to legalize marijuana with a stated focus on reducing harm to communities of color. (Image credit: Alex Scribner/VPM)

Toronto Suspends In-Person Classes As Cases Surge In Canada's Most-Populous Province

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All elementary and secondary school students in Toronto will return to remote learning Wednesday and will remain home until at least April 18. (Image credit: Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images/ Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Gov. Asa Hutchinson On Vetoing A Bill Banning Gender-Affirming Care For Trans Youth

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NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Gov. Asa Hutchinson, R-Ark., who vetoed a bill to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors in Arkansas. The state legislature overrode the bill today.

The Ethics Of 'Vaccine Passports'

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NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with University of Pennsylvania's Dr. Zeke Emanuel, a former member of President Biden's Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board, about the ethics of digital "vaccine passports."

Deadline For Every Adult To Be Eligible For A Vaccine Moved To April 19

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President Biden has announced that the deadline for every adult to be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine has moved from May 1 to April 19.

Congressman Jeremy Gray's Bill To Bring Yoga Back To Alabama Public Schools

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NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with Rep. Jeremy Gray, D-Ala., on his bill to bring yoga back to Alabama public schools.

Toronto Suspends In Person Class As Cases Surge In Canada's Most-Populous Province

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All elementary and secondary school students in Toronto will return to remote learning Wednesday and will remain home until at least April 18. (Image credit: Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images/ Creative Touch Imaging Ltd./NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Medicaid Fight In Missouri Heats Up

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Last year, Missouri voters added Medicaid expansion to the state constitution through a ballot measure. But there's a major hiccup: the GOP-controlled legislature refuses to fund expanded coverage.

Making Sense Of The CDC's Seemingly Conflicting Travel Guidelines

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NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with Dr. Monica Gandhi about the CDC's travel guidelines, which seem to simultaneously endorse and discourage travel for people vaccinated against COVID-19.

'Love Your Neighbor' And Get the Shot: White Evangelical Leaders Push COVID Vaccines

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White evangelical Christians are one of the most vaccine-hesitant groups in the United States. They're also among the largest religious groups, posing a public health challenge. (Image credit: Jessie Wardarski/AP)

England To Offer Free Twice-A-Week COVID-19 Tests

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The test roll-out is intended to ease the reopening of England's economy. But the move was met with critics who say rapid testing is a waste of money because it could result in many false positives. (Image credit: Stefan Rousseau/Getty Images)

Arkansas Governor Vetoes Anti-Transgender Treatment Ban For Minors

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Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, called the Save Adolescents from Experimentation, or SAFE Act , "a vast government overreach." The legislature could override the veto with a simple majority. (Image credit: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

African Immigrant Organizations Are Fighting To Ease Vaccine Hesitancy

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Efforts to fight vaccine hesitancy among Black people often miss African immigrants who have a different colonial history and experience with Western medicine, which grassroots groups are addressing.

Surgeon General Vivek Murphy Discusses Traveling After Getting Vaccinated

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NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks to U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy about how safe it is to travel while vaccinated.

Smile, You're Vaccinated! The Rise Of The COVID-19 Vaccine Selfie

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NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with New York Times fashion director Vanessa Friedman about the selfie photographs that people post on social media after receiving their COVID-19 vaccine.

Chile Sees New Wave Of COVID-19 Infections Despite Rapid Vaccine Distribution

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NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with an infectious disease expert in Chile, Dr. Claudia Cortes, about a new wave of COVID-19 infections, despite the country's rapid vaccination pace.

In Easter Message, Pope Francis Urges Broad Access To Vaccines And An End To Conflicts

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During Sunday's ceremony, the pope had harsh words for armed forces, support for struggling countries, and urged the use of vaccinations to curb the pandemic. (Image credit: Filippo Monteforte/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

How Is The U.S. Vaccination Effort Going?

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Over 100 million Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. That number is climbing by about 3 million daily. We hear the latest information on how well the vaccines are working.

Johnson & Johnson To Oversee Vaccine Production At Baltimore Facility

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The site was producing substances for both the Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccines. But following a mix-up, the facility will focus solely on producing ingredients for the J&J vaccine. (Image credit: Stephen Zenner/Getty Images)

Dr. Fauci Gives Updates On The State Of The Pandemic In The U.S.

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Noel King speaks with Dr. Anthony Fauci about the state of the COVID-19 pandemic and worries over a new surge as millions more Americans get vaccinated.

Roaring Back: Employers Add 916,000 Jobs As Economy Emerges From Winter Slump

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Hiring by U.S. employers accelerated sharply amid an improving public health outlook and a new round of $1,400 relief payments. (Image credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

A 4th COVID-19 Surge May Be Starting. How Bad Could It Get?

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The answer, experts say, depends on how Americans behave in the next several weeks, and how quickly vaccines get in arms. (Image credit: Emily Elconin/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Why It's Easier To Get Coronavirus Vaccines In Some States

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As vaccines fan out across the U.S., why can some people get a shot and others can't? NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Dr. Rebecca Weintraub of Harvard Medical School about bottlenecks.