Flu season will be with us soon. It usually starts in October and runs through April in our part of the world, and is at its worst December through February. The 2024/25 season was brutal — high severity, including hospitalizations and deaths, in all age groups. It’s hoped that the 2025/26 season might be less severe. Each of us is in a position to help make that happen by getting
Pneumonia vaccines have been in use for years. And they’re very effective at preventing serious illness in people of all ages. But just when we think we’re on top of the best way to vaccinate, experts find new information and change the game. Recommendations for the best use of vaccines of all types change now and then. Guidelines for pneumonia vaccines have already changed in recent years. In 2014, pneumonia
Somehow, the terms “additional dose” and “booster dose” for Covid-19 vaccines have become interchangeable. I heard an expert from CDC say on a national webinar that they were only using the term “booster” to refer to both. Some doctor’s offices are doing that, too. But if you’re one of the many Americans who happens to be immunocompromised, terms matter. You need to know the difference between the two, because you
Actually, National Immunization Awareness month (August) is almost over already! But it’s still a great time to talk about the importance of routine adult vaccinations. We’ve all been focused on Covid-19 vaccines in the past several months. You may find the changing recommendations for Covid-19 vaccines confusing or even alarming. But did you know that recommendations for all vaccines change occasionally? Vaccine experts continually collect and analyze data on preventable infections,