August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM), an annual observance that highlights the importance of vaccinations for people of all ages. It is a time when all people are asked to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations, some of which need to be redone every 10 years. The spread of diseases have plagued mankind through every step of our existence on this planet, and it is only through the breakthroughs of modern medicine that we are able to keep some of the deadliest infectious diseases known to man at bay.
Here are a list of articles concerning vaccinations.
Cholesterol levels controlled with vaccination shot in mice studies
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High cholesterol is a national epidemic in America today. Nearly 73 million Americans have high amounts of “bad” cholesterol and only one in every three adults has their condition under control. Having high cholesterol puts you at risk for developing heart disease—one of the leading causes of death in the United States.
It is recommended that affected individuals exercise, eat a healthy diet, and cease smoking to help reduce their cholesterol levels. However, this is often too much for most people to do, resulting in their dependence on pharmaceutical cholesterol-lowering medication to help lower their risk of developing high cholesterol complications. Continue reading…
Identification of antibody-producing immune cells provide new insight into pneumonia vaccination
Pneumonia is a serious and possibly life-threatening respiratory infection. It can be caused by viruses, bacteria, and other severe illnesses that affect the body. It is estimated that about 900,000 Americans get pneumococcal pneumonia every year and about five to seven percent of them die from it. Pneumonia can infect people of all ages, being most dangerous in those who are very young and very old, as their immune systems aren’t very strong. Several immune system-damaging illnesses also increase the rate of pneumonia infections, with survival always being in flux. Thankfully, with the advances in modern medicine, development of life-saving vaccines against pneumonia have helped millions, with continued research providing new insight into how we can better fight this deadly infection. Continue reading…
Many parents believe flu vaccination is unnecessary
Flu vaccination is recommended as an effective preventative measure against the flu, yet many parents believe getting flu shots for their children is unnecessary. Lead author of the study Dr. Scott Field said, “The first and most common reason could encompass a belief that risk for contracting influenza is low in their family as well as that the vaccine offers little protection.”
During the 2012/2013 flu season, 131 parents were questioned about their children over the age of nine months to 18 years of age. The researchers asked about the children’s flu history, flu vaccination history, reasons for skipping a flu shot, and vaccination plans for their children for the next season. Continue reading…
In fibromyalgia patients, influenza vaccination is safe and effective: Study
Influenza vaccination is safe and effective for fibromyalgia patients. The flu shot is widely recommended by many health authorities as a means of preventing influenza, as it sometimes can contribute to life-threatening consequences. It has been questioned whether the flu shot could cause or exacerbate fibromyalgia. The study evaluated the effectiveness of the flu shot in 19 fibromyalgia patients along with 38 healthy individuals.
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The researchers concluded that the flu shot is not only safe but effective, too, in fibromyalgia patients, similarly to its effectiveness in other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. Continue reading…
Rheumatoid arthritis patients missing influenza and pneumonia vaccinations face high infection risk: New study
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients missing influenza and pneumonia vaccinations face a higher risk of infection, according to research. The researchers looked at data from over 15,000 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis who were treated with some types of immunosuppressive medications. At least one in five patients were not vaccinated for influenza, and one in two patients were not vaccinated for pneumonia.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a heightened risk for infection, so vaccination guidelines should be utilized in order to reduce the risk of harmful infections in these patients. Continue reading…
