In 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services set their sights on improved vaccination rates by 2020 as part of a far-reaching campaign “Healthy People 2020.” Yet, early metrics confirmed immunizations among adults are lagging behind schedule. As a result, the National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO) proposed a five-year plan to turn the tide.
The Best Bet: A Flu Vaccine
Flu season, the time of year when the flu epidemic spreads easily and infects many, is officially here. Each year, between 5-20 percent of the population is infected and more than 200,000 on average are hospitalized with flu-related complications. While infection is common and symptoms typically the same, the outlook of each flu season is hard to forecast.
Expanding Coverage: A New Approach to Meningitis Prevention
As a parent, sending a child off to college or into the working world is scary enough. The last thing they want to imagine is a potentially life-threatening disease. Unfortunately, they should. On college campuses across the U.S., outbreaks of meningococcal disease (meningitis), a serious bacterial infection of the brain and spinal cord, have occurred.
Seattle’s Vaccination Rate Trails Third-World Countries
When it comes to advancements in healthcare, it’s alarming to see a string of developing countries listed ahead of a major American city. Yet, due to a recent precipitous decline in immunization rates, Seattle, known as one of the country’s smartest cities, now lags behind numerous third-world countries for polio vaccination rates among children.
The Critical Need for Geriatric Flu Vaccination
Each year, the flu strikes particularly hard on individuals 65 and older. Annually, this cohort makes up about 90% of flu-related deaths and more than 60% of the seasonal flu-related hospitalizations. Although many of these people may have been vaccinated, studies find the normal flu shot is not as successful protecting adults over the age of 65; they would benefit from a higher dosage vaccine.
Celebrating National Immunization Awareness Month
Each August, our nation recognizes and celebrates the tremendous impact vaccines have had on people worldwide. Vaccines have been credited with preventing more than 2.5 million deaths annually by protecting us from countless diseases and health complications. By celebrating National Immunization Awareness Month, our goal is to remind people that vaccinations are important at all stages of life, from infancy to elderly.
The Art of Science: How to Communicate the Value of Vaccines
For physicians, vaccines seem like any easy choice. Backed by science, they are proven, safe, and effective with miniscule chance of negative side effects. Yet, some parents still have concerns and a genuine opposition. To dispel such fears, physicians must be able to effectively communicate the value of vaccines to their patients and parents.
Six Steps to Successful Vaccine Storage
Vaccines save up to three million lives annually, yet more than $20 million in pediatric vaccines alone are wasted each year due to inadequate vaccine refrigeration, according to the U.S. Federal Vaccines for Children Program. Proper storage is pertinent to immunization effectiveness, and physicians must practice vigilant care when handling and dispensing vaccines.
Meet the Man Credited with Saving More Lives than Any Other
The Prepared Adventurer
What Does the Future Hold for Vaccines?
Vaccines: Beyond Conventional Coverage
Eroding The Herd: The Problem With Taking Vaccines For Granted
The recent measles outbreak stemming from Disneyland in California provided a glimpse of what could happen if more individuals stopped vaccinating. The outbreak led to 117 individuals across multiple states being infected. Parents of infants and those with weak immune systems feared exposure. Although it is an unfamiliar feeling for those of us vaccinated, this event was an unfortunate reminder of life without access to vaccines.
Leveraging Vaccines: The Important Questions to Ask
For physician practices, the nature of business is changing. More patients are seeking care at alternative facilities, and more reimbursement for patients’ care is tied to performance metrics. As practices aim to remain profitable today, every penny counts. That’s where vaccine buying groups can assist.
Increasing Awareness and Utilization of Cancer Preventing Vaccine
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States—so common that nearly every sexually active person will acquire it at some point in his or her life. When not cleared by one’s immune system, certain strains of the virus are linked to serious health issues including genital warts and numerous types of cancer.