News/Outbreaks


What do Bob Hope, Fred Astaire, James Brown and Jim Henson have in common?

They all died as a result of pneumonia. Most people are not all that surprised when they hear of an older individual dying of pneumonia, even if they are...


History Is Destined To Repeat Itself With More Measles Outbreaks

What Have We Learned From Last Year’s Measles Outbreak? Last year the United States experienced a large, multi-state measles outbreak that was largely responsible for 189 measles cases that spread...


College Mumps Cases Here, There and Everywhere

As a parent of a college student it concerns me to hear of so many reported mumps cases on various college campuses throughout the nation.  In just the past...


Vaccines, Child Development and Parenting: There’s an App for That

Back in the day, promotional ads for The Yellow Pages would include the popular tagline, “Let Your Fingers Do the Walking”.  Nowadays, the antiquated Yellow Pages are more likely...


Barbara Loe Fisher is Right. She’s Also To Blame.

Barbara Loe Fisher may be right about one thing. We need a better Tdap vaccine to prevent pertussis (also known as whooping cough). However, her opposition to legislation in...


Five Ways to #BeLikeBen and Stand Up For Public Health

Last month marked the 310th birthday of Dr. Benjamin Franklin.  While Dr. Franklin is well-known for his historic role as a founding father and diplomat, he was also an...


Pertussis Vaccine: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Last week, a new study published in Pediatrics suggested that the pertussis immunity from the recommended adolescent Tdap booster was quick to wane.  While this is being reported by...


On World Cancer Day Remember Vaccines Help Prevent Certain Cancers

Yes, it’s World Cancer Day, but did you know that vaccines are currently helping to prevent and treat various types of cancer? See, some cancers are caused by viruses and...


Shot of Prevention’s Year in Review: Top Posts from 2015

As we prepare for the challenges of 2016, we want to thank everyone for a successful 2015.  Once again, the past year has been one of tremendous growth.  We’ve seen a record number of...


Is it Common for Doctors to Dismiss Patients Who Refuse Vaccines?

A new study published in Pediatrics examines the characteristics of doctors who dismiss families for refusing vaccines for their children. While almost all of the 534 pediatricians and family physicians...