Science/Research


Once a Childhood Rite of Passage, Chickenpox is Vaccine Preventable

Most adults recall their experiences with chickenpox with great detail.  I remember that I was visiting my grandparents in Florida and they had planned to bring me to a...


Listing vaccine ingredients and understanding them. There’s a difference.

Unfortunately, the vaccination rate in the state of Maine has declined from 90% to less than 80% in the past 10 years.  Now, two vaccine bills may further threaten vaccine rates in the...


A New Host for a Persistent Virus

We’ve all heard of computer viruses, but last week I was struck with a new virus.  This time on my Twitter account. It came to me in the most...


Significant Decline in Rotavirus After Implementation of Vaccine

Have you ever suffered from severe diarrhea?  How about uncontrolled vomiting?  Have you ever been so dehydrated that you experienced headaches and muscle cramps?  Certainly if you’ve ever experienced...


Improving Measles Vaccine Efficacy with the Help of a Rat

Have you ever wondered how the immunization schedule is created and what determines the ideal age for children to receive immunizations from certain diseases?  When exploring this question you...


Measles Outbreaks Underscores the Critical Role of Public Health

By Amy Pisani Last week, news hit regarding the investigation of several cases of measles in Boston spurred by an employee of the French Consulate who potentially infected two others; someone...


How the Fall of Vaccine Manufacturers Could Impact Public Health

“What if manufacturers stopped making vaccines?” Someone recently posed this question on our Vaccinate Your Baby Facebook page.  It’s a difficult question really?  If companies were no longer willing...


Is There a Universal Flu Vaccine in our Future?

By Christine Vara These past few weeks, there has been a great deal of conversation within this blog and on our Vaccinate Your Baby Facebook page regarding the seasonal...


Influenza Vaccination: The Danger is Not Getting It

By Carol J. Baker, MD Every flu season is different and unpredictable, but each year influenza causes children to get sick, and can lead to hospitalizations and even deaths....


World AIDS Day and the Hope For a Vaccine

By Christine Vara Here at Shot of Prevention, we are open to discussing issues that pertain to children’s health.  Admittedly, they often involve immunizations and vaccine preventable diseases.  However, in...