influenza

Flu vaccine given by nasal spray is a godsend to parents of kids who fear "shots." But for the next flu season they may well have to revert to the injectable version, since experts fear the spray is not very effective against the most prevalent strains of the inluenza virus.
Young babies can't get flu shots, since their immune systems aren't mature yet. But pregnant mothers can get protected, and then pass their immunity to their babies. A new report shows that infants whose moms had been vaccinated had a 70 percent reduction in flu infection. There's really no reason not to do it. 
A New York state court judge's ruling, revoking New York City's mandatory flu vaccination for pre-school and young school children, is a counterproductive public health move. Hopefully the state legislature can revise the law to allow the city to require such vaccinations, to protect its youngest kids.
The seasonal nature of the flu shot, as well as misinformation about its perceived toxins, have damaged the vaccine's public image and contributed to its perceived ineffectiveness. But as researchers attempt to come up with a long-lasting universal flu vaccine, a new study may have an answer as to why we are failing to develop it.
A recent Boston Globe article about flu vaccinations raised the notion that those who receive a flu shot every year to have less protection than those who get it less frequently. What does science make of this? It's hard to say. But we say that some protection is better than none at all.
An updated report from the CDC said that as of February 28th, influenza activity continued to decrease, but remained at elevated across the United States. Their latest report showed that flu activity has been at elevated levels for 15 consecutive weeks. The average length of a flu season is 13 weeks. This
While viral contagions spread across the nation like wildfire, stubborn pockets of anti-vaccine resistance promote their spread and expose all of us vaccinated or not to needless danger.
The latest in health news: anti-vaxxers stand by their beliefs while measles breaks in Disney and a new study confirms their safety, antiviral drugs may be the alternative to the failed flu shots but not all experts agree, and in the court of public opinion, fear-mongers win the debate over gmo and pesticide safety.
There have been some remarkable advances in medicine over the past two decades. HIV infection is no longer a death sentence. Hepatitis C is now readily curable. There is now a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer one of only two cancer vaccines in existence. Targeted approaches to cancer, as well as the use of genetic information for personalizing therapies for individual patients have the potential to completely change the way that cancer and maybe other diseases are treated. But, science is unpredictable. There are still diseases that simply won t yield, despite the huge amount of research that is thrown at them. Influenza is one of them.
In health news: why no one is to blame for this year's failed flu shot, one in five hysterectomies are unnecessary, & here's one supplement we do love!
The latest health news: the dangers of tanning and skin cancer, CDC's recommendations on treating the flu, & Dr. Ross's latest op-ed published in The Hill.
Starting December 31st , children in all city regulated preschools and child care centers who are between the ages of 6 months and 5 years will be required to get the flu vaccine. The children must receive at least one dose of the influenza vaccine between July 1st and December 31st, and