/ en Tue, 29 Apr 2025 21:23:59 -0500 Tue, 04 Feb 25 15:22:59 -0600 /news/headline/2025-02-04-senate-finance-committee-advances-rfk-jr-nomination-hhs-secretary <p>The Senate Finance Committee Feb. 4 <a href="https://www.finance.senate.gov/ranking-members-news/finance-committee-advances-hhs-secretary-nominee" title="RFK vote">voted</a> 14-13 to advance Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. A full Senate vote is expected soon.</p> Tue, 04 Feb 2025 15:22:59 -0600 COVID-19: Vaccines and Therapeutics /news/headline/2024-11-06-view-ahas-latest-united-against-flu-toolkit-celebrating-fall <p>AHA's latest social media toolkit for encouraging vaccination against the flu and COVID-19 provides fall-themed social media posts and graphics. Download the toolkit <a href="/system/files/media/file/2024/10/November-2024-UAF-Digital-Toolkit.pdf">here</a>.</p> Wed, 06 Nov 2024 15:18:20 -0600 COVID-19: Vaccines and Therapeutics /news/headline/2024-10-28-cdc-recommends-two-doses-covid-19-vaccine-older-individuals-lowers-pneumococcal-vaccine-age <p><br>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week endorsed a <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s1023-covid-19-vaccine.html">recommendation</a> for people aged 65 and older and for immunocompromised individuals to receive a second dose of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine. The recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which calls for the second dose to be administered six months after the first dose, acknowledges the increased risk of severe disease from COVID-19 for older adults and immunocompromised individuals, along with the latest data on vaccine effectiveness and year-round circulation of COVID-19. It also provides clarity to health care providers on how many doses should be given per year to people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised and is intended to increase coverage of a second dose for that group. <br><br>Additionally, the agency recommended lowering the age for initial pneumococcal vaccination from 65 to 50, as the risk for infection substantially increases at that age. </p> Mon, 28 Oct 2024 15:05:10 -0500 COVID-19: Vaccines and Therapeutics /news/headline/2024-10-18-cdc-reminds-hospital-and-health-system-workers-protect-themselves-patients-during-respiratory-virus <p>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reminding clinicians and other health care workers to take necessary steps to keep themselves and their patients safe during respiratory virus season. The agency is <a href="https://blogs.cdc.gov/safehealthcare/hcw-vaccination-respiratory-virus-season-2024/">urging</a> workers to get COVID-19 and flu vaccinations and to <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data/index.html">monitor</a> respiratory illness activity in their communities. The CDC is also <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/hcp/child.html">recommending</a> workers offer nirsevimab to prevent severe respiratory syncytial virus for all infants under eight months of age or those eight to 19 months with certain risk factors.</p> Fri, 18 Oct 2024 16:03:53 -0500 COVID-19: Vaccines and Therapeutics /news/chairpersons-file/2024-10-07-chair-file-best-defense-against-flu-and-covid-19 <p>Autumn is here, and that means cooler weather and also the start of flu season.</p><p>We know the best way to prevent influenza is to get a flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone age 6 months or older get vaccinated, with rare exceptions, to help reduce the risk of flu and avoid serious, flu-related illnesses, hospitalization and even death. All U.S. flu vaccines will be <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccine-types/trivalent.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/trivalent.htm" target="_blank" title="Types of flue vaccines site">trivalent</a> for the 2024–2025 season, protecting against three different influenza viruses.   </p><p>The AHA is once again collaborating with national partners in leading the United Against the Flu campaign to encourage the public to get vaccinated. Visit <a href="/ahia/promoting-healthy-communities/united-against-flu" target="_blank" title="AHA United Against the Flu Website">AHA.org/flu</a> for helpful information and resources, including the CDC’s flu shot finder and promotional messaging. Beginning this month through mid-March, the AHA team will create monthly social media kits with shareable posts that your teams can use to spread the word across your organization’s social channels.</p><p>Flu is not our only nemesis as fall and winter weather sets in. COVID-19 and RSV also are prevalent. Staying up to date and protected against these viruses is important. So when people get vaccinated against the flu, the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines/coadministration.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/coadministration.htm" target="_blank" title="CDC Flu Website">CDC encourages</a> getting other vaccinations  — like the COVID-19 or RSV vaccine — if the timing is right and their health provider recommends it.</p><p>The adage that “the best defense is a good offense” aptly describes getting vaccinated. Getting the flu, COVID-19 and other recommended vaccines helps protect ourselves, our loved ones and our communities. It’s a winning strategy for staying healthy.</p> Mon, 07 Oct 2024 11:06:15 -0500 COVID-19: Vaccines and Therapeutics /news/headline/2024-09-27-survey-less-20-us-adults-concerned-themselves-or-family-receiving-infection-ahead-respiratory-virus <p>The National Foundation for Infectious Diseases Sept. 25 released a <a href="https://www.nfid.org/resource/2024-national-survey-attitudes-and-behaviors-about-influenza-covid-19-respiratory-syncytial-virus-and-pneumococcal-disease/" target="_blank">survey</a> showing that less than one in five U.S. adults are concerned about themselves or a family member getting a respiratory virus infection this fall and winter. The survey, conducted in August, found that 20% are concerned about COVID-19, 17% are concerned about flu, 17% are concerned about pneumococcal disease and 16% are concerned about respiratory syncytial virus. Additionally, it found that while 67% of adults agree that an annual flu vaccination is the most effective way to prevent flu-related hospitalizations and deaths, 45% said they do not plan to or are unsure if they will receive a flu vaccine this season, and 38% said they definitely plan to. Regarding COVID-19, 26% of adults said they will definitely get an updated vaccine. Among those for whom a vaccine is recommended, only 21% said they will definitely get an RSV vaccine and 24% said they would definitely receive one against pneumococcal disease.</p> Fri, 27 Sep 2024 14:50:55 -0500 COVID-19: Vaccines and Therapeutics /child-and-adolescent-health-vaccines <h1 class="repository-intro">Child and Adolescent Health Care: Vaccines</h1><p class="repository-intro">Vaccines prevent kids from contracting viruses.</p> Wed, 18 Sep 2024 15:05:08 -0500 COVID-19: Vaccines and Therapeutics /news/headline/2024-08-22-fda-authorizes-combination-tests-flu-covid-19 <p>The Food and Drug Administration Aug. 22 granted emergency use <a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2024-18973/emergency-use-authorization-certain-medical-devices-during-covid-19">authorization</a> for two new combined COVID-19 and influenza tests. The Nano-Check Influenza-COVID-19 Dual Test is authorized for use by laboratories to detect and differentiate influenza A and B and SARS-CoV-2 in nasal swab specimens. The Flowflex Plus COVID-19 and Flu A/B Home Test is authorized for home use for people aged two and older. </p> Thu, 22 Aug 2024 14:16:22 -0500 COVID-19: Vaccines and Therapeutics /news/headline/2024-04-26-cdc-encourages-older-adults-get-additional-covid-19-vaccine-dose <p>Adults age 65 and older are encouraged to receive an updated dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7316a4.htm?s_cid=mm7316a4_w ">announced</a> April 25. The update provides protection against the JN.1 and other circulating variants of the virus, and should be administered at least four months following the previous dosage. The CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended the additional dose in <a href="/news/headline/2024-02-28-congressional-leaders-release-new-continuing-resolution">February</a>. </p> Fri, 26 Apr 2024 14:11:06 -0500 COVID-19: Vaccines and Therapeutics /news/headline/2024-04-16-nasem-releases-evidence-review-covid-19-vaccine-safety <p>The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines can cause myocarditis, but do not appear to cause infertility, Guillain-Barré syndrome, Bell’s palsy, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) or heart attack, according to a new National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine <a href="https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27746/evidence-review-of-the-adverse-effects-of-covid-19-vaccination-and-intramuscular-vaccine-administration">report</a> examining whether COVID-19 vaccines can cause certain harms. The Janssen COVID-19 vaccine may cause TTS and Guillain-Barré syndrome, the study committee found, although there are a limited number of published studies on this vaccine, reflecting its limited use in the U.S. According to the report, administering any vaccine, including COVID-19 vaccines, also may cause certain shoulder injuries: acute subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis, acute rotator cuff tendinopathy, bone injury, and axial or radial nerve injury.<br><br>“Despite a large body of evidence from extraordinary efforts by investigators around the world, our committee found that in many cases, if not most, evidence was insufficient to accept or reject causality for a particular potential harm from a specific COVID-19 vaccine,” <a href="https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2024/04/new-comprehensive-review-examines-potential-harms-of-covid-19-vaccination-and-intramuscular-vaccination">said</a> Anne Bass, vice chair of the study committee and a professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and rheumatologist at the Hospital for Special Surgery and New York Presbyterian Hospital. “In other cases, we did find sufficient evidence to favor rejection, favor acceptance, or establish causality. It is important to note, however, that identifying a harm does not mean that it occurs frequently. Harms associated with vaccines are rare.”<br> </p> Tue, 16 Apr 2024 14:04:00 -0500 COVID-19: Vaccines and Therapeutics