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healthy aging, Miscarriage, Prevention, Preventive health, Real women real stories, Skin, Skin health, Vaccinations, Vaccines
I Got Shingles at 29
Read More: I Got Shingles at 29As told to Fortesa Latifi I was hiking on a mild winter day in East Tennessee. It was a Saturday, and I was wearing my favorite hoodie โ you know, the one that fits so well you keep it for a decade. But that day, something felt weird. It felt like an object was in…
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Why Refusing the COVID-19 Vaccine Isnโt Just Immoral โ Itโs โUn-Americanโ
Read More: Why Refusing the COVID-19 Vaccine Isnโt Just Immoral โ Itโs โUn-AmericanโBy Christopher Beem, Penn State Decades ago I helped organize a conference that brought together vaccine skeptics and public health officials. The debate centered on what governments can and cannot demand from citizens, and what behaviors one can rightly expect from others. It took place many years before the current coronavirus pandemic, but many things…
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New White Paper Seeks to Improve Maternal Immunization Rates
Read More: New White Paper Seeks to Improve Maternal Immunization RatesDespite well-documented evidence of the efficacy, safety and benefits of maternal immunization and the recommendations of healthcare providers, many pregnant women do not receive essential vaccines that protect their babies against influenza, tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough (Tdap). Only 40.3 percent of pregnant women in 2019โ2020 received both flu and Tdap vaccines, and rates were…
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When it Comes to Vaccines, Better Data Collection & Coordination of Education Efforts Will Help Close Lifesaving Maternal Immunization Gaps
Read More: When it Comes to Vaccines, Better Data Collection & Coordination of Education Efforts Will Help Close Lifesaving Maternal Immunization GapsVaccines have been saving lives since the first smallpox vaccine was developed in 1798. For most people, vaccines are a routine part of life, starting when we’re newborns, continuing through our pediatric check-ups to attend school, and continuing with annual flu shots and travel requirements. But vaccines have recently been thrust into the spotlight thanks…
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Should Fully Immunized People Wear Masks Indoors? An Infectious Disease Physician Weighs In
Read More: Should Fully Immunized People Wear Masks Indoors? An Infectious Disease Physician Weighs InBy Peter Chin-Hong, University of California, San Francisco With the highly infectious delta coronavirus variant spreading at an alarming rate, the World Health Organization in late June 2021 urged people to again wear masks indoors โ even those who are fully vaccinated. And on July 15, Los Angeles County, California, announced that it would again…
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Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medical tests, Prevention, Preventive health, Research, Science, Vaccinations, Vaccines
Delta Variant Makes It Even More Important to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine, Even if Youโve Already Had the Coronavirus
Read More: Delta Variant Makes It Even More Important to Get a COVID-19 Vaccine, Even if Youโve Already Had the CoronavirusBy Jennifer T. Grier, University of South Carolina As someone who studies immune responses to respiratory infections, I’ve watched news of the emerging coronavirus variants with concern. I wondered whether vaccination or previous infection would provide protection against SARS-CoV-2 strains, especially the new, highly transmissible delta variant, which has rapidly spread to at least 70…
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Benjamin Franklinโs Fight Against a Deadly Virus: Colonial America Was Divided Over Smallpox Inoculation, but He Championed Science to Skeptics
Read More: Benjamin Franklinโs Fight Against a Deadly Virus: Colonial America Was Divided Over Smallpox Inoculation, but He Championed Science to SkepticsBy From its first edition, The New-England Courant covered inoculation. Wikimedia Commons One article from August 1721 tried to guilt readers into resisting inoculation. If someone gets inoculated and then spreads the disease to someone else, who in turn dies of it, the article asked, โat whose hands shall their Blood be required?” The same…
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Being Vaccinated Doesnโt Mean You Must Go Maskless. Hereโs Why.
Read More: Being Vaccinated Doesnโt Mean You Must Go Maskless. Hereโs Why.Bernard J. Wolfson, Kaiser Health News For more than a year, public health officials have repeatedly told us that masks save lives. They’ve warned us to keep our distance from our neighbors, who’ve morphed into disease vectors before our eyes. Now they are telling us that if we’re vaccinated, we no longer need to wear…
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Cervical cancer, Gynecological cancer, Hpv, Medical tests, Prevention, Preventive health, Vaccinations, Vaccines
Itโs Baaaack: An Old HPV Infection Can Become Active Again as You Get Older
Read More: Itโs Baaaack: An Old HPV Infection Can Become Active Again as You Get OlderMedically reviewed by Nancy Berman, MSN, ANP-BC, NCMP, FAANP When Tracy Jimenez was 45, she experienced excruciating back and leg pain that sent her to the emergency room, where a doctor diagnosed her with a sciatic nerve issue. Jimenez continued to suffer for almost a year and rushed back to the emergency room after passing…
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Cervical cancer, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Gynecological cancer, Hpv, Medical tests, Prevention, Preventive health, Vaccinations, Vaccines
The Importance of Cervical Cancer Screening During COVID-19 and Beyond
Read More: The Importance of Cervical Cancer Screening During COVID-19 and BeyondMedically reviewed by Nancy R. Berman MSN, ANP-BC, NCMP, FAANP Even though she was having symptoms like pelvic pain and bleeding for almost a year before she finally saw a doctor, Lily Taylor wasn’t expecting bad news. Never mind that she hadn’t been getting regular Pap tests, HPV tests or other recommended screenings. She figured…
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Coronavirus, COVID-19, Health disparities, Pandemic, Prevention, Preventive health, Racial disparities, Vaccinations, Vaccines
An Anti-Vaccine Film Targeted to Black Americans Spreads False Information
Read More: An Anti-Vaccine Film Targeted to Black Americans Spreads False InformationBy Will Stone, Kaiser Health News When a filmmaker asked medical historian Naomi Rogers to appear in a documentary, the Yale professor didn’t blink. She had done these โtalking head” interviews many times before. She assumed her comments would end up in a straightforward documentary that addressed some of the most pressing concerns of the…
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Coronavirus, COVID-19, Medical tests, Parenting, Prevention, Preventive health, Vaccinations, Vaccines
Iโm Fully Vaccinated โ Should I Keep Wearing a Mask for My Unvaccinated Child?
Read More: Iโm Fully Vaccinated โ Should I Keep Wearing a Mask for My Unvaccinated Child?By Nancy S. Jecker, University of Washington Fully vaccinated adults are celebrating their new freedom and removing their face masks. Yet for parents of children under age 12, the rejoicing might be short-lived. Since children that age do not yet have access to vaccines, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says they are better…
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COVID-19, HIV, Hivaids, Medical tests, Prevention, Preventive health, Research, Science, Vaccinations, Vaccines
HIV/AIDS Vaccine: Why Donโt We Have One After 37 Years, When We Have Several for COVID-19 After a Few Months?
Read More: HIV/AIDS Vaccine: Why Donโt We Have One After 37 Years, When We Have Several for COVID-19 After a Few Months?By Ronald C. Desrosiers, University of Miami Smallpox has been eradicated from the face of the Earth following a highly effective, worldwide vaccination campaign. Paralytic poliomyelitis is no longer a problem in the U.S. because of development and use of effective vaccines against the poliovirus. In current times, millions of lives have been saved because…
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Adolescent, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Parenting, Parenting teens, Prevention, Preventive health, Research, Science, Teen, Vaccinations, Vaccines
Can Schools Require COVID-19 Vaccines for Students Now That Pfizerโs Shot Is Authorized for Kids 12 and Up?
Read More: Can Schools Require COVID-19 Vaccines for Students Now That Pfizerโs Shot Is Authorized for Kids 12 and Up?By Kristine Bowman, Michigan State University With the first COVID-19 vaccine now authorized for adolescents, ages 12 and up, a big question looms: Will students be required to get the vaccine before returning to their classrooms in the fall? As a professor of education policy and law and a former attorney for school districts, I…
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15 Minutes With Jessica Malaty Rivera
Read More: 15 Minutes With Jessica Malaty RiveraJessica Malaty Rivera wears many hats. Her official title is infectious disease epidemiologist and science communication lead at the COVID Tracking Project, but that’s just the beginning. Malaty Rivera rose to prominence during the pandemic, when she began debunking Covid-19 conspiracy theories and vaccine misinformation online. She soon became an Instagram star for her level-headed…
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What Are the Blood Clots Associated With the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine? 4 Questions Answered
Read More: What Are the Blood Clots Associated With the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 Vaccine? 4 Questions AnsweredBy Mousumi Som, Oklahoma State University Two vaccines โ the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in the U.S. and the AstraZeneca vaccine in Europe โ have been linked to an increased chance of a rare type of blood clot. Researchers are investigating what causes these clots and are starting to propose some answers. Dr. Mousumi Som,…
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cancer, caregiving, Head and neck cancer, Hpv, Prevention, Preventive health, Sexually transmitted diseases, Stds, Vaccinations, Vaccines
Clinically Speaking: Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider About Head and Neck Cancer
Read More: Clinically Speaking: Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider About Head and Neck CancerMedically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Grandis If you’ve recently received a diagnosis of head and neck cancer, you may be feeling overwhelmed and unsure about what to do next. HealthyWomen asked Dr. Eleni Rettig, a head and neck surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Medical School, to suggest questions…
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Coronavirus, COVID-19, Pandemic, Prevention, Preventive health, Research, Science, Vaccinations, Vaccines
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Suspension โ What This Means for You
Read More: Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Suspension โ What This Means for YouBy William Petri, University of Virginia The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration on April 13, 2021 halted use of the one-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine that has been given to 6.8 million people in the U.S. The pause is due to reports of blood clotting in six…
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Access, Affordability, Contraception, Gender diversity, Health disparities, Medical tests, Prevention, Preventive health, Sexually transmitted diseases, Stds, Vaccinations
Syphilis Cases in California Drive a Record-Setting Year for STDs Nationwide
Read More: Syphilis Cases in California Drive a Record-Setting Year for STDs NationwideBy April Dembosky, KQED, Kaiser Health News In certain circles of San Francisco, a case of syphilis can be as common and casual as the flu, to the point where Billy Lemon can’t even remember how many times he’s had it. This story is from a partnership that includes NPR, KQED and KHN. It can…
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Coronavirus, COVID-19, Gender diversity, Prevention, Preventive health, Research, Science, Vaccinations, Vaccines
The Gender Vaccine Gap: More Women Than Men Are Getting Covid Shots
Read More: The Gender Vaccine Gap: More Women Than Men Are Getting Covid ShotsBy Laura Ungar, Kaiser Health News This story also ran on USA Today. It can be republished for free. Mary Ann Steiner drove 2ยฝ hours from her home in the St. Louis suburb of University City to the tiny Ozark town of Centerville, Missouri, to get vaccinated against covid-19. After pulling into the drive-thru line…
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The FDA Vaccine Approval Process
Read More: The FDA Vaccine Approval ProcessHave you ever wondered what it takes to get a vaccine from the lab to your arm? Our colorful video will walk you through the process. This resource was created with support from Merck and Pfizer.
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Access, Affordability, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Health disparities, Health insurance, Prevention, Preventive health, Vaccinations, Vaccines
How Inequity Gets Built Into Americaโs Vaccination System
Read More: How Inequity Gets Built Into Americaโs Vaccination SystemBy Maryam Jameel and Caroline Chen, ProPublica. This story was originally published by ProPublica. Series: Coronavirus The U.S. Response to COVID-19 It’s a fact that simply being eligible for a vaccine in America doesn’t mean that you can instantly get one. Yet the ability to get to the front of the line isn’t the same…
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Comparing the 3 Covid-19 Vaccines
Read More: Comparing the 3 Covid-19 VaccinesThis article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Sharon Allison-Ottey. Finally, the wait is over and we have three safe and effective vaccines available to help fight the Covid-19 pandemic. You’ve probably heard some information about the vaccines that will be available to you, but do you really know how they work? We’re here to…
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Adolescent, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Parenting, Prevention, Preventive health, Research, Teen, Vaccinations, Vaccines
When Can Kids Get the Covid-19 Vaccine? A Pediatrician Answers 5 Questions Parents Are Asking
Read More: When Can Kids Get the Covid-19 Vaccine? A Pediatrician Answers 5 Questions Parents Are AskingBy James B. Wood, Indiana University School of Medicine A big question among parents and teachers right now is whether their kids will be vaccinated against COVID-19 in time for the fall school semester. Some have wondered whether the vaccine is even necessary for children. Dr. James Wood, a pediatrician and assistant professor of pediatric…
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Is It Hemorrhoids or Something Worse?
Read More: Is It Hemorrhoids or Something Worse?Medically reviewed by Dr. Lauren R. Wilson. When Charlie’s Angels star Farrah Fawcett died of anal cancer in 2009, it put a spotlight on a disease that isn’t talked about much but has early symptoms similar to everyday hemorrhoids. Understanding the risk factors and the differences between anal cancer and hemorrhoids is critical to staying…
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How Do mRNA Vaccines Work โ And Why Do You Need a Second Dose? 5 Essential Reads
Read More: How Do mRNA Vaccines Work โ And Why Do You Need a Second Dose? 5 Essential ReadsBy Daniel Merino, The Conversation Tens of millions of people across the U.S. have received a coronavirus vaccine. So far, the majority of doses have been either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine, both of which use mRNA to generate an immune response. These gene-based vaccines have been in the works for decades, but this is…
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Alzheimer’s, Brain health, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Dementia, Health disparities, Prevention, Preventive health, Research, Vaccinations
Dementia Patients Are at Greater Risk for Covid-19, Particularly African Americans and People With Vascular Dementia
Read More: Dementia Patients Are at Greater Risk for Covid-19, Particularly African Americans and People With Vascular DementiaBy Michael S. Jaffee, University of Florida and Steven DeKosky, University of Florida New research is shedding light on how dementia can increase people’s risk for developing COVID-19, particularly among two groups: African Americans and people with vascular dementia. The headline findings of a recent study revealed that dementia patients overall face twice the risk…
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The Pandemic and The Pulpit
Read More: The Pandemic and The PulpitWhen the coronavirus pandemic first gripped the nation in March 2020, the road trips and cruises and even the in-person church services that had been enriching the life of Frances Shepherd, 70, and her husband, Raymond, in their retirement were abruptly canceled. As the shutdowns lingered on for months in her long-time home of Oakland,…
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Coronavirus, COVID-19, Health care, Prevention, Preventive health, Real women real stories, Vaccinations, Vaccines
Covid-19 Made Me a Widow at 38
Read More: Covid-19 Made Me a Widow at 38As told to Shannon Shelton Miller My husband, Ricardo Ramos, was 45 when he passed away from Covid-19. We would have celebrated our 15th anniversary in November 2020. Ricardo was the definition of a family man. He took care of both his parents before they died of cancer and helped me take care of my…
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Vaccinated and Ready to Party? Not so Fast, Says the CDC, but You Can Gather With Other Vaccinated People
Read More: Vaccinated and Ready to Party? Not so Fast, Says the CDC, but You Can Gather With Other Vaccinated PeopleBy William Petri, University of Virginia If you’ve been vaccinated for COVID-19, is it safe to gather with friends and loved ones in person? According to guidelines issued Monday by the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention, yes, fully vaccinated people can gather in small groups with other fully vaccinated people. And you can do…
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Coronavirus, COVID-19, Health disparities, Health policy, Prevention, Preventive health, Vaccinations, Vaccines
Many Black Americans Arenโt Rushing To Get the Covid-19 Vaccine โ A Long History of Medical Abuse Suggests Why
Read More: Many Black Americans Arenโt Rushing To Get the Covid-19 Vaccine โ A Long History of Medical Abuse Suggests WhyBy Esther Jones, Clark University Black Americans have been the least inclined of any racial or ethnic group to say they’d get vaccinated against the coronavirus. The proportion of Black people who said they’ll probably or definitely take the shot has risen over time โ but even by mid-January, with two COVID-19 vaccines authorized for…
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Now More Than Ever, Vaccines Are a Vital Public Health Tool
Read More: Now More Than Ever, Vaccines Are a Vital Public Health ToolOn a cold January afternoon, I received my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. It was a day I won’t soon forget. As a practicing nurse, mom and CEO of HealthyWomen (which focuses on keeping women healthy!), I know firsthand how important it is to protect those around me โ from my family and friends…
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COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects Are Rare, but Here’s How To Report Them if You Have Them
Read More: COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects Are Rare, but Here’s How To Report Them if You Have ThemNow that COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized for use by the FDA, many questions surround their risks. The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are currently available in two-dose vaccines, while Johnson & Johnson has just submitted its one-dose vaccine to the FDA for regulatory approval. As these vaccines are being rolled out across the country, a…
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6 Common Concerns of Vaccine-Hesitant People
Read More: 6 Common Concerns of Vaccine-Hesitant PeopleReviewed by Sabra L. Klein, Ph.D. As long as there have been vaccines, there have been movements against them. In the United States, the anti-vax movement began in 1879 with the formation of the Anti-Vaccination Society of America in response to a law requiring smallpox vaccination. The movement continued with public outcry against the diphtheria,…
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What You Need to Know About Adult Vaccines and Boosters
Read More: What You Need to Know About Adult Vaccines and BoostersReviewed by Sabra L. Klein, Ph.D.
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With Vaccinations, Your Voice Matters
Read More: With Vaccinations, Your Voice MattersReviewed by Sabra Klein, PhD As COVID-19 vaccines make their way into the arms of the most vulnerable Americans, those of us toward the back of the line have time to make decisions about our vaccination plans. It’s important to be informed about what vaccines offer, so you can be ready to speak up for…
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Chronic conditions, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Diabetes, Prevention, Preventive health, Real women real stories, Vaccinations, Vaccines
I Live With a Chronic Illness. Vaccines Help Me Stay Alive.
Read More: I Live With a Chronic Illness. Vaccines Help Me Stay Alive.I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when I was 7, and I’ve lived with diabetes for more than 40 years. I want to stay as healthy as possible because diabetes is a progressive disease that can cause your health to deteriorate as years go by. I haven’t received the COVID-19 vaccine yet, but when…
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An Immune System Specialist Explains Vaccines
Read More: An Immune System Specialist Explains VaccinesMedically reviewed by Sabra L. Klein, Ph.D. Sabra L. Klein is a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who studies how sex and gender affect the immune system. HealthyWomen spoke with her about how vaccines work, why it’s crucial to get all doses of a vaccine and the importance of herd…
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Vaccine Hesitancy vs. Vaccine Refusal: Nursing Home Staffers Say Thereโs a Difference
Read More: Vaccine Hesitancy vs. Vaccine Refusal: Nursing Home Staffers Say Thereโs a DifferenceBy Aneri Pattani, Kaiser Health News This story also ran on NPR. It can be republished for free. CONCORD, N.C. โ It had been months since Tremellia Hobbs had an excuse to bring out the pompoms. Before the pandemic, they were a crowd favorite at movie nights and bingo tournaments that Hobbs organized as activities…
