Category: News

Flu Vaccine Ineffective for Adults Over 65 Last Winter
The flu vaccine was not effective in protecting adults over 65 years old against the flu (influenza) in the winter of 2016, even though the vaccine was well-matched to the...
Zostavax Vaccine
Zostavax is a shingles (herpes zoster) vaccine made by Merck & Co. that is recommended for adults over 60 years old. It reduces the risk of skin rash from shingles...
Shingles Vaccine
The shingles vaccine Zostavax® protects against infections with the varicella zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Zostavax can potentially cause severe shingles, chickenpox, or even death in sick...
Rotavirus Vaccine Side Effects
The most severe rotavirus vaccine side effect is intussusception, a potentially deadly intestinal blockage. Risk estimates range from 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 100,000 infants who get rotavirus vaccines....
Rotavirus Vaccine
Two rotavirus vaccines (Rotateq® and Rotarix®) are recommended for babies to reduce the risk of gastroenteritis. One of the most severe vaccine side effects is intussusception, a life-threatening intestinal blockage....
Polio Vaccine Side Effects
The risk of polio vaccine side effects depends on the type of vaccine. The U.S. only uses the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV), which is sold alone as Ipol® or in...
French Drug-Maker May Get U.S. Taxpayer’s Zika Vaccine
After taxpayers in the U.S. spent $1 billion to develop the Zika vaccine, lawmakers in Florida are concerned that the U.S. Army plans to award a French drug-maker exclusive rights...
Polio Vaccine
Polio is eradicated in the United States, but children are still routinely immunized with the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) or combination vaccines against the poliomyelitis virus. What is the polio...
What is the Pneumonia Vaccine?
Pneumonia is a serious lung infection that affects millions of people each year and can potentially cause death. The pneumonia vaccine, also known as a pneumococcal vaccine, immunizes against infections...
What is the Meningitis Vaccine?
What most people call the “meningitis vaccine” is actually a vaccine against meningococcal disease, which can include meningitis but also other diseases like pneumonia. The meningitis vaccine has become routine...