vaccine

The New Bird Flu: Many Worries, Few Solutions

Posted on 04/12/2013 by | Personal Health and Well-being | Comments

Bulletin Today | Personal HealthThe numbers are modest but still alarming: 13 dead, 60 sick, from a new strain of bird flu in eastern China, according to the latest reports. But even though the H7N9 virus so far has not spread outside of China, both national and international health officials worry that it may be just a matter of time before it does — and right now there’s no vaccine to protect against the disease. The New York Times reported on a new analysis by …

Did You Get Your Flu Shot Yet?

Posted on 12/3/2012 by | AARP Blog Author | Comments

Personal HealthHave you gotten your flu shot? ‘Tis the season, it’s not over yet. This week is National Influenza Vaccination Week. You might think that if you haven’t gotten your vaccination by now that there’s no reason. You still should! A vaccination now can still help you against this season’s flu. According to the CDC, flu season usually peaks in February and can last until May. This is still plenty of time to get sick if you haven’t gotten your shot. …

With the Aid of Science: Health News Roundup!

Posted on 08/24/2012 by | AARP Blog Author | Comments

Personal HealthThere’s been some cool medical and science stories that have cropped up this week. From a blood cell glucose sensor to a possible vaccine for heart disease, it’s been a pretty interesting week for some heavy topics. Digestible microchips! Of course there’s lots of stories and research out there. These are just a few that stood out. Let’s take a closer look: Your blood knows: Some folks have figured out how to make a blood cell into a chemical sensor …

Whooping Cough Returns: Do You Need A Booster Shot?

Posted on 06/18/2012 by | Personal Health and Well-being | Comments

Bulletin Today | Personal HealthWhooping cough, that childhood scourge that seemed to be wiped out when vaccines were introduced in the 1940s, has made a surprising return, and a federal panel wants all adults, including those over 65, to get booster shots. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year nine out of every 100,000 Americans get whooping cough — also known as pertussis — and while that is significantly smaller than before the vaccine was introduced, the number has been …

New Pneumonia Vaccine For Adults 50 and Older

Posted on 01/2/2012 by | Personal Health and Well-being | Comments

Bulletin Today | Personal HealthA pneumonia vaccine previously recommended only for infants and young children, has now been approved for adults ages 50 and older, the Food and Drug Administration announced. The vaccine protects against 13 strains of pneumococcal disease, including the most common type of pneumonia plus meningitis and ear infection. It previously had been approved for use in children ages six weeks through five years. A little more than a month ago, a panel of federal health experts voted overwhelmingly to recommend …

The Takeaway: How Much Is Life Worth?

Posted on 03/31/2011 by | The Takeaway | Comments

News Roundups | Personal HealthImagine you were suffering from a terminal illness and a treatment could boost your immune system to help fight the disease. The drug would not be a cure, may extend your life by about 4 months and costs $93,000 per patient. Would you take it?

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