As mothers who have both lost a child, we often say we’re in a club that we want no one else to ever join.

We started our individual foundations and the Meningitis B Action Project after we each lost our young, healthy daughters too soon to a now vaccine-preventable disease, Meningitis B.

Kimberly (Patti’s daughter), 17, died one week before her high school graduation. College sophomore Emily (Alicia’s daughter), 19, died just 36 hours after her first symptoms.

Meningococcal disease is one of the most common types of bacterial meningitis. It is a life-threatening bacterial infection that can affect the lining of the brain and spinal cord, or it can cause an infection in the bloodstream – or both. Ten to 15 percent of those who contract meningitis die. For those who survive, 20 percent will suffer permanent disabilities such as brain damage, hearing loss, loss of kidney function or limb amputations.

Read more at The Oakland Press.

Here we go again: respiratory virus season. For the first time this year, though, we have vaccines against our big three threats: flu, RSV and COVID. But vaccines in vials do not equal vaccinations in arms. Only 17 percent of Americans got last fall’s COVID vaccine. What do we do in a time of extreme fatigue, loss of trust, disinformation, politicization and lack of public health funds for education and outreach?

There is a solution. All of us—friends, family, neighbors, schools, pharmacies, doctor offices, health departments—need to be laser-focused on reaching a group called “passive positives.” These people have gotten COVID shots in the past and generally approve of vaccination. But they are unlikely to expend energy to find out where they can get another shot and are likely ambivalent about receiving one. They may feel good about the protection it confers but not so good about the prospect of side effects (yet again). Many of them are actively trying not to think about viruses this fall.

Read more at Scientific American.

COVID infection can raise the risk of a rare immune system attack on the body’s nerves — but vaccination might protect against it, a large new study suggests.

The study, of more than 3 million Israeli adults and teenagers, found that COVID infection was linked to a substantially increased risk of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome in the next six weeks.

GBS is a rare condition where the immune system launches a misguided attack on the body’s own nerve tissue. It causes symptoms like weakness and tingling in the limbs, difficulty walking and even paralysis.

Read more at U.S. News.

John Legend isn’t taking chances when it comes to keeping his family healthy.

In an interview with “CBS Mornings” Wednesday, the singer and father of four, 44, shared why he thinks it’s important to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

“I believe in making sure everyone in my family is protected,” he said. “The thing about the virus is, it changes, it mutates, and so it’s good to have vaccines that are updated.”

Read more at CBS.

With a new COVID booster out and flu season just around the corner, staff at Safeway pharmacies are working hard to meet demand. 

“We are busy,” said Amanda Wong, Director of Pharmacy at Safeway. “What we’re seeing is definitely a steady increase in the folks interested to receive the updated COVID shot.”

But while people are rolling up their sleeves for the latest COVID booster and flu shot, nationwide data from the CDC shows fewer pregnant people are getting the recommended immunizations. 

Read more at 9 News.

Some people may benefit from longer vaccination needles, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).¹

Recent discussions on social media have shed light on the fact that some people with bigger bodies should be given certain intramuscular vaccines—like the COVID-19 vaccine—with longer needles.

But while this recommendation comes from health authorities like the CDC, experts worry it may not always get put into practice.

“I don’t know if we’re doing enough quality assurance to make sure we’re following these recommendations,” Matthew Laurens, MD, MPH, who conducts studies at the University of Maryland’s Center for Vaccine Development, told Health.

Read more at Health.

Last year’s “triple-demic” marked the beginning of what may be a new normal: a confluence of respiratory infections — RSV, influenza, and covid-19 — will surge as the weather cools each year.

Like blizzards, the specific timing and severity of these outbreaks are hard to forecast. But their damage can be limited in more ways than ever before. More protective vaccines against influenza are on the horizon. And new vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, were approved this year, as were updated covid vaccines. Although the first days of rollout for the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines saw hiccups, with short supplies at some pharmacies and billing confusion with some insurers, the shots now are generally available at no cost.

Read more at KFF Health News.

Latinas who had key roles in the development of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 vaccines are hopeful their work can contribute to improving vaccination rates among Hispanics.

The big picture: Latinos in the U.S. have consistently low inoculation rates against the flu, polio, HPV or hepatitis, and are less likely than other racial or ethnic groups to be vaccinated against COVID-19, research shows.

Read more at Axios.

A month after officially recommending that everyone 6 months and older get an updated COVID-19 vaccination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Mandy Cohen rolled up her sleeve Wednesday in Los Angeles for the latest shot.

At a mobile clinic operated at Stovall Terrace Apartments, where many low-income seniors reside, Cohen and Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer touted the importance of the updated vaccine, which is formulated to target an Omicron subvariant that was dominant earlier this year: XBB.1.5.

“October is the right time to get vaccinated,” Cohen said. “As we get into late fall and winter … what we expect is to see more COVID circulation in November, December and January.”

Read more at Los Angeles Times.