WASHINGTON — U.S. health advisers are debating a new kind of flu vaccine Thursday, the first made with the same mRNA technology that was key to ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Moderna is seeking Food and Drug Administration approval of its new shot, dubbed mFlusiva, as an option for people 50 and older. The FDA advisory committee meeting is a step … Read more
A “cleansing” ceremony involving the poisonous skin of an Amazonian frog is believed to be the cause of death for a wellness coach — mere months after he beat cancer. After recovering from Burkitt lymphoma, an aggressive type of blood cancer, Kristian Trend became immersed in holistic wellness. But his participation in a dangerous “detox” … Read more
A vaccine to protect against fentanyl’s deadly effects is headed for clinical trials in humans. The vaccine, which showed positive results in studies of mice and rats, is designed to block fentanyl from entering the brain, blocking its effects and preventing overdoses. If approved, it would become the first treatment to prevent overdoses of fentanyl, which … Read more
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal vaccine advisory committee voted on Friday to end the longstanding recommendation that all U.S. babies get the hepatitis B vaccine on the day they’re born. A loud chorus of medical and public health leaders decried the actions of the panel, whose current members were all appointed by U.S. Health Secretary Robert … Read more
The shingles vaccine is intended to prevent shingles, a painful rash caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, also known as herpes zoster, but a new study suggests that it could have major secondary benefits. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have identified a potential link between the shingles vaccine and a reduced risk of developing vascular … Read more
A top U.S. health official on Monday called for the combined measles-mumps-rubella shot to be broken up, drawing a quick rebuke from vaccine maker Merck, which said there is no scientific evidence that shows any benefit to doing so. The U.S. CDC earlier on Monday pulled broad support for COVID-19 shots, saying they should be … Read more
Do newborns need the hepatitis B vaccine to B healthy? That’s slated to be deliberated Thursday at a meeting of the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The influential vaccine advisory panel is expected to vote to recommend delaying a shot typically given at birth to age 4, NPR reported. “There is going to … Read more
One of the many care requirements for pet owners is to get their beloved fur babies vaccinated to protect them from contagious diseases that could potentially be fatal. However, more recently, some owners are hesitating to do so because they believe the shots can potentially cause autism in their pooches. According to a 2023 survey … Read more
An experimental cancer vaccine has shown promise in keeping certain cancers from coming back. In a phase 1 clinical trial led in part by the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, researchers tested the vaccine (ELI-002 2P) with 25 patients who had been treated for pancreatic and colorectal cancer. The patients had all undergone surgery to remove … Read more
Get a whiff of this. For the first time, Americans can now skip the doctor’s office and pharmacy line for their annual flu vaccine — and they can avoid needles, too. AstraZeneca’s FluMist Home program officially launches today, sending nasal flu vaccines straight to people’s homes. The flu can cause mild to severe illness and, … Read more
Israeli researchers have developed a new vaccine that is “100% effective” against bacteria that is deadly to humans. The announcement came from Tel Aviv University, which teamed up with the Israel Institute for Biological Research to create the mRNA-based vaccine, the first to protect against bacteria. “In the study, we show that our mRNA vaccine provides 100% protection against … Read more
The most common cancer in women — and one of the deadliest — may have finally met its match. Development of a breakthrough vaccine researchers say could eradicate breast cancer by 2030 wrapped up phase one of its clinical trial this week, with more than 75% of women showing a strong immune response, as measured … Read more
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Moderna’s next-generation COVID-19 vaccine for everyone aged 65 and above, the company said on Saturday, the first endorsement since the regulator tightened requirements. The vaccine has also been approved for people aged 12 to 64 with at least one or more underlying risk factors defined by the … Read more
Older adults are being warned against receiving the chikungunya vaccine before traveling. The Ixchiq vaccination, developed by Valneva to prevent the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2023 as the first of its kind. The approval applies to anyone aged 18 and older who has a risk of being … Read more
The nerve! A type of herpes virus — the varicella-zoster virus — causes chickenpox in childhood and shingles later in life. Shingles travels along nerves, triggering a distinctive blistering rash and what some have described as the worst pain they have ever experienced. Shingles infections trigger a distinctive blistering rash and intense pain. ryanking999 – … Read more
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a plan that would require placebo-controlled studies for all new vaccines, surprising some experts who noted that such testing already routinely takes place. In a statement, Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services, said that “all new vaccines will undergo safety testing in … Read more
Most people know that exercising, eating healthy and keeping your mind active can lower your risk of dementia. But with the expected number of Americans living with dementia projected to increase to 13.8 million by 2060, the hunt is on for anything that could help prevent this devastating disease. Now, a new study out of … Read more
A vaccine to fight dementia? It turns out there may already be one – shots that prevent painful shingles also appear to protect aging brains. A new study found that shingles vaccination cut older adults’ risk of developing dementia over the next seven years by 20%. The research, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, is part of … Read more
Getting vaccinated against shingles can reduce the risk of developing dementia, a large new study finds. The results provide some of the strongest evidence yet that some viral infections can have effects on brain function years later and that preventing them can help stave off cognitive decline. The study, published on Wednesday in the journal … Read more
The Food and Drug Administration’s top vaccine official, Dr. Peter Marks, abruptly resigned Friday, saying in a searing letter that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s aggressive stance on vaccines was irresponsible and posed a danger to the public. “It has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the secretary, but rather … Read more