Vaccination

Medical societies endorse ACOG’s schedule, saying maternal vaccines are ‘key element’ of protectionThe leading professional organization for obstetricians and gynecologists in the US has launched its first maternal vaccination schedule and diverged for the first time from federal recommendations.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) has long recommended giving the shots during pregnancy, but this is the first time releasing them as an official schedule. Continue reading...

• British health authorities announced a one-off vaccination programme on Friday, June 12, to protect thousands of students against meningococcal B (MenB) disease. • The initiative follows the largest outbreak of the disease in the UK's history, which occurred earlier this year and notably affected students in Canterbury, Kent. • This urgent public health response aims to curb the spread of the bacteria and prevent further severe cases of meningitis among high-risk student populations.

• A growing measles outbreak in South Carolina, reported in recent days, has seen case numbers rise amid low vaccination rates in certain communities. • Public health officials note multiple exposures and urge unvaccinated individuals to seek MMR shots immediately. • The outbreak underscores U.S. vulnerabilities with national MMR coverage at 92.7%, below herd immunity thresholds, risking wider spread.

Bottlenecks in the system and parent’s suspicions mean doctors expect another serious outbreak soonBy 10am on a spring day, the corridor of the clinic in the Transylvanian town of Săcele was already crowded with parents and children. They were all waiting to see Dr Mirela Csabai, one of just seven general practitioners serving a population of more than 30,000.Most of the cases that morning were routine: colds, checkups, chronic conditions. The calm, however, is recent. In 2024, a measles epidemic tore through this community and left one unvaccinated toddler dead. Continue reading...

UK Health Security Agency says cases have been treated successfully and antibiotics are being given as a precautionThree cases of meningitis B have been confirmed in the south-west of England, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), as young people in the area have been offered vaccinations against the disease.The cases, which have all been confirmed to have occurred between the 20 March and 15 April in Dorset, have been treated. Those affected are said to be recovering well, according to the UKHSA. Continue reading...

• CDC reports rotavirus circulating at high levels nationwide, with 73.8% of US children vaccinated against the highly contagious virus causing severe diarrhea in infants. • Health experts attribute the late-season surge to vaccine hesitancy, noting the Trump administration's past efforts to remove rotavirus vaccine from childhood schedules. • Cases are life-threatening for kids, prompting warnings as emergency room visits remain elevated beyond typical seasonal peaks.

• Between 2009 and 2023, the US recorded at least 402 tetanus cases with 37 deaths, primarily among those unvaccinated or overdue for boosters. • None of the fatalities involved individuals with three or more doses of tetanus-containing vaccine, highlighting booster importance every 10 years. • The analysis underscores ongoing risks from this bacteria despite effective vaccines, with many cases in people lacking full primary series.