Category: Vaccines

2025 Immunization Champion Award

Posted on by Kate Smith

Recognize an individual who goes above and beyond to support immunization in Delaware! The Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) is excited to launch the 2025 Immunization Champion Award!  This national award program recognizes an Immunization Champion from each of the 64 federally funded immunization programs. Nominees are chosen for their commitment to going above and beyond to promote or foster adult and childhood immunizations in their communities. Learn about eligibility requirements and more at www.immunizationmanagers.org.

DPH Provides Recommendations to Protect Yourself and Your Children From Measles

Posted on by Kate Smith

CONTACT: Laura Matusheski, Media Relations CoordinatorEmail: DPHMedia@delaware.gov DOVER, Del. (March 20, 2025) – With the recent increase in measles cases throughout the United States, the Delaware Division of Public (DPH) has received requests for information on how Delawareans can protect themselves from the measles virus. As advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the best way to protect against measles remains vaccination. The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, often referred to as the MMR vaccine, is safe and highly effective, with one dose being 93% effective and two doses being 97% effective against measles. Children 12 months of Read More …

Hot Topic: Measles Cases on the Rise

Posted on by Kate Smith

Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 6:00 pm The Medical Society of Delaware is presenting this online CME event. The recent surge in measles cases is a cause for concern. Join us for an educational session to learn about the outbreak and the importance of vaccination in preventing the spread of this highly contagious disease. Speaker Dr. Stephen C. Eppes, MD; Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist Register

Free Event: Measles in a Time of Uncertainty

Posted on by Kate Smith

Measles in a Time of Uncertainty: What to Tell Your Patients Thursday, March 27, 2025 from 7:00 – 8:00 pm EDT Measles is surging—are you ready to diagnose, manage, and protect your patients? The US eliminated measles—or so we thought. But now, outbreaks are back, fueled by declining vaccination rates, misinformation, and increased travel. Do you know the latest epidemiology, clinical warning signs, and how to stop the spread? Key Takeaways: Can’t make it to the event? Register now to receive the recording afterward. SPEAKERS Paul A. Offit, MD, is the director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Read More …

Measles and Vitamin A

Posted on by Kate Smith

From Your Local Epidemiologist: The WHO recommends vitamin A for people who contract measles because: Studies have shown that: However, only 0.3% of the US population has a vitamin A deficiency. Similar studies from other high-income countries with low levels of vitamin A deficiency suggest that the vitamin doesn’t make that much difference on measles. There is some data to suggest that vitamin A levels may drop during a measles infection, and when administered in cotrolled doses under the supervision of a doctor, it is a low risk intervention. But it’s unclear how much it actually helps. TL;DR: You can Read More …

Measles Update 2025

Posted on by Kate Smith

Check out this video from CHOP, created in 2022: Measles: Symptoms, Spread, & SSPE CDC.gov Measles Update Updated: March 5, 2025 Texas The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting an outbreak of measles in the South Plains region of Texas. At this time, 159 cases have been identified since late January. Twenty of the patients have been hospitalized. There has been one fatality in a school-aged child who lived in the outbreak area. The child was not vaccinated. Counties affected: Dallam (4), Dawson (9), Ector (2), Gaines (107), Lubbock (3), Lynn (2), Martin (3), Terry (22), Yoakum (7). Vaccine Read More …

CDC Vaccine Information Down

Posted on by Kate Smith

Monday, February 3, 2025 Over the weekend, the CDC.gov website with ACIP-approved Vaccine Schedules and Vaccine Information Schedules was taken offline, to modify them to align with the orders of the Trump administration. Some of that information can be found on our website: https://immunizedelaware.org/vaccine-information/.

HPV Vaccine Prevents Cancer.

Posted on by Kate Smith

From Paul Offit’s “Beyond the Noise:” Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cancer. Every year, HPV causes about 20,000 cancers in women and 14,000 in men. For women, HPV is the only known cause of cervical cancer, accounting for about 11,000 cases and 4,000 deaths every year. For men, HPV is a common cause of head, neck, anal, and genital cancers. The first vaccine to prevent HPV (Gardasil) was licensed in 2006. With the licensure of an HPV vaccine that protected against additional strains in 2014, the incidence of cervical cancer has dropped 62 percent over the past decade. Perhaps no vaccine Read More …

School Based Health Centers offer Influenza Vaccines

Posted on by Kate Smith

ChristianaCare School Based Health Centers (SBHC) will be offering influenza (flu) vaccine to students beginning in mid-October. There are no co-pays, and they can offer VFC program immunizations. Immunization may be free of charge. SBHCs also offer other vaccines including: Click here for SBHC contact information. Or call the central office at 302-608-5741.

HHS Debuts “Let’s Get Real” Campaign About Childhood Vaccines

Posted on by Kate Smith

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) launched the Let’s Get Real campaign to cut through the noise of misinformation and give parents the balanced information they need about childhood vaccines. The campaign provides verifiable facts so parents can get the information they want to make informed vaccine decisions, and it shares stories from doctors and peers on why most of us rely on vaccines to protect our children. Let’s Get Real also offers tools for health care professionals with pediatric patients.