vaccination

Hepatitis A Cases In Florida Nears 1,900

By News Service of Florida • Jul 16, 2019
An electron micrograph of the hepatitis A virus, an RNA virus that can survive up to a month at room temperature.
Betty Partin / CDC

By News Service of Florida

With the largest numbers of cases concentrated in Pasco, Pinellas and Volusia counties, Florida has had about 1,900 reported cases of hepatitis A this year, according to new numbers from the Florida Department of Health. 

Florida Hepatitis Cases Continue To Climb

By • Jul 9, 2019
An electron micrograph of the hepatitis A virus, an RNA virus that can survive up to a month at room temperature.
Betty Partin / CDC

News Service of Florida

The number of hepatitis A cases reported to the state Department of Health continues to rise, with the latest data showing that 82 cases were reported between June 30 and July 6. 

Florida Expands Vaccination Programs In Response To The Worst Hepatitis A Outbreak In Recent History

By • Jun 12, 2019

Florida is experiencing one of the worst Hepatitis A outbreaks in recent history. The State Department of Health puts the number of cases for this year at 1,466 as of Monday. That’s more than the 1,175 total cases reported in the past 5 years.

Scramble For Shingles Vaccine: How To Cope With Shingrix Shortage

By editor • Dec 12, 2018

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Kids Weren't Vaccinated In 4 Measles Cases In Florida

By • Dec 12, 2018
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Florida Department of Health says four children who were diagnosed with measles were never vaccinated.

Chickenpox Outbreak Hits N.C. Private School With Low Vaccination Rates

By • Nov 20, 2018

The sudden outbreak of chickenpox at a North Carolina private school isn't exactly surprising.

At least 36 students have become infected with the disease at Asheville Waldorf School in the city of Asheville — a school that has among the highest rates of parents who received an exemption from the state's vaccination requirements.

This Vaccine Can Prevent Cancer, But Many Teenagers Still Don't Get It

By • Feb 19, 2018

Each year, about 31,000 men and women in the U.S. are diagnosed with a cancer caused by an infection from the human papillomavirus, or HPV. It's the most common sexually transmitted virus and infection in the U.S.

In women, HPV infection can lead to cervical cancer, which leads to about 4,000 deaths per year. In men, it can cause penile cancer. HPV also causes some cases of oral cancer, cancer of the anus and genital warts.

Flu Season Expected To Be One Of The Worst This Year

By editor • Oct 10, 2017

This year, the flu season is expected to be among one of the worst to hit the United States.   

Pediatricians Recommend Flu Vaccination, Just Not With The Spray

By • Sep 6, 2016

Sorry, kids. Your pediatrician will probably give you the flu vaccine in the form of a shot this year.

The American Academy of Pediatrics said Tuesday that it doesn't recommend using the flu vaccine that comes as a nasal spray. That's because the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at its performance last year and concluded it wasn't up to snuff.

Florida Measles Cases Stem From Travelers

By & Associated Press • Feb 2, 2015
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Four cases of measles have been identified in Florida in the past two weeks, all of which involve travelers.

Two of the cases diagnosed involved international travelers, and the infected people had unknown or no measles vaccine, State Surgeon General Dr. John Armstrong said in a statement.

The Florida Department of Health reports that so far, no state residents have so far been diagnosed with measles, a disease that is experiencing the second-biggest outbreak in the nation in at least 15 years.

Flu Season Off to Early Start This Year

By Tom Urban of WLRN • Dec 9, 2014
The Associated Press

Florida’s flu season is off to an early start this year.

The Florida Department of Health says flu activity is highest in kids, but widespread across all age groups.

Two flu-related deaths among children have been reported so far.

This year’s common flu virus has changed slightly from past seasons, and the vaccine available now is not quite as effective against the current strain.

However, getting vaccinated is still recommended, as it can still help prevent the worst flu symptoms.

Flu Shot Deadline Extended for Lee Memorial Workers

By • Dec 3, 2014
Steve Newborn

Nearly 1,000 workers at Lee Memorial Health System -- and about 2,000 volunteers -- have been given extra time to get a flu shot under a new rule, the Fort Myers News-Press reports. About 10 percent of Lee Memorial’s workforce missed the original Dec. 1 deadline. Employees can now be disciplined, even fired, if they don’t get the shot or approved for an exemption by Friday, the News-Press reports.