Vaccines

Hepatitis A Races Across The Country

KFF Health News Original

In the wake of the opioid crisis, the highly communicable hepatitis A virus is spreading in more than half the states and making its way into the general public. Underfunded health officials are valiantly trying to fight it with vaccines.

Federal Experts’ Advice On HPV Vaccine Could Leave Adults Confused

KFF Health News Original

A federal advisory panel says people between ages 27 and 45 may benefit from the vaccine to fight the human papillomavirus. But some public health advocates worry that the advice doesn’t provide doctors and patients clear guidance about who in this large age group are good candidates for the vaccine.

The Real-Life Conversion Of A Former Anti-Vaxxer

KFF Health News Original

Kelley Watson Snyder, a mother who for years opposed mandatory childhood vaccinations and joined with like-minded parents who espoused similar views, today runs a pro-vaccination Facebook page. What changed?

State Broadens Investigation Of Doctors For Issuing Questionable Vaccination Exemptions

KFF Health News Original

The Medical Board of California is investigating at least four doctors for issuing questionable vaccine exemptions for numerous children. The investigations come amid the nation’s worst measles outbreak in more than a quarter-century.

Vaccine Drama On Display In California’s Capitol

KFF Health News Original

Hundreds of protesters descended on the state Capitol on Thursday, warning against government tyranny and corporate greed. Their target: not taxes, not high-tech surveillance, but a bill that would determine which kids must get their routine shots.

California Vaccine Bill Amended To Appease Governor

KFF Health News Original

In the wake of concerns from Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Medical Board of California, a state senator on Tuesday unveiled significant amendments to his bill to tighten vaccine requirements. A hearing on the measure is likely to draw hundreds of people to the state Capitol on Thursday.

A Proposal To Make It Harder For Kids To Skip Vaccines Gives Powerful Voices Pause

KFF Health News Original

California lawmakers are debating whether to tighten the rules on childhood vaccinations and give the ultimate say to state public health officials. But questions are emerging from unexpected quarters: the state medical board and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

How Measles Detectives Work To Contain An Outbreak

KFF Health News Original

Across the nation, public health departments are redirecting scarce resources to try to control the spread of measles. Their success relies on shoe-leather detective work that is one of the great untold costs of the measles resurgence.

Exemptions Surge As Parents And Doctors Do ‘Hail Mary’ Around Vaccine Laws

KFF Health News Original

In California, medical exemptions to skip childhood vaccinations are on the rise. The trend underlines how hard it is to get parents to comply with vaccination laws meant to protect public safety when a small but adamant population of families and physicians seems determined to resist.

¿Cuán fácil es eximir a los niños de sus vacunas? Solo hay que mirar a Oregon

KFF Health News Original

A medida que continúan los brotes de sarampión en el noroeste y se extienden a todo el país, registros de salud de Oregon sugieren lo fácil que que es optar por no recibir las vacunas requeridas en ese estado, como en muchos otros.

¿Tiene sentido atrasar las vacunas de los niños?

KFF Health News Original

Muchos pediatras dirán que es mejor un enfoque más gradual de las vacunas que no recibir ninguna, pero ofrecerán algunos consejos difíciles para los padres que lo estén considerando.

Does It Make Sense To Delay Children’s Vaccines?

KFF Health News Original

The renewed squabble over vaccinations obscures a large group of parents who aren’t anti-vaxxers but spread out their children’s vaccines at a more gradual pace than doctors recommend. Pediatricians warn that could leave small children vulnerable to disease.