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When and where to get your 2024 flu shot — and why it’s particularly important this year

An elderly man gets a bandaid from a healthcare practitioner, presumably after getting an influenza vaccine

U of T experts on the flu vaccine, where to get it and why it matters By Ishani Nath None of Jeff Kwong’s patients have asked about the influenza vaccine yet this year — but the family physician and other public health experts want to make sure that getting vaccinated...

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Mpox in Ontario: ‘It’s crucial to get a second dose,’ U of T expert says

Mpox in Ontario: An image showing monkeypox particles (red) found within an infected cell (blue), cultured in the laboratory. Image captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, Maryland. (Photo: NIAID)

Rising mpox cases and a new variant of the virus are renewing calls for vaccination. By: Ishani Nath Mpox is raising new concerns and calls for vaccination in Ontario and around the world. Mpox, which was previously referred to as monkeypox, is a viral illness that can cause a skin...

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Thinking of getting your child’s measles vaccine early? Here’s what parents need to know

Shelly Bolotin and Sarah Wilson, experts speaking about when to consider an early measles vaccine for kids

Experts run through the benefits and risks of getting measles vaccines earlier than the recommended intervals. By Betty Zou and Ishani Nath With measles cases in Canada reaching historic highs, public health officials are urging parents to ensure children are up to date on their measles vaccinations — especially for...

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Breaking down NACI’s latest RSV immunization recommendations for infants

A baby being held and looking up in a story about NACI RSV guidance

Assistant Professor Tiffany Fitzpatrick explains NACI's latest RSV immunization recommendations for infants and what this new guidance means for parents. By Ishani Nath Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common respiratory virus in infants and young children, and until recently, there weren’t many options for protection. But that is...

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Contest Winners Find New, Fun Ways to Explain Vaccine Science  

Three winners of the Explain It Like I'm 6 contest

Winning entries, and honourable mentions, from the inaugural Explain It Like I’m 6: A Vaccine Education Contest.   By Betty Zou and Ishani Nath   Aliens, wizards, ninjas and an inquisitive bunny named Muffin. These are just a few of the characters the Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases (CVPD) and Emerging &...

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Having conversations with Canadians about why they do — or do not — get vaccinated

Headshot of Gilla Shapiro standing in front of a window and smiling

How U of T researcher Gilla Shapiro is using a new approach to understand what drives HPV vaccine uptake in Canada. Ishani Nath  Gilla Shapiro wants to have a conversation with you about HPV vaccines. Specifically, the U of T researcher is leading a new research program to understand why...

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Reminder: Measles Vaccines Protect Those Who Cannot Protect Themselves

A doctor vaccinating a young child, illustrating how measles vaccines protect many people

With measles cases popping up across Canada, U of T researchers explain why getting vaccinated helps those who can’t.   By Ishani Nath Measles cases are popping up across Canada, and with low vaccination rates and travellers returning from March Break, health officials are concerned this preventable disease may continue...

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Got questions about vaccines for kids? A new phone line offers answers

A worried mom holding a baby makes a call on her cellphone

The Vaccine Consult Service pilot project, launched by members of the Centre for Vaccine Preventable Diseases (CVPD), aims to help increase vaccine confidence by answering Ontario parents' questions about vaccines. By Ishani Nath Canada is in the thick of respiratory illness season, yet the number of individuals getting the updated...

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Infants are vulnerable to chickenpox earlier than previously assumed, new study finds

Woman with long hair holding a young baby over her shoulder. (Upsplash)

Findings published in PLOS ONE indicate that in most cases, the protection passed from mother to infant fades after two months, leaving infants at risk of infection. Ishani Nath Infants are not protected against the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox, for several months before they are eligible for...

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COVID-​19 vaccination during pregnancy leads to lower risk of neo-​natal death, U of T researchers find

In this 2022 photo, captured inside a clinical setting, a health care provider places a bandage on the injection site of a pregnant patient who just received an influenza vaccine. The best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated every year. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone 6-months of age and older get a flu vaccine every season.

“[This study] provides further reassurance on the safety of maternal mRNA COVID-19 vaccination during all trimesters of pregnancy for newborns and infants," said the study.   By: Gabrielle Giroday This story originally appeared on Temerty Faculty of Medicine's news site.  New research shows pregnant mothers who receive mRNA vaccines to...

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