Vaccines

Case serves as reminder of importance of vaccination to protect against measles

August 6, 2008 -- A case of measles has been confirmed in a 10-month-old child in Hennepin County, state health officials said today. Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department and the Minnesota Department of Health are collaborating in the investigation.

While the Minnesota Department of Health has had cases of measles reported to it as recently as 2007, they have been cases acquired in countries where measles is still common. This case was acquired in Minnesota, the first such case since 2001, said Ruth Lynfield, state epidemiologist at the Minnesota Department of Health. Public health professionals are investigating the source of the exposure for the case.    » read more »

August, 2008 -- CHICAGO – To help injured disaster survivors that may be at risk for infection from blood-borne viruses or tetanus in the environment, new vaccine recommendations were released today in the latest issue of the American Medical Association (AMA) Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness journal. The recommendations are co-published with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).    » read more »

Governor Napolitano Proclaims April 19-26 Infant Immunization Awareness Week in Arizona

April 14, 2008 -- Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and state and local health officials are stressing the importance of immunizations in light of a measles outbreak in Pima County.

Vaccination: Photo by Belinda Hankins Miller (CC)

"This outbreak shows that we can’t let our guard down. Forgotten diseases like measles and polio are still out there, and that’s why it’s important to make sure vaccinations are up to date," the Governor said. "Immunizations are a very safe and effective way to keep Arizona’s children safe, healthy and in school."    » read more »

March 14, 2008 -- The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has confirmed that a five-year-old girl in the Twin Cities metro area has died from complications of influenza. This is the state’s second pediatric influenza-related death of the 2007-2008 influenza season.

The first death occurred in a 12-year-old, unvaccinated child with a chronic underlying medical condition. The girl who died in the most recent case had received a flu shot, but not until after she was already ill.    » read more »

Public flu vaccination clinics planned in response to death, new CDC vaccination guidelines

Feb. 29, 2008 -- The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) today confirmed that a 12-year-old Twin Cities metropolitan area girl died recently from complications of influenza. The girl had not been vaccinated, and had an underlying medical condition that may have put her at increased risk of influenza complications.    » read more »

December 13, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC — Today Rep. Waxman, Sen. Kennedy, and Rep Roybal-Allard introduced a package of bills that will help to ensure that adults have access to life-saving vaccines. These vaccines include the new vaccine against the virus that causes cervical cancer as well as vaccines against seasonal influenza, certain pneumonias, Hepatitis B, and shingles, among others.    » read more »

Bill would Increase Late-Season Vaccination; Improve Outreach to Populations at Risk from Flu

December 12, 2007 -- Washington, DC – Today, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) introduced the Influenza Vaccine Security Act, legislation to increase flu vaccination rates, improve stockpiling of critical supplies to treat and prevent pandemic influenza, and establish better distribution of seasonal flu vaccine.    » read more »