Community hospitals don’t often transfer severely injured patients to higher-level trauma centers that could provide the care they need, a new study says. Fewer than half of severely injured people are transferred from a low-level trauma center to larger or more advanced hospitals, researchers reported in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. The… read on > read on >
A single dose of RSV vaccine might protect seniors for two cold and flu seasons in a row, a new study says. Vaccination reduced seniors’ risk of hospitalization by 58% during two RSV seasons, researchers reported Aug. 30 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. “These results clearly demonstrate that the RSV vaccines prevent… read on > read on >
CVS and Walgreens are changing where and how they offer COVID-19 vaccines this season as they work to comply with state laws and current U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. Both pharmacy chains say vaccine access will now vary by state. CVS announced that it can only offer COVID-19 shots in the… read on > read on >
As people enjoy the waning days of summer outdoors, a Virginia Tech veterinary expert reminds pet owners about a potentially deadly hazard: Toxic blue-green algae. “Toxic cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae, can be fatal to pets within minutes of exposure,” said Dr. Alexandra Reddy, a veterinarian at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in… read on > read on >
The shingles vaccine not only protects against the painful skin infection, but also might provide heart health benefits, a new study says. Shingles vaccination also appears to lower a person’s risk of heart attack and stroke, according to an evidence review presented Thursday at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual meeting in Madrid. “We looked… read on > read on >
Shifting to a plant-based diet can help keep people from being plagued by multiple health problems as they age, a new study says. People whose diets included more veggies, fruits, whole grains, legumes and plant-based foods had 32% lower odds of developing two or more chronic illnesses, researchers report in The Lancet Healthy Longevity. Specifically,… read on > read on >
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for the fall season but has restricted who can receive them. This marks the most limited federal policy since the shots first became available. The updated vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer and Novavax target newer variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that are expected to… read on > read on >
Agency is reminding health care providers to carefully follow the manufacturer’s instructions read on >
Struggling to cope with today’s catastrophe-filled world? Changing your mindset can help protect you from the stress caused by disease outbreaks, wildfires, earthquakes, political uproars and traumatic life events, researchers say. People given a one-hour class in shifting their mindset — to see growth opportunities amidst chaos — wound up with lower levels of depression… read on > read on >
It is vital that people with heart disease get vaccinated against common infectious diseases like COVID-19, influenza and RSV, a new clinical guideline says. Vaccination can protect the heart health of people who’ve been diagnosed with heart disease, says the new guidance from the American College of Cardiology (ACC). “Vaccination against communicable respiratory diseases and… read on > read on >
