Many U.S. parents don’t take proper precautions to protect their children from fireworks-related burns and injuries, claims a new survey released just ahead of the Fourth of July. The poll of more than 2,000 parents of children ages 3-18 was conducted this spring and found that more than half said someone in their family or…  read on >  read on >

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy can help protect both mother and baby. But does it matter which vaccine or at what stage of pregnancy a woman receives her shots? New research suggests it does, and that getting immunized earlier in pregnancy may be better. In their study, investigators focused on maternal immune responses to…  read on >  read on >

While kids in a classroom are likely to be familiar with all their classmates after a short time, the children they are assigned to sit near are likely to become their closer friends, a new study suggests. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University found that after seat assignments changed, students were more likely to become friends…  read on >  read on >

There’s a shortage of nursing home beds for the elderly in America due to a severe staffing crisis that has caused long-term care facilities to cut back on new admissions, new research shows. Three out of five nursing homes (61%) have limited new admissions due to staffing shortages, according to a survey conducted by the…  read on >  read on >

A yearly flu shot may do more than protect you from a nasty bout of influenza: New research suggests it may help guard against Alzheimer’s disease as well. People who were vaccinated at least once over four years were 40% less likely to develop Alzheimer’s during that period, the study found. “It might be that…  read on >  read on >

New research confirms the dangers of too much screen time for kids and teens: Those who play sports, take music lessons, or socialize with friends after school are happier and healthier than children who are glued to a screen during these hours. “Screen time, where you are sitting and watching TV or playing computer games…  read on >  read on >

The United States is deploying an enhanced nationwide vaccination strategy to counter the continuing spread of monkeypox, federal public health officials announced at a White House briefing on Tuesday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is rapidly expanding access to hundreds of thousands of doses of the Jynneos vaccine, targeted to smallpox and…  read on >  read on >

Toking up increases your risk of landing in the hospital, a new study reports. Recreational marijuana use was associated with 22% greater odds of needing to visit an emergency room or be hospitalized, Canadian researchers found. The study showed physical injuries, lung ailments and gastrointestinal problems were the top three reasons why pot users had…  read on >  read on >