American Academy of Pediatrics Recommends COVID-19 Vaccine for All Infants
All children ages 6 to 23 months should receive a COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of prior infection or vaccination, the AAP said in its updated schedule, unless they have a contraindication such as a history of severe allergic reaction to a vaccine ingredient.
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39 minutes ago
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8 Surprising Ways to Strengthen Your Immune System Naturally, According to Doctors
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." We live in a time in which we have a vaccine, medication or other treatment strategy for almost any illness. Still, keeping your immune system (your body's natural defenses against illnesses and invaders) in tip-top shape will help you avoid catching a virus here or an infection there. And the good news is that there are plenty of super simple ways to boost your immune system naturally. Meet the experts: Julia Blank, M.D., family medicine physician in Pacific Palisades, CA; Jessica Cording, M.S., R.D., a dietitian and health coach; Beth Warren, R.D., founder of Nourished by Beth. How the immune system works Your immune system is actually made up of 'multiple layers of defense,' said Julia Blank, M.D., family medicine physician in Pacific Palisades, CA. This includes physical barriers like your skin, cilia (tiny, hair-like structures) that line your airways, and specialized cells that recognize and attack foreign substances like viruses and bacteria, she explained. 'Some of these immune cells are nonspecific and destroy anything that appears foreign. Other cells produce antibodies that recognize and target protein markers (called antigens) on the surface of germs,' Dr. Blank added. Your immune system also has the ability to recognize pathogens you've come into contact with before and mount a quick response. 'This is why we don't usually get sick after being exposed to a germ we've already encountered and fought off in the past,' Dr. Blank said. How to boost your immune system naturally 'Maintaining a healthy immune system requires that you take good care of your body,' Dr. Blank said. Indeed, these simple strategies will help strengthen your immune system, plus boost your overall wellness. 1. Sip alcohol in moderation. 'High alcohol intake has been shown to suppress immune function,' said Jessica Cording, M.S., R.D., a dietitian and health coach. Plus, booze 'can be dehydrating, and hydration is really important for protecting yourself from illness.' When you're dehydrated, your cells aren't able to function at their optimal level—and that can open up the door for you to get sick, Cording explained. If you don't want to cut out booze completely, sip in moderation. That means having up to one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2. Curb your stress levels. Stress seems harmless enough once you get over whatever it is you're anxious about, but chronic stress can 'compromise or suppress the immune system and make us more vulnerable to infection,' Dr. Blank said. Consistently high levels of stress causes a release of the hormone cortisol, which can lead to inflammation and a weakened immune system, per the Cleveland Clinic. Chronic stress may also interfere with the infection-fighting ability of your white blood cells, per a review in the Annals of Medicine & Surgery, making you more susceptible to contracting illnesses. Daily practices like mindfulness meditation, journaling, or just going for a walk outside can help reduce stress. 3. Enjoy plenty of fruits and vegetables. Putting a rainbow of fruits and vegetables on your plate can do your immune system a solid, said Beth Warren, R.D., founder of Nourished by Beth. 'Fruits and veggies help arm your body with antioxidants it needs to fight oxidative stress, which includes contracting a sickness, in your body,' she explained. Not sure how much you need? The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that people who eat 2,000 calories a day have two cups of fruit and 2.5 cups of vegetables a day. Some solid options: Leafy greens, bell peppers, citrus fruits, sweet potatoes, and berries. 4. Increase your intake of vitamin D. Vitamin D plays an important role in supporting the immune system by helping your body produce antibodies, which can then fight illness, Cording said. 'Active vitamin D gets sent to different areas of your body, including your bones, intestines, colon, brain, and immune cells, where it binds with the receptors on these cells and ultimately turns them on,' added Warren. The kicker: Most people don't get enough of it, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Your body primarily produces vitamin D from the sun's UV rays (it's called the sunshine vitamin for a reason!), but you can also load up on vitamin D-rich foods to boost your intake, including fatty fish and seafood, mushrooms, eggs (don't skip the yolk), and fortified foods, Cording said. If you suspect your vitamin D intake is low and would like to take a supplement, be sure to talk to your doctor. He or she can do a blood test to determine the appropriate dosage for you. 5. Prioritize sleep time. Spending more time snoozing is key, Dr. Blank confirmed. 'Getting enough sleep helps our bodies recover from everyday stress—both physical and mental—and promotes better functioning of our immune system,' she said. When you don't get enough shut-eye, your body may decrease the production of protective proteins called cytokines, which your immune response needs more of when it's dealing with an infection or inflammation while under stress. So just how much sleep are we talking about? The National Sleep Foundation says adults up to age 64 should snooze between seven and nine hours per night, while adults 65 and up should aim between seven and eight hours. 6. Wash your hands frequently. Washing your hands regularly will help keep viruses and bacteria away from your eyes, nose, and mouth, which can do your immune system a solid, Dr. Blank said. 'This reduces the variety and number of germs we are exposed to and keeps our immune system from getting overwhelmed,' she explained. The CDC specifically recommends washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or the amount of time it takes to hum the 'Happy Birthday' song from beginning to end twice. Hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol also works in a pinch. 7. Move your body every day. Being physically active can help keep pathogens out of your lungs and airways, according to the National Library of Medicine, which can minimize your odds of getting a cold, the flu, or other illnesses. Exercise can also give antibodies and white blood cells a boost, causing them to circulate more widely throughout your body, where they might detect illnesses better than they would if you didn't get moving. 8. Quit smoking. You already know smoking is bad for your health in so many ways, but it can also wreak havoc and 'cause direct damage' to parts of your immune system, Dr. Blank said. For example, smoking immobilizes cilia, the hair-like structures in your airways that help 'sweep' out bacteria. 'These cilia form the first line of defense against respiratory infections,' Dr. Blank said. When they're immobilized, germs have 'much easier access' to your lungs, she explained. Cue the coughing and sneezing. The good news: According to research in the journal Nature, the detrimental effects of smoking on the immune system vanish immediately once you stop. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? 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Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Yahoo
A 19-Year-Old Chemist Turned a Perfume Ingredient Into a Lifesaving Drug
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: 19-year-old Adam Kovalčík has created a stronger—and much cheaper—version of a powerful emerging medication known as galidesivir. Instead of starting out with the sugar, which is normally used in the production of this drug, he rebuilt the formula with a base molecule of corn alcohol. This change increases efficiency and cuts costs by reducing production steps and using inexpensive materials. We live in the aftermath of a global pandemic. Leftover COVID-19 trauma and world news updates reporting outbreaks of Zika or Ebola have made us apprehensive about viruses, and most of us have been vigilant about being vaccinated and re-vaccinated. But what about when preventative measures aren't enough? What happens if a virus invades us before we can get to a vaccine? Adam Kovalčík is only 19, but the high school senior at Gymnázium Nové Zámky in Slovakia he has created something beyond what anyone would expect of someone his age. He has managed to turn an alcohol derived from corncobs and husks into galidesivir, an antiviral drug that targets RNA viruses like Zika and Ebola. Generating the drug this way, in his words, 'could potentially save tens of thousands of lives.' Kovalčík recently won the $100,000 Genrge D. Yancopoulos Innovator Award at the 2025 Regeneration International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). Galidesivir is the human-synthesized version of adenosine, which itself is a nucleoside—the components of nuclei acids. Among other biochemical functions, they are involved in storing and transferring genetic information. Adenosine is also an inhibitor of the enzyme RNA polymerase, which interferes with the function of certain enzymes in RNA viruses. The adenosine produced by our our bodies can inhibit RNA viruses (which clone their genomes in order to keep producing infinite copies of themselves), but it usually needs a boost when faced with potentially fatal pathogens like Ebola and Zika. This is where galidesivir comes in. Though not yet approved by the FDA, in vitro and animal tests have shown that galidesivir increases survival rates and has few side effects, which is why it is also being considered for treating COVID-19. It binds to the molecules that viruses use to clone themselves, making that function no longer accessible to the virus. The problem with galidesivir is that it costs $75 per gram (0.035 ounce) to produce, making the cost of a future prescription almost unfathomable, especially considering the state of healthcare. Kovalčík's process could bring that cost down to $12.50 per gram. Why is galidesivir so expensive? There is an extra step in the production of the most powerful form of this drug that ultimately affects the cost. When drugs are being developed, unwanted materials—such as variants of that drug—often end up in the first batch. These variants, or stereoisomers, have the same molecular formula as the finished drug, but their atoms form molecules in different arrangements. Kovalčík wanted to synthesize cis-OH galidesivir because it is 20 times stronger than its stereoisomer trans-OH galidesivir, so the trans version needs to be separated out to isolate the cis version. Separation involves extras steps that take extra time and cost more. Kovalčík used his experience working on perfumes in a chemistry lab to figure out how to synthesize galidesivir in a different way. He needed a starter molecule—typically, sugar is used for galidesivir, but sugar would just repeat the existing process, which was not efficient enough. Perfume taught Kovalčík that some scent compounds used furfural alcohol (corn alcohol) as a starter molecule, so he rebuilt the drug using it as the replacement starter molecule and was able to reduce the production steps from 15 to 10. Using corn alcohol also lowered the cost. This production method is not restricted to galidevisir—it could create other antivirals. Kovalčík used computer models to design new molecules that were supposed to operate in the same way as galidesivir, and one molecule he came up with (ADK-98) had the potential to be even more effective. The furfural alcohol distilled from corn would be the base for these future drugs. Kovalčík plans to continue refining his research and development process for this and other potential antivirals in collaboration with the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava. And to think, this all started with a realization that came from molecules in perfume. Think about that with your next spritz of Dior Homme or Chanel No. 5. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life? Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Leading Pediatrics Group Breaks With CDC Over COVID-19 Shots For Kids
The American Academy of Pediatrics on Tuesday released an evidence-based immunization schedule that, for the first time in 30 years, is not aligned with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Unlike the CDC, which under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. no longer recommends routine COVID-19 vaccination for children, the AAP is recommending all children ages 6-23 months should get a 2025-26 COVID shot. The group said CDC data supports the finding, even if the CDC itself does not. Data shows COVID-19 hospitalizations for children under the age of 2 are currently comparable to people between the ages of 50-64 years, and are the highest among all pediatric groups. More than half of children under the age of 2 hospitalized with COVID-19 didn't have an underlying medical condition. 'It's clear that we're in a different place in the pandemic than we were four or five years ago in terms of risks to healthy older kids,' said Sean T. O'Leary, M.D., M.P.H., FAAP, chair of the AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases (COID) in a release. Related: However, 'the risk of hospitalization for young children and those with high-risk conditions remains pretty high.' The AAP recommends children between the ages of 2 and 18 get vaccinated if: Related: They're at high risk of severe COVID-19 They spend time in settings with lots of other people, especially long-term care facilities They've never been vaccinated against COVID-19 Other people in their household are at high risk of COVID-19 Other children who don't fall into those risk groups should also still strongly consider getting vaccinated. 'The guidance differs from that of the CDC, which no longer recommends routine COVID vaccination for healthy children,' AAP acknowledged in a statement. The pediatrics advocacy group criticized the CDC approach, which does permit vaccination after a discussion with a health care provider, for essentially making no recommendation at all. Related: 'Shared clinical decision-making can be difficult to implement because it lacks clear guidance,' AAP said, 'and does not emphasize the importance of vaccinating people at high risk of severe disease.' Federal guidance on vaccinations has faced tremendous scrutiny after President Donald Trump tapped RFK Jr. to oversee U.S. health policy. In June, the prominent vaccine skeptic fired all 17 members of the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices and replaced them with vaccine critics and conspiracy theorists. Major health groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Physicians, have since sued HHS over its 'unlawful' COVID-19 policies. RFK Jr. also canceled half a billion dollars' worth of research projects because they're based on the same mRNA technology that saved millions of lives during the COVID-19 pandemic. Related... RFK Jr. Refuses To Blame Misinformation As Driving Force Behind CDC Shooting RFK Jr. Drops All Members Of U.S. Vaccine Advisory Panel Former Surgeon General Horrified By RFK Jr.'s Latest Shocking Move RFK Jr. Cancels $500 Million In Funding For Vaccine Development
