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People Are Reporting A Frightening COVID Symptom — Here's What To Know
People Are Reporting A Frightening COVID Symptom — Here's What To Know

Yahoo

time4 days ago

  • Health
  • Yahoo

People Are Reporting A Frightening COVID Symptom — Here's What To Know

A positive COVID-19 test result is not something that anyone wants to see — but now there may be an extra reason to avoid getting sick. COVID infections cause miserable symptoms such as fever, fatigue, congestion and more. Now, though, some people infected with COVID in China are reporting a very sore throat that's been nicknamed 'razor blade throat.' According to Google trends data, people throughout the U.S. are now, too, worried about this scary-sounding symptom and are searching for things like 'new covid variant painful symptom' and 'covid razor throat.' Just how worried do you need to be about a super-painful sore throat during a COVID infection? Below, doctors weigh in on the supposed 'razor blade' sore throat symptom: Some people with COVID are reporting a 'razor blade throat,' but you don't need to panic. It's nothing new. 'In the past, as new variants have come on the scene, there almost invariably have been questions about distinctive symptoms, and after a while, when you gather a lot of data, turns out not to be the case — all of these symptoms have occurred before,' said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine in the department of health policy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Meaning, the circulating COVID variants tend to produce the same sort of symptoms and disease as the ones from years ago, Schaffner added. 'Although the more recent variants, these omicron variants, are less severe,' he said. A very sore throat isn't specific to the circulating COVID variants, said Dr. Carrie Horn, the chief medical officer and chief of the division of hospital and internal medicine at National Jewish Health in Colorado. Instead, it's a symptom that has been associated with COVID infections for a while, Horn said. Schaffner had not heard of the 'razor blade' sore throat symptom particularly, but has heard of people having a severe sore throat with COVID infections. While some people can have a very sore throat that could be described as razor-like, it doesn't mean it's going to happen to everyone — and it also isn't some new, scary symptom that is associated with new COVID infections. There is not one outstanding COVID symptom that marks an infection, said Dr. Mark Burns, an infectious disease expert at UofL Health in Louisville, Kentucky. 'A sore throat is a symptom of this, but also fever and cough and fatigue, these are all symptoms as well,' Burns added. 'To sum it all up, the symptoms, including sore throat, are really no different. There's no increased intensity based on sore throat or anything like that,' added Burns. Here's how you can protect yourself from a COVID infection: COVID tends to surge twice a year — once in the winter and once in the mid-to-late summer, Schaffner said. 'And so there has been a longstanding recommendation by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that people who are at increased risk of getting severe COVID should actually get two COVID vaccinations a year. Obviously, one in the fall to prevent the winter increase, but another right now in order to help prevent serious disease during the late summer and early fall,' Schaffner said. This goes for people 65 and older, younger people with underlying chronic medical conditions and pregnant people, he said. 'The recommendation is take special precautions and get that extra dose, because if we get infected ... we get that extra protection and to help keep us out of the hospital,' Schaffner said. Wearing a mask in indoor spaces, social distancing, washing your hands often and increasing ventilation when possible are more ways to protect yourself from COVID and other respiratory viruses, too, said Burns. If you do get sick, there are treatments available. If you have any COVID symptoms, such as sore throat, fatigue, cough or fever, take a test to see if you have COVID. If you are infected, get in touch with your doctor, particularly if you're high-risk as there are treatments available, said Schaffner. It's important that you talk to your primary care provider as the guidance will vary depending on your age, underlying conditions and other risk factors. COVID is a miserable infection, Horn added. 'Over-the-counter meds help — Ibuprofen alternating with Tylenol, if you're able to take those ... there's no reason to be miserable,' Horn said. 'So, take the medicine that you are able to take to help,' she said. It's also important to stay hydrated when you're sick even if you do have a painful sore throat. A sore throat can make hydration feel like more of a chore, but it's important to drink water and herbal teas as dehydration can further irritate the dry membranes in your throat, Horn said. 'If you are sick, it's best to keep your germs to yourself,' said Horn. This means canceling the dinner plans, not going to the party and calling out of work if you can — if you can't, wearing a tight-fitting mask is key, Horn added. 'Preventing transmission is the biggest thing that we can do to help keep everybody healthy,' Horn said. Related... A New COVID Variant Is Here, And It's More Transmissible — Here Are The Signs And Symptoms RFK Jr. Wants To Take COVID Shots Away From Pregnant People — But You Can Fight Back CDC Changes COVID Vaccine Recommendations — But Doesn't Go As Far As RFK Jr. Wanted

Summer Covid cases are rising across the U.S. — Is it time for a vaccine?
Summer Covid cases are rising across the U.S. — Is it time for a vaccine?

Yahoo

time7 days ago

  • Health
  • Yahoo

Summer Covid cases are rising across the U.S. — Is it time for a vaccine?

As Covid cases begin to rise this summer, many may be wondering: What are my risks, and is it time to get another vaccine? As of July 15, Covid cases were growing or likely growing in 27 states including Texas, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia and Ohio, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rates of positive Covid tests have also been increasing in recent weeks, the CDC says, specifically in the southern region of the country. N.B.1.8.1 is the current dominant variant in the United States, accounting for 43% of all new Covid cases, according to the CDC. It's an offshoot of the XVD.1.5.1 strain, a descendant of the omicron variant. N.B.1.8.1 was responsible for a surge in hospitalizations in China earlier this year. It's been nicknamed 'razor blade throat,' as there have been anecdotal reports of some people getting painful sore throats, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Schaffner noted, however, that sore throats have been a common symptom of Covid since it first began spreading. 'I doubt the clinical spectrum of Covid has changed substantially,' Schaffner said. Do I need a Covid booster? When will the new vaccines be available? The uptick in cases comes as many Americans have likely gone a year or longer without a Covid shot. In May, the Food and Drug Administration asked drugmakers to update their Covid vaccines to target the LP.8.1 strain, a descendent of JN.1, which began spreading widely in 2023 and is another offshoot of omicron. LP.8.1 currently accounts for 31% of all new cases, per the CDC. The new shots won't be available until the fall, and are expected to be approved only for adults 65 and up and kids and adults with at least one medical condition that puts them at risk of severe illness. Healthy kids and adults who want a shot may have to find an older version or pay out of pocket. A single dose can cost as much as $140. Experts say, however, that population immunity — whether from vaccination, prior infection or both — may shield much of the public for now. 'While we don't have a lot of high level of immunity in the population right now, because it's been so long, we may have enough low level immunity to just make it a little bit harder for that virus to transmit easily from person to person,' said Andy Pekosz, an infectious disease researcher at Johns Hopkins University. Indeed, weekly hospitalization rates have remained low, suggesting that the new variant may not be leading to severe illness. The number of cases are still drastically lower than those this time last year, when the test positivity rate peaked in August at 17.9%. The 2025 season has yet to scrape 5%. Pekosz said it isn't unusual for cases to rise during the summer time, when people are likely to crowd indoors to escape the heat. However, he believes that if there is a summer surge of cases, it will be a small one. 'The variants have been around for a while and haven't caused any major surges up until date,' Pekosz said. 'So again, I'm hopeful that if we see a surge, it'll be a low level surge compared to previous years.' Dr. Ofer Levy, director of the precision vaccines program at Boston Children's Hospital, who has advised the FDA, said people who are at high risk of severe illness still may want to consider getting a Covid shot, if they can find one. High risk groups include: Older adults People with weakened immune systems Pregnant women Those with underlying health conditions, such as asthma and heart disease Getting a shot is especially important, Levy said, for those who haven't had one in over a year and whose immunity has likely waned. 'If you're in a high risk group and you're in a state where cases are rising, you may want to just get the first available appointment and get a shot to protect yourself,' he said. People at high risk can then consider getting an additional Covid shot when the updated vaccines are distributed in the fall, he said. Covid has two waves a year Schaffner, of Vanderbilt, said people in the high risk groups may also want to consider wearing a mask during indoor activities, such as the movies. Healthy adults and children may be able to wait longer before getting another shot, Levy added. 'If you're in a lower risk group, that's where things get fuzzy,' he said. 'I mean if you want a vaccine and your health care provider concurs and you can get it.' Dr. Michael Phillips, an infectious disease doctor at NYU Langone, said that he sees mostly immunocompromised and older adults test positive for the virus. For those who haven't gotten a Covid shot in years, Phillips said he doesn't think they should worry just yet. 'If you're younger, otherwise healthy, I think you're OK,' Phillips said. 'If you have underlying pulmonary disease, you know, if you're an older age group, now that's a time when you should be really talking to a doctor and saying, 'Gosh, should I be getting a booster for Covid?'' He said that the amount of positive Covid tests NYU Langone has seen has decreased 40% since February. Fatima Amaeka, a senior analyst at the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation at Johns Hopkins, said she expects the current wave to peak around September. Schaffner said to expect another wave in the late fall and winter. '[Covid] has two increases each year,' he said. 'Everyone is familiar with the winter increase that goes along with flu and RSV.' This article was originally published on Solve the daily Crossword

Summer Covid cases are rising across the U.S. — Is it time for a vaccine?
Summer Covid cases are rising across the U.S. — Is it time for a vaccine?

NBC News

time7 days ago

  • Health
  • NBC News

Summer Covid cases are rising across the U.S. — Is it time for a vaccine?

As Covid cases begin to rise this summer, many may be wondering: What are my risks, and is it time to get another vaccine? As of July 15, Covid cases were growing or likely growing in 27 states including Texas, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia and Ohio, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rates of positive Covid tests have also been increasing in recent weeks, the CDC says, specifically in the southern region of the country. N.B.1.8.1 is the current dominant variant in the United States, accounting for 43% of all new Covid cases, according to the CDC. It's an offshoot of the XVD.1.5.1 strain, a descendant of the omicron variant. N.B.1.8.1 was responsible for a surge in hospitalizations in China earlier this year. It's been nicknamed 'razor blade throat,' as there have been anecdotal reports of some people getting painful sore throats, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Schaffner noted, however, that sore throats have been a common symptom of Covid since it first began spreading. 'I doubt the clinical spectrum of Covid has changed substantially,' Schaffner said. Do I need a Covid booster? When will the new vaccines be available? The uptick in cases comes as many Americans have likely gone a year or longer without a Covid shot. In May, the Food and Drug Administration asked drugmakers to update their Covid vaccines to target the LP.8.1 strain, a descendent of JN.1, which began spreading widely in 2023 and is another offshoot of omicron. LP.8.1 currently accounts for 31% of all new cases, per the CDC. The new shots won't be available until the fall, and are expected to be approved only for adults 65 and up and kids and adults with at least one medical condition that puts them at risk of severe illness. Healthy kids and adults who want a shot may have to find an older version or pay out of pocket. A single dose can cost as much as $140. Experts say, however, that population immunity — whether from vaccination, prior infection or both — may shield much of the public for now. 'While we don't have a lot of high level of immunity in the population right now, because it's been so long, we may have enough low level immunity to just make it a little bit harder for that virus to transmit easily from person to person,' said Andy Pekosz, an infectious disease researcher at Johns Hopkins University. Indeed, weekly hospitalization rates have remained low, suggesting that the new variant may not be leading to severe illness. The number of cases are still drastically lower than those this time last year, when the test positivity rate peaked in August at 17.9%. The 2025 season has yet to scrape 5%. Pekosz said it isn't unusual for cases to rise during the summer time, when people are likely to crowd indoors to escape the heat. However, he believes that if there is a summer surge of cases, it will be a small one. 'The variants have been around for a while and haven't caused any major surges up until date,' Pekosz said. 'So again, I'm hopeful that if we see a surge, it'll be a low level surge compared to previous years.' Dr. Ofer Levy, director of the precision vaccines program at Boston Children's Hospital, who has advised the FDA, said people who are at high risk of severe illness still may want to consider getting a Covid shot, if they can find one. High risk groups include: Older adults People with weakened immune systems Pregnant women Those with underlying health conditions, such as asthma and heart disease Getting a shot is especially important, Levy said, for those who haven't had one in over a year and whose immunity has likely waned. 'If you're in a high risk group and you're in a state where cases are rising, you may want to just get the first available appointment and get a shot to protect yourself,' he said. People at high risk can then consider getting an additional Covid shot when the updated vaccines are distributed in the fall, he said. Covid has two waves a year Schaffner, of Vanderbilt, said people in the high risk groups may also want to consider wearing a mask during indoor activities, such as the movies. Healthy adults and children may be able to wait longer before getting another shot, Levy added. 'If you're in a lower risk group, that's where things get fuzzy,' he said. 'I mean if you want a vaccine and your health care provider concurs and you can get it.' Dr. Michael Phillips, an infectious disease doctor at NYU Langone, said that he sees mostly immunocompromised and older adults test positive for the virus. For those who haven't gotten a Covid shot in years, Phillips said he doesn't think they should worry just yet. 'If you're younger, otherwise healthy, I think you're OK,' Phillips said. 'If you have underlying pulmonary disease, you know, if you're an older age group, now that's a time when you should be really talking to a doctor and saying, 'Gosh, should I be getting a booster for Covid?'' He said that the amount of positive Covid tests NYU Langone has seen has decreased 40% since February. Fatima Amaeka, a senior analyst at the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation at Johns Hopkins, said she expects the current wave to peak around September. Schaffner said to expect another wave in the late fall and winter. '[Covid] has two increases each year,' he said. 'Everyone is familiar with the winter increase that goes along with flu and RSV.'

More than 130 passengers fall ill on Royal Caribbean cruise
More than 130 passengers fall ill on Royal Caribbean cruise

CNN

time18-07-2025

  • Health
  • CNN

More than 130 passengers fall ill on Royal Caribbean cruise

(CNN) – More than 130 cruise ship passengers reported suffering from a gastrointestinal disease after setting sail from Los Angeles on July 4. The cause of the outbreak has not been determined. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 134 passengers on Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Seas — or 3.4 percent of the cruise's total passenger list of 3,900 people — reported feeling ill. Seven members of the crew were also affected, out of a total of 1,266 staff members. The outbreak was reported to the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) on July 11 when the weeklong Royal Caribbean cruise returned to Los Angeles to dock after the trip was over. According to records compiled by the VSP, there have been 18 outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships under the program's jurisdiction so far this year, mainly related to Norovirus. That's the same number of outbreaks reported all of last year, according to incidents logged by the CDC. While it's unclear what caused the outbreak on the Royal Caribbean ship, passengers experienced diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal cramps, the CDC said in a post this week about the Navigator of the Seas outbreak. In April, about 250 passengers on the Queen Mary 2 reported coming down with the highly contagious norovirus. That disease has a reputation as 'the cruise ship virus,' infectious disease expert Dr. William Schaffner, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told CNN Travel earlier this year. That's because it spreads easily, and anyone in close quarters — like cruise ships — is extra susceptible. Such outbreaks also frequently occur in schools and jails — wherever large groups of people gather in tight spaces. But the CDC hasn't determined yet if the culprit on the Navigator of the Seas was norovirus. 'The health and safety of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit are our top priority,' a Royal Caribbean Group spokesperson told CNN Travel. 'To maintain an environment that supports the highest levels of health and safety onboard our ships, we implement rigorous cleaning procedures, many of which far exceed public health guidelines.' The CDC says Royal Caribbean reported boosting its cleaning and disinfection procedures and also collected specimens from infected passengers, after isolating anyone who was ill. CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen said that while infectious diseases can be 'very unpleasant,' they typically 'pass within 1 to 2 days.' While the cause remains unknown in this case, Dr. Wen reiterated that precautions such as thorough hand washing are critical. She also noted that norovirus is not killed by alcohol-based hand sanitizers that are commonly used.

Many forget the damage done by diseases like whooping cough, measles and rubella. Not these families
Many forget the damage done by diseases like whooping cough, measles and rubella. Not these families

CTV News

time28-06-2025

  • Health
  • CTV News

Many forget the damage done by diseases like whooping cough, measles and rubella. Not these families

Jacque Farnham, 60, left, walks with her mother, Janith, 80, to the Visual Arts Center at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls, S.D., on May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Shelby Lum) SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — In the time before widespread vaccination, death often came early. Devastating infectious diseases ran rampant in America, killing millions of children and leaving others with lifelong health problems. These illnesses were the main reason why nearly one in five children in 1900 never made it to their fifth birthday. Over the next century, vaccines virtually wiped out long-feared scourges like polio and measles and drastically reduced the toll of many others. Today, however, some preventable, contagious diseases are making a comeback as vaccine hesitancy pushes immunization rates down. And well-established vaccines are facing suspicion even from public officials, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime anti-vaccine activist, running the federal health department. 'This concern, this hesitancy, these questions about vaccines are a consequence of the great success of the vaccines – because they eliminated the diseases,' said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. 'If you're not familiar with the disease, you don't respect or even fear it. And therefore you don't value the vaccine.' Anti-vaccine activists even portray the shots as a threat, focusing on the rare risk of side effects while ignoring the far larger risks posed by the diseases themselves — and years of real-world data that experts say proves the vaccines are safe. Some Americans know the reality of these preventable diseases all too well. For them, news of measles outbreaks and rising whooping cough cases brings back terrible memories of lives forever changed – and a longing to spare others from similar pain. Getting rubella while pregnant shaped two lives With a mother's practiced, guiding hand, 80-year-old Janith Farnham helped steer her 60-year-old daughter's walker through a Sioux Falls art center. They stopped at a painting of a cow wearing a hat. Janith pointed to the hat, then to her daughter Jacque's Minnesota Twins cap. Jacque did the same. 'That's so funny!' Janith said, leaning in close to say the words in sign language too. Jacque was born with congenital rubella syndrome, which can cause a host of issues including hearing impairment, eye problems, heart defects and intellectual disabilities. There was no vaccine against rubella back then, and Janith contracted the viral illness very early in the pregnancy, when she had up to a 90 per cent chance of giving birth to a baby with the syndrome. Janith recalled knowing 'things weren't right' almost immediately. The baby wouldn't respond to sounds or look at anything but lights. She didn't like to be held close. Her tiny heart sounded like it purred – evidence of a problem that required surgery at four months old. Janith did all she could to help Jacque thrive, sending her to the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind and using skills she honed as a special education teacher. She and other parents of children with the syndrome shared insights in a support group. Meanwhile, the condition kept taking its toll. As a young adult, Jacque developed diabetes, glaucoma and autistic behaviors. Eventually, arthritis set in. Today, Jacque lives in an adult residential home a short drive from Janith's place. Above her bed is a net overflowing with stuffed animals. On a headboard shelf are photo books Janith created, filled with memories like birthday parties and trips to Mount Rushmore. Jacque's days typically begin with an insulin shot and breakfast before she heads off to a day program. She gets together with her mom four or five days a week. They often hang out at Janith's townhome, where Jacque has another bedroom decorated with her own artwork and quilts Janith sewed for her. Jacque loves playing with Janith's dog, watching sports on television and looking up things on her iPad. Janith marvels at Jacque's sense of humour, gratefulness, curiosity and affectionate nature despite all she's endured. Jacque is generous with kisses and often signs 'double I love yous' to family, friends and new people she meets. 'When you live through so much pain and so much difficulty and so much challenge, sometimes I think: Well, she doesn't know any different,' Janith said. Given what her family has been through, Janith believes younger people are being selfish if they choose not to get their children the MMR shot against measles, mumps and rubella. 'It's more than frustrating. I mean, I get angry inside,' she said. 'I know what can happen, and I just don't want anybody else to go through this.' Delaying the measles vaccine can be deadly More than half a century has passed, but Patricia Tobin still vividly recalls getting home from work, opening the car door and hearing her mother scream. Inside the house, her little sister Karen lay unconscious on the bathroom floor. It was 1970, and Karen was 6. She'd contracted measles shortly after Easter. While an early vaccine was available, it wasn't required for school in Miami where they lived. Karen's doctor discussed immunizing the first grader, but their mother didn't share his sense of urgency. 'It's not that she was against it,' Tobin said. 'She just thought there was time.' Then came a measles outbreak. Karen – who Tobin described as a 'very endearing, sweet child' who would walk around the house singing – quickly became very sick. The afternoon she collapsed in the bathroom, Tobin, then 19, called the ambulance. Karen never regained consciousness. 'She immediately went into a coma and she died of encephalitis,' said Tobin, who stayed at her bedside in the hospital. 'We never did get to speak to her again.' Today, all states require that children get certain vaccines to attend school. But a growing number of people are making use of exemptions allowed for medical, religious or philosophical reasons. Vanderbilt's Schaffner said fading memories of measles outbreaks were exacerbated by a fraudulent, retracted study claiming a link between the MMR shot and autism. The result? Most states are below the 95 per cent vaccination threshold for kindergartners — the level needed to protect communities against measles outbreaks. 'I'm very upset by how cavalier people are being about the measles,' Tobin said. 'I don't think that they realize how destructive this is.' Polio changed a life twice One of Lora Duguay's earliest memories is lying in a hospital isolation ward with her feverish, paralyzed body packed in ice. She was three years old. 'I could only see my parents through a glass window. They were crying and I was screaming my head off,' said Duguay, 68. 'They told my parents I would never walk or move again.' It was 1959 and Duguay, of Clearwater, Fla., had polio. It mostly preyed on children and was one of the most feared diseases in the U.S., experts say, causing some terrified parents to keep children inside and avoid crowds during epidemics. Given polio's visibility, the vaccine against it was widely and enthusiastically welcomed. But the early vaccine that Duguay got was only about 80 per cent to 90 per cent effective. Not enough people were vaccinated or protected yet to stop the virus from spreading. Duguay initially defied her doctors. After intensive treatment and physical therapy, she walked and even ran – albeit with a limp. She got married, raised a son and worked as a medical transcriptionist. But in her early 40s, she noticed she couldn't walk as far as she used to. A doctor confirmed she was in the early stages of post-polio syndrome, a neuromuscular disorder that worsens over time. One morning, she tried to stand up and couldn't move her left leg. After two weeks in a rehab facility, she started painting to stay busy. Eventually, she joined arts organizations and began showing and selling her work. Art 'gives me a sense of purpose,' she said. These days, she can't hold up her arms long enough to create big oil paintings at an easel. So she pulls her wheelchair up to an electric desk to paint on smaller surfaces like stones and petrified wood. The disease that changed her life twice is no longer a problem in the U.S. So many children get the vaccine — which is far more effective than earlier versions — that it doesn't just protect individuals but it prevents occasional cases that arrive in the U.S. from spreading further. ' Herd immunity ' keeps everyone safe by preventing outbreaks that can sicken the vulnerable. After whooping cough struck, 'she was gone' Every night, Katie Van Tornhout rubs a plaster cast of a tiny foot, a vestige of the daughter she lost to whooping cough at just 37 days old. Callie Grace was born on Christmas Eve 2009 after Van Tornhout and her husband tried five years for a baby. She was six weeks early but healthy. 'She loved to have her feet rubbed,' said the 40-year-old Lakeville, Indiana mom. 'She was this perfect baby.' When Callie turned a month old, she began to cough, prompting a visit to the doctor, who didn't suspect anything serious. By the following night, Callie was doing worse. They went back. In the waiting room, she became blue and limp in Van Tornhout's arms. The medical team whisked her away and beat lightly on her back. She took a deep breath and giggled. Though the giggle was reassuring, the Van Tornhouts went to the ER, where Callie's skin turned blue again. For a while, medical treatment helped. But at one point she started squirming, and medical staff frantically tried to save her. 'Within minutes,' Van Tornhout said, 'she was gone.' Van Tornhout recalled sitting with her husband and their lifeless baby for four hours, 'just talking to her, thinking about what could have been.' Callie's viewing was held on her original due date – the same day the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called to confirm she had pertussis, or whooping cough. She was too young for the Tdap vaccine against it and was exposed to someone who hadn't gotten their booster shot. Today, next to the cast of Callie's foot is an urn with her ashes and a glass curio cabinet filled with mementos like baby shoes. 'My kids to this day will still look up and say, 'Hey Callie, how are you?'' said Van Tornhout, who has four children and a stepson. 'She's part of all of us every day.' Van Tornhout now advocates for childhood immunization through the nonprofit Vaccinate Your Family. She also shares her story with people she meets, like a pregnant customer who came into the restaurant her family ran saying she didn't want to immunize her baby. She later returned with her vaccinated four-month-old. 'It's up to us as adults to protect our children – like, that's what a parent's job is,' Van Tornhout said. 'I watched my daughter die from something that was preventable … You don't want to walk in my shoes.' The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Laura Ungar, The Associated Press

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