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USA Today
06-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
How do vaccines work? Medical experts explain.
How do vaccines work? Medical experts explain. Show Caption Hide Caption Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posts endorsement of measles MMR vaccine on X Health and Human Services secretary, and vaccine skeptic, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports measles vaccine after visiting West Texas. Medical experts repeatedly reiterate how vital vaccinations are to global health. As of last spring, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that worldwide immunization efforts have saved at least 154 million people's lives over the past 50 years. But despite vaccines having a "long history of successfully protecting people and communities against infectious diseases," per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some hesitancy – and sometimes outright opposition – around them remains. "Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a shift in the perception of vaccines. Misinformation about health, and especially about vaccines, is prevalent," says Dr. Jennifer Brull, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). Being vaccinated for a certain illness also decreases a person's chance of contracting that illness. And if they do get it anyway, the CDC says they're "less likely to die or become seriously ill than someone whose immune system is unprepared to fight an infection." A 2023 survey of local U.S. health departments, conducted by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), found that more than 80% of local departments reported experiencing challenges with patients and/or parents being hesitant toward vaccinations. That's nearly a 40% increase from their 2017 survey results. "Vaccines are safe, effective and save lives," Brull adds. "They are one of our best tools to prevent severe illness, hospitalizations and death in our communities. ... Being vaccinated against diseases helps build a community of immunity and protects those more vulnerable to disease who may not be able to get vaccinated." Here's everything medical experts want you to know about how vaccines work. In case you missed: RFK Jr. claims 'leaky' measles vaccine wanes over time. Scientists say he's wrong. What is a vaccine? How do vaccines work? Vaccines work by imitating an infection to teach the body how to recognize and defend itself from disease without experiencing the dangers of an actual infection, according to the CDC. "They do so by exposing the body to an active ingredient called an antigen which triggers an immune response," Brull says. Depending on the vaccine, "this immune response can protect you for many years or your entire life." They exist for all kinds of diseases, including measles and whooping cough, among many others, and have different formulations. What is Tdap? Here's what you need to know to stay protected against whooping cough Are vaccines safe? Side effects may cause tiredness, fever or a sore arm at the injection site for a day or two, but medical experts want to assure you that it just means the vaccine is working. If you have a more serious reaction, you should call your doctor. But most of the time, reactions are nothing to worry about. "Instead of a mild reaction deterring you from getting future vaccines, it should encourage you," Brull says. "That's the vaccine working and jumpstarting your body's immune system." Brull encourages those who have questions or concerns about vaccines to speak with a properly qualified and certified medical expert. They're prepared to have an "honest conversation" and listen to your concerns while providing accurate information and can debunk unfounded claims. "As trusted messengers in our communities, we can help dispel myths and misconceptions about vaccines," she says. "Your family physician can help answer questions you may have about information you see online or hear from friends and family."
USA Today
04-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
How do you get the bird flu? What medical experts want you to know right now
How do you get the bird flu? What medical experts want you to know right now Show Caption Hide Caption Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posts endorsement of measles MMR vaccine on X Health and Human Services secretary, and vaccine skeptic, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports measles vaccine after visiting West Texas. Headlines as of late have sounded alarms about the spread of the avian flu, known more colloquially as the bird flu. Over the last year, a highly pathogenic avian influenza, A(H5N1), has sporadically been reported in wild birds, poultry and dairy cows across the United States, Canada and some other countries. Despite this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the "risk to the general public from these viruses remains low." Only four people in the U.S. have been identified as being infected with this virus, all with mild-to-moderate cases, per the CDC. "It's important to know that the current risk for bird flu in people is low," says Dr. Jennifer Brull, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). "We are seeing that dairy cattle and poultry farms are the most common sources of exposure, although that is still very low." Still, the last five years have made many increasingly vigilant about viruses spreading. If you're still concerned about encountering the bird flu, here's what medical experts want you to know. Good to know: As bird flu continues to spread, is there a vaccine for humans? How do you get bird flu? Bird flu is a virus that is spread from bird to bird, but occasionally, strains can transform into a virus that humans can contract and spread, according to the AAFP. "Most people who get infected with bird flu have close contact with infected birds or bird droppings," Brull says. That means those who work with poultry and those who eat raw or undercooked meat or eggs from infected birds are at a higher risk of contracting the disease. You can also spread bird flu by swimming in water contaminated with bird droppings or by touching a surface where an infected bird has landed. Bird flu spreads by touching your nose, eyes or mouth, by inhaling moisture droplets or dust particles or by consuming undercooked infected meat or eggs. But it's rare for the bird flu to be transferred from one human to another, according to the AAFP. In order to do so, the virus must transform into a human flu virus. Huh: Americans may have had bird flu and not even know it, new study suggests What are the symptoms of bird flu? Symptoms of the bird flu usually appear between two days and a week after being exposed, according to the AAFP. They're usually similar to seasonal flu symptoms, which include fever, cough, sore throat, headache, achy muscles and pink eye. More serious symptoms can include severe respiratory issues, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mental confusion and seizures. People who are pregnant, have weakened immune symptoms or are over the age of 65 have a higher risk of developing a serious illness. "If you suspect you or someone you know has come down with bird flu after being exposed to an infected animal, reach out to your family physician and they can help confirm or rule out bird flu," Brull says.
USA Today
01-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
What to know about the hep B vaccine
What to know about the hep B vaccine Show Caption Hide Caption Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posts endorsement of measles MMR vaccine on X Health and Human Services secretary, and vaccine skeptic, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports measles vaccine after visiting West Texas. Hepatitis B is a liver infection that inflames the organ and impacts its ability to function. It can be either acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term), and is estimated to impact between 880,000 and 1.89 million people in the United States. Those who leave chronic hepatitis B untreated have a 25% to 40% risk of developing liver cancer at some point in their lives, according to the Hepatitis B Foundation. The good news: There's a vaccine for hepatitis B that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), can help to prevent millions of deaths worldwide. The bad news: Only about 1/3 of American adults are currently vaccinated. "Vaccines are safe, effective and save lives," says Dr. Jennifer Brull, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). "They are one of our best tools to prevent severe illness, hospitalizations and death in our communities. ... Being vaccinated against diseases helps build a community of immunity and protects those more vulnerable to disease who may not be able to get vaccinated." Here's what health experts want you to know about hepatitis B and how vaccinations can help prevent its spread. Elsewhere in vaccines: What experts need you to know about the MMR vaccine What is hepatitis B? Hepatitis B is a contagious liver infection that's transmitted through blood, semen or another type of bodily fluid from a person who's infected with the virus, according to the CDC. The severity can range from a "mild, short-term, acute illness lasting a few weeks to a serious, long-term, chronic infection," the CDC adds. Those at higher risk include healthcare workers, drug users, travelers in areas where the infection is widespread and people who have multiple sex partners. "The best way to prevent hepatitis B is to always have protected sex – use a condom – and, if you use intravenous IV drugs, avoid sharing needles," Brull says. Plus: "Preventing perinatal hepatitis B is important because most people with hepatitis B got infected as infants or young children when their immune systems were not fully developed," according to the CDC. What is Tdap? Here's what you need to know to stay protected against whooping cough Is there a vaccine for hep B? Yes, there is a vaccine for hepatitis B; it's usually administered in a series of two to three shots over the course of six months, which provides long-term protection. The CDC recognizes the hepatitis B vaccine as the best way to prevent getting infected and recommends it to essentially any age group that hasn't been vaccinated yet: infants, children and adolescents under 19, adults 19 to 59 and adults 60 and older with risk factors for hepatitis B. It's also safe to receive while pregnant. Vaccines as a whole work by imitating an infection to teach the body how to recognize and defend itself from disease without experiencing the dangers of an actual infection, according to the CDC. "They do so by exposing the body to an active ingredient called an antigen which triggers an immune response," Brull says. Depending on the vaccine, "this immune response can protect you for many years or your entire life."
USA Today
19-04-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Obamacare covers cancer screening and cholesterol meds. Will the Supreme Court change that?
Obamacare covers cancer screening and cholesterol meds. Will the Supreme Court change that? The case focuses on Obamacare's preventative care requirement. Religious opponents say HIV medications, for example, would make them 'complicit in facilitating homosexual behavior." Show Caption Hide Caption Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posts endorsement of measles MMR vaccine on X Health and Human Services secretary, and vaccine skeptic, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports measles vaccine after visiting West Texas. WASHINGTON − One of the most popular parts of Obamacare - free cancer screenings, cholesterol-lowering medication and diabetes tests - is facing scrutiny in a Supreme Court challenge to the landmark health insurance law that, 15 years in, continues to spark legal battles and political fights. Two Christian owned businesses and some people in Texas argue that health insurance plans they buy shouldn't have to cover medical tests and drugs they object to on religious grounds. Having to pay for certain HIV-prevention medications, for example, would make them 'complicit in facilitating homosexual behavior,' they've said. In a twist from the first Trump administration, which tried to kill Barack Obama's landmark health insurance law, Trump's Justice Department will defend the law when the high court takes it up on Monday. While that shows support across ideological lines, increasing the likelihood that the Supreme Court won't side with the challengers, a victory could give the Trump administration the power to pick and choose the preventive measures it wants to cover and for whom. 'What happens after the case might be more important than how the Supreme Court rules,' said Laurie Sobel, associate director for Women's Health Policy at KFF, a nonpartisan health research organization. `Folks will notice if this benefit is gone' The requirement that health insurance plans cover - without copayments or deductibles - services that detect diseases and prevent illnesses from developing has been used by tens of millions of Americans since the 2010 Affordable Care Act became law. The legal issue at the heart of the Supreme Court Obamacare case is whether one of the three groups of experts that recommends services health insurance must cover is so powerful that, under the Constitution, its members must be appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. If the Supreme Court agrees with the Texas businesses that they are, health insurers would not be required to cover any of the care recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force after the ACA was enacted. (Other services, such as vaccines, that are recommended by different experts, are in dispute under another aspect of the case that is still in the lower courts.) For example, in 2021, the task force extended recommendations for colon cancer screening to people 45 and older, instead of 50 and up, because of increased diagnoses in younger people. 'Folks will notice if this benefit is gone or if they're getting charged when they go to the doctor for their preventive care,' said Katie Keith, director of the Center for Health Policy and the Law at the O'Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. But if the court agrees with the Trump administration that the task force is controlled by the Health and Human Services Secretary, now Robert F. Kennedy Jr., coverage may also change. Kennedy could fire the task force and appoint members more hospitable to his agenda or impose his own decisions, experts said. 'I think the Trump administration's motivation here is to, as is always the case, to expand the power of the president and the Secretary of HHS,' said Tim Jost, a health law expert and professor emeritus at Washington and Lee University School of Law. The task force typically updates its recommendations every five years to account for medical advances or reflect new evidence of risk. Before Obamacare, Americans used preventive services at only about half the recommended rate, according to the federal government. Obamacare has survived many challenges The Affordable Care Act, Obama's signature domestic accomplishment, has been the target of more than 2,000 legal challenges and has reached the high court multiple times. It was upheld in 2012, in 2015 and, most recently, in 2021, when the court dismissed another challenge to the law. That suit started in the same federal district court in Texas that first heard the latest challenge, which critics say shows opponents of Obamacare were looking for a friendly judge. U.S. District Judge Reed O'Connor in Texas said the conservativechallengers do not have to cover the HIV-prevention drug PrEP in their insurance plans because it's against their religious beliefs, a decision that is limited to the challengers and that the federal government has not appealed. But O'Connor also agreed with the businesses that the task force violates the Constitution's appointments clause, which requires presidential appointment and Senate confirmation for officials in significant positions of authority – such as cabinet secretaries and other top agency officials. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals backed that decision but reversed O'Connor's ruling invalidating the task force's recommendations for anyone but the challengers because of how the case was brought. The Biden administration asked the Supreme Court to take the case to prevent a nationwide lawsuit, which the court agreed to do shortly before the new administration took office. Trump administration is defending the law Unlike an earlier legal challenge to Obamacare when the first Trump administration would not defend the law, the Justice Department in the second Trump administration is arguing the task force doesn't violate the Constitution. The government says it's the Health and Human Services secretary, and not the task force, that has the 'ultimate responsibility' for whether the experts' recommendations become final. The secretary can deny a recommendation or delay it from going into effect so it can be reconsidered or modified, according to the Justice Department. The challengers, however, point to a requirement that task force members and their recommendations 'shall be independent and, to the extent practicable, not subject to political pressure.' 'The Secretary does not have the power to remove task force members at will or to deny the recommendations because of the independence requirement,' lawyers for the challengers told the court. 'And even if he did, that would not be enough `direction' and `supervision' authority.' The government counters that the independence requirement means the task force is supposed to make recommendations based on their impartial medical and public-health judgments. 'It does not mean that the Secretary is barred from then determining whether Task Force recommendations will be given legal effect,' the Justice Department told the Supreme Court. And if the justices disagrees, they continued, then the court can strike down the 'shall be independent' directive and place the task force fully under the secretary's control. No matter the outcome, public health advocates expect they will continue to have to fight for coverage of preventive services. 'I think that this is a first example of really testing the waters,' said Dorianne Mason, director of health equity for the National Women's Law Center. 'And I don't think that it will end with this.'
USA Today
15-04-2025
- Health
- USA Today
Autism rates increased, again. But RFK Jr. diverges from CDC report about the reason.
Autism rates increased, again. But RFK Jr. diverges from CDC report about the reason. Show Caption Hide Caption Robert F. Kennedy Jr. posts endorsement of measles MMR vaccine on X Health and Human Services secretary, and vaccine skeptic, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports measles vaccine after visiting West Texas. Autism diagnoses among 8-year-olds saw a slight uptick from 2020 to 2022, according to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study, published Tuesday in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, looked at 16 sites in 14 states and Puerto Rico and found one in 31 children were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in 2022, an increase from one in 36 in 2020. The findings come as the neurodevelopmental condition faces increased scrutiny by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who said 'the autism epidemic is running rampant' in response to the report. Kennedy's rhetoric on autism has been welcome in some corners of the autism community and maligned in others. The HHS statement went on to dismiss the possibility that the rising incidence of autism could be attributed to increased access to diagnostic tools and improvements to early detection, contradicting what researchers said in the report. The data does not signal an 'epidemic,' said Christopher Banks, president and CEO of the Autism Society of America, it reflects diagnostic progress. In case you missed: RFK Jr. says the government will know what caused the 'autism epidemic' by September Autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed based on challenges with social skills, communication and repetitive behaviors. It is a spectrum, meaning symptoms vary widely, with a percentage unable to communicate at all and others highly successful in some areas of life. "Claiming that autism is 'preventable' is not science-based, and places unnecessary blame on people, parents and families," Banks said. "Autism is not a chronic disease, nor a childhood disease, it is a lifelong developmental condition; it is not an epidemic, nor should it be compared to the COVID-19 pandemic, and using language like that perpetuates falsehoods, stigma and stereotypes." The study's findings also emphasize the need for "robust, comprehensive research and data rooted in credible methodologies," Banks said. As in 2020, autism spectrum disorder prevalence among 8-year-olds was higher among Asian/Pacific Islander, Black and Hispanic children than among white children, CDC data showed. The data also showed that it is more common among boys than girls. The report also found rates ranged from about 1 in 103 8-year-olds being diagnosed in one south Texas county, to about 1 of every 21 in a suburban county near Philadelphia and roughly 1 in 19 near San Diego, California. 'The true or actual rate of autism is more likely to be closer to what this report has identified in California or Pennsylvania,' said study co-author Walter Zahorodny of Rutgers University in New Jersey. 'California in particular has a longstanding and excellent program for screening and early intervention.' 'The problem is there's not a lot of research that gives us a strong indication for what is driving the rise," Zahorodny said. Last week, Kennedy set a September deadline for the U.S. National Institutes of Health to determine the cause behind the rise in autism rates. The CDC says many studies have looked at whether there is a connection between vaccines and autism and "to date, the studies continue to show that vaccines are not associated with autism." Contributing: Zac Anderson, USA TODAY; Reuters
