Latest news with #infants
ABC News
3 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Perth mother urges parents to vaccinate their babies as WA government renews free RSV jabs for second year
When Conor Gibbons was just nine months old, he developed a cold that quickly turned into a four-day hospital stay. He was diagnosed with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which then led to bronchiolitis and pneumonia. His mother Delaney Gibbons watched as the virus wore down her son's body to the point where he needed a feeding tube to eat. "That was absolutely awful to watch," Ms Gibbons said. "He had to have IV [intravenous therapy] and antibiotics, he was so weak and tired." Ms Gibbons said she hoped her family's traumatic experience could push other parents to get their children immunised against RSV. In a bid to reduce hospitalisations for RSV, the WA government has committed $7.6 million to rolling out free jabs for infants and children under the age of two across the state. RSV is the number one condition children are admitted to hospital for in their first year of life, according to the state government. The program will run alongside the Commonwealth government's newly funded RSV vaccine rollout for pregnant women. The vaccine will be available at a range of healthcare facilities, including community health clinics, GP clinics, Aboriginal medical services, antenatal clinics and maternity hospitals. Preventative Health Minister Sabine Winton said nearly 22,000 babies were immunised through the program last year, resulting in a 57 per cent reduction in babies being hospitalised. Ms Winton said she was concerned about declining immunisation rates in the community and hoped making vaccines more accessible would help change that. "It is a priority for me to do everything I can to increase the vaccination rates," she said. "Not only for this important announcement to protect our young kids, but around the flu and COVID."
WebMD
4 days ago
- General
- WebMD
FDA OKs First Meningococcal Vaccine for Infants
May 30, 2025 – The FDA has approved the first-ever meningococcal vaccine for babies as young as 6 weeks old. Sanofi Pasteur's quadrivalent MenQuadfi shot was first cleared in 2020 for adults and children ages 2 years or older. It protects against invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) caused by the four most common strains of meningococcal bacteria (Neisseria meningitidis): A, C, W, and Y. IMD is rare but can turn deadly within hours, causing brain swelling, blood infection, or death. Even with fast treatment, 10% to15% of patients don't survive, and many survivors face serious complications such as hearing loss or nerve problems, according to the CDC. Infants younger than 1 year old are at the highest risk, followed by children up to 4 years old. Teens and young adults (ages 16 to 23) are at higher risk, by being in college dorms, kissing, and sharing drinks. Early vaccination is key to preventing infection and long-term harm. The approval was based on positive results from clinical studies involving 4,273 infants ages 6 weeks to 23 months, who received at least one dose of either a four-dose or two-dose series of MenQuadfi. After each shot, they were monitored for immediate reaction, and parents worked closely with doctors during follow-up visits. The results showed the vaccine was effective, safe, and well-tolerated in the newly approved age group, with no new safety concerns reported. Infants can be given the shot at 6 weeks old, with four doses given at 2, 4, 6, and between 12 and 18 months. Babies ages 6 to 23 months will get two doses, with the second given in their second year and at least three months after the first dose, whereas anyone age 2 years or older only needs one dose. A single booster shot of MenQuadfi can be given to people ages 13 years or older who are at a continued risk of IMD if it's been at least three years since their last meningococcal vaccine. MenQuadfi doesn't protect against strain B of N meningitidis. Common side effects of MenQuadfi in infants ages 6 weeks to below 2 years include soreness, redness, or swelling where the needle went in, crankiness or fussiness, unusual crying, sleepiness, loss of appetite, fever, and sometimes vomiting. Older people may have pain where the needle went in, muscle aches, headaches, and tiredness.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Singing to babies boosts their mood and wellbeing, study shows
The study was between the University of Auckland and the US University of Yale. Photo: Copyright (c) 2022 eggeegg/Shutterstock. It's a universal practice, parents and caregivers singing to babies. But now research proves that singing to babies really does have benefits. A joint study between the Universities of Auckland and Yale, in the US, shows singing can help to lift their moods and boost their wellbeing. Psychologist and director of the Music Lab in Auckland Dr Samuel Mehr - and led the research - told Morning Report it was quite a hard topic to study. He said the study texted parents a few times a day to ask: has the baby been crying, are they feeling good, or what's going on with the infant Photo: Samuel Mehr The answers were measured over a multi-week study, showing the effects of singing on infants. "It's a general effect, so it's not just that infants are happier when the singing is going on, but it's that their mood is better in general. "But I think communication with infants from parents is always a positive thing." It doesn't even matter if the singing is in tune or not. "Infants are very chill about the quality of the vocal input they are getting, they really like to hear their parents voices," he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Fox News
27-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
American honeymoon hotspot hit by highly contagious illness, health officials warn
While cases of measles continue to spread throughout the U.S., Hawaii is reporting a new type of infectious spread. Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is on the rise at a "worrying rate" in the Aloha State, the State of Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) confirmed last week in a news release. As of May 15, there have been 108 cases of pertussis reported, already exceeding the 84 total cases in 2024. The DOH labeled pertussis a "highly contagious respiratory disease" that spreads through the air when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. Symptoms often resemble a cold but can progress to "intense coughing fits." For children, these coughing fits can be followed by a "deep breath" that makes a "whooping" sound. "Health complications can be serious and even life-threatening, especially for infants and young children who are not fully vaccinated," the DOH warned. Complications can include pneumonia, seizures, apnea, encephalopathy (a disease of the brain) and death. The most effective way to prevent pertussis is through vaccination, according to the DOH. The DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis) vaccine is administered to children under 7 years old and the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccine is for older children and adults. Multiple doses are generally recommended for infants, children and adults. "High vaccination rates protect individuals and communities and prevent cases from becoming outbreaks," the agency noted. "However, vaccination rates for all routinely recommended vaccinations for school entry – including those for measles, pertussis, polio and varicella (chickenpox) – have declined nationally and in Hawaii since 2019." Fox News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel confirmed that Hawaii is below the national average in terms of childhood vaccines, noting that the DTaP vaccine is "highly effective" in children, with close to 100% protection with appropriate dosages. "Pertussis is insidious, and can be easily mistaken for other respiratory diseases, including viruses," Siegel told Fox News Digital. "Pertussis, which is a bacteria, can be treated with antibiotics like doxycycline but is easily missed. The best protection is vaccination, including repeated boosters in teens and adults." Siegel explained that the "characteristic whoop" sound among children is caused by clogged airways that are not yet well-developed. About one-third of babies under 1 year who contract whooping cough are at risk of hospitalization, according to the doctor. "The best protection is for everyone around them to be vaccinated," he said. "Pertussis outbreaks are now connected to a drop-off in early childhood vaccination." "Pertussis outbreaks are now connected to a drop-off in early childhood vaccination." Neha Pathak, MD, WebMD chief physician editor, echoed that pertussis is "still a significant public health threat," especially for infants and people with weakened immune systems. "The DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccine offers strong protection to children — about 98 out of 100 children are protected for at least a year after the fifth dose, and about 70% are still protected for up to five years," she said in an interview with Fox News Digital. While vaccines like measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) can provide lifelong protection, pertussis immunity decreases over time, which means boosters are necessary for adolescents and adults, Pathak noted. "The uptick in pertussis cases is concerning, but not surprising given what we are seeing with vaccine hesitancy," she commented. "Pregnant women should also get the Tdap vaccine during their third trimester to pass antibodies to their newborns, protecting them before they can be vaccinated," the doctor suggested. Hawaii confirmed two cases of measles in early April and concluded there was no further community spread. Despite the current situation being under control, the health department warned that measles exposure is still a threat among travelers. For more Health articles, visit "Measles cases in the United States continue to rise, with more than 1,000 cases already reported across 30 states this year," the department noted. "The risk remains high for future travel-related measles cases reaching Hawaii, and DOH recommends continued vigilance and efforts to increase the MMR vaccination rate." The DOH stressed its "strong" recommendation for children and adults to stay up to date with recommended vaccinations for disease prevention.
Medscape
27-05-2025
- Business
- Medscape
US FDA Approves Use Of Sanofi's Meningococcal Vaccine in Infants
(Reuters) -French drugmaker Sanofi said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved its meningococcal vaccine for use in infants as young as six weeks, making it the first shot intended for the age group. The vaccine, branded as MenQuadfi, is already approved for individuals aged two years and older to protect against the four most common strains of meningococcal bacteria - A, C, W and Y, the company said on Friday. Meningococcal infections, caused by the Neisseria meningitidis bacteria, can cause serious, sometimes deadly, bloodstream infections, as well as severe swelling in the brain and spinal cord. British drugmaker GSK's shot Menveo is approved in children as young as two months and adults up to 55 years of age. "I think for convenience factor and accessibility... it is nice to have options," said Dr. Patty Sabey, a pediatrician with Stanford Medicine Children's Health, ahead of the decision. The approval was based on data from three late-stage studies involving more than 6,000 participants aged six weeks to 19 months, which showed that MenQuadfi was as effective as Menveo when co-administered with other routine pediatric vaccines. Sabey said meningococcal vaccine is not a routine vaccine for infants in the U.S. even though young infants, especially under one year, are at higher risk of infection. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommends all adolescents aged 11 to 12 years should receive a meningococcal vaccine, followed by a booster dose at age 16 years. The agency also recommends that individuals aged two months and older who are at increased risk of the disease should receive the vaccine. According to preliminary data from the CDC, 503 confirmed and probable cases of meningococcal disease were reported last year, the highest since 2013. (Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole and Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Leroy Leo)
