Infectious Diseases - September 2013 Archives

Allergic to eggs? There’s now an influenza vaccination just for you. Fearful of needles? It won’t stop you from getting the flu vaccine. The next flu shot season will bring several new vaccine options for consumers, and Mayo Clinic vaccine expert Gregory Poland, M.D., says patients need not feel bewildered. The new choices move influenza vaccinations closer to the personalized approach long sought by immunologists, including Dr. Poland. Click here for news release. Journalists: Sound bites with Dr. Poland (POE-lund) are available in the downloads.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXYxyrbFmLM&feature=youtu.be&hd=1

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I’ve read that there will be new options for getting the flu vaccine this year, including one for people who have egg allergies. How are these new vaccines different, and how do I know which one to pick? How do researchers know they will be safe? ANSWER: You’re right. Beginning this year, several new vaccine options will be offered to help protect you against influenza, or the flu. Rather than just two options, you now will have a range of vaccines from which to choose. At first having so many choices may be confusing. But by doing a little research and having a conversation with your health care provider, you will be able to decide which one is best for your situation. As always, each of the new vaccines has gone through rigorous safety testing before being made available to the public. Influenza is a respiratory infection that can lead to serious complications, particularly in young children and older adults. Getting the flu vaccine is the most effective way to prevent influenza and its complications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months of age or older be vaccinated against influenza every year.

Join @HealthDayEditor @BrophyMarcus, @drcindyhaines and @MayoClinic for a #fluchat Wednesday, September 25 at 1:30 p.m. ET.    Topics we’ll discuss include: flu strains this year, symptoms, treatments, vaccinations and why to get vaccinated, important information for parents/kids, and more. Experts on hand will be ready to answer your questions.  Other participants will include @AmerAcadPeds, @CDCFlu & its director @DrFriedenCDC, and @UCLAHealth’s @DrMommyCalls.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzExwqHnDnE Our bodies are very good at fighting infection.  The immune system reacts and attacks bacteria and viruses that make us sick. But sometimes the immune reaction is so strong that it damages the body. This is called a septic reaction or sepsis, and the mortality rate associated with it can be high. Doctors at Mayo Clinic are trying to change that with a sepsis response team in intensive care units. Their goal: to stop sepsis and save lives.  [TRT 2:10]  Script: Surviving Sepsis. Journalists: The video report is available in the downloads. News Network pkgs. can be edited into vo/sots and incorporated in your reporting.